‘The City of Love,’ with its colorful history and exciting destinations, has become a world-class, must-experience destination among tourists and business travelers.
From its stunning tapestry of culture and heritage to its wide array of mouthwatering delicacies and, of course, the warm hospitality that made Ilonggos such standout hosts, Iloilo’s potential as next most promising Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination is definitely an exciting prospect for the jewel of Panay Island.
According to the Iloilo City Tourism Office, tourist arrivals in the city have remarkably increased during the past five years. In 2017, around 1.08 million local and foreign tourists visited Iloilo City. Most foreign visitors came from South Korea, US, Canada, Mexico, and Australia.
Tourism receipts, on the other hand, reached P19.8 billion in 2017 as registration for tourism-related establishments, such as hotels, rose by 55% to 1,605 last year compared to those posted in 2013.
At the forefront of the city’s strong emergence is Iloilo Business Park (IBP), a sprawling gem of a property by Megaworld that has undergone a transformation from what was once the historic site of the old Mandurriao Airport to being the iconic face of Iloilo today.
Last year, the township was named the ‘Best Township Development’ at the prestigious 2018 Philippines Property Awards. Here are five reasons why Iloilo Business Park has redefined the landscaped and transformed the lives of Ilonggos as the country’s next ‘most promising MICE destination.’
Western Visayas’ ‘convention capital’
MICE events that are set in Iloilo have found a home in the 1.7-hectare Iloilo Convention Center—the biggest convention center in Western Visayas. Over the years, the ICC has slowly become the destination of choice for local and international conferences, foremost of which were the series of 2015 APEC meetings.
World-class hotels and accommodations
With the ICC in place, two world-class hotels are also in the township to provide superb accommodations for business and leisure travelers: Richmonde Hotel Iloilo, which was awarded the “Best Hotel Interior Design” award at the 2016 Philippines Property Awards, and Courtyard by Marriott, the first Courtyard brand in the Philippines which began its operations just this May.
Last year, IBP also welcomed its third hotel within IBP—the 12-storey Belmont Hotel Iloilo—which has gained popularity among business travelers since Belmont Hotel Manila opened in 2015.
A modern cosmopolitan vibe
Perfectly blending urban architecture with the historical grandeur of the city, Iloilo Business Park packs a world of leisure and entertainment options to fit in any business traveler’s itinerary.
From pasalubongs to delicious cuisines, foodies can stroll along the 1.1-kilometer Festive Walk Parade where they can have their choice of fine restaurants that offer topnotch service. There’s also the Festive Walk Mall, another award-winning development spearheaded by Megaworld dubbed as the most beautiful mall in the entire Western Visayas.
Business travelers who are also into the arts can make a quick visit to the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA), the first and only facility in Visayas and Mindanao dedicated to the contemporary arts.
A home for the PH’s top businesses
Iloilo Business Park is also home to more than 10,000 BPO workers spread across the five office towers in the township. There’s also the nine-hectare commercial district, which is poised to host the regional headquarters of UnionBank of the Philippines and Metrobank, respectively.
A complete LIVE-WORK-PLAY community
Like any Megaworld township, IBP proudly carries the company’s signature live-work-play lifestyle concept. It also houses a variety of residential developments, including the 10-storey Parisian-inspired Saint Dominique, Megaworld’s seventh residential property in the township. (PR)