Tuesday, November 28, 2006 City wants to become RP's convention center
ILOILO City is currently aspiring to become the convention center of choice in the country and to do this, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas has engaged the services of the Iloilo City Convention Bureau (ICCB) to act as its promotions arm.
The Bureau, a private sector-led marketing organization inspired by Treñas and founded by Dr. Ma. Teresa S. Sarabia in 2003, is presently headed by Emil Diez and is being funded by the city government to the tune of P1-million.
As envisioned by Treñas, the ICCB's principal mandate is to promote Iloilo City in the international and national convention market. The bureau's other tasks include concerning itself with the training of convention organizers in the ranks of local associations and industries so these could develop skills and services necessary in the holding of conventions.
The ICCB shall also see to the smooth conduct of conventions so as to help build Iloilo City's reputation as a convention destination.
So far, among the major national conventions here this year were the Philippine College of Physicians Mid-Year Convention held October 18-20 this year; the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers; the Fraternal Order of Utopia, the 2006 Bangus Convention, the Philippine Mango Congress, the Western Visayas Tourism Assembly, the Pediatric Neophrologists Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Cable and Television Association, the First National Conference on Tricycle Transportation Development, and the Philippine Association of Government Public Accountants.
Trenas said the growing frequency of both regional and national gatherings being held in Iloilo City has compelled the building of more hotels here. Already, three hotels designed to cater to conventions are slated to open shortly. These hotels, Trenas revealed, are the Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention Center which is capable of hosting 2,500 guests; the Castle Hotel and a still to be named hotel to be built along the Smallville restaurant row at Benigno Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road). The Centennial Resort Hotel and Convention Center, the mayor added, will have a soft opening on December 15 this year, and a grand opening in February 2007.
To date, the city has three hotels capable of conducting large conventions. These are the Sarabia Manor Hotel which has a convention center that can accommodate up to 1,000 delegates; the Iloilo Grand Hotel, which could hold a convention of up to 1,700 delegates; and Amigo Terrace Hotel , which could fit a convention with 1,300 participants. It also has the Punta Villa Resort which is capable of accommodating 2,000 delegates.
With the ICCB's technical expertise in organizing, assisting and facilitating conventions and ensuring the proper execution of corporate agreements between organizers of conventions, Treñas is highly optimistic of Iloilo City's chances of making it as the nation's convention site of choice for both national and international gatherings.
