What's On & Expat - Philippines

33rd Philippine Business Conference Expo Launched

By Joan Teotico

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) recently launched the 33rd Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBCE) at the Ayala Museum in Makati.
   With the theme, One. Global. Filipino. Through Public-Private Partnership, this year’s conference will feature discussions on important issues related to global competitiveness, market access, value chain development, good governance, global opportunities for investments and most importantly, joint projects with government. The 33rd PBCE will be held on October 24-26 at the Manila Hotel.
   Ambassador Francis Chua, Special Envoy on Trade and Investment to China and a member of PCCI’s Board of Advisers, is chairing the conference this year. “The Philippines is an ideal location for foreign investment because of its strategic geographical location. In the conference, people will discover all the available projects and learn what kind of incentives the Philippine government is giving, which will be very competitive,” said Chua.
   Chua also added that the Philippines has talented Filipinos who excel in the service industry and aside from human resources, our country is rich in mining resources and all forms of energy including wind, sun, hydro, geothermal and natural gas.

   The annual business gathering also underscores the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), a link between the private sector and the government where business leaders and government officials exchange views which help the country move forward by delivering global competitiveness. “Usually, the private sector has uncertainties about the government. We would like to establish openness and look into these feelings of mistrust and also, to create a situation where there is transparency from the government’s side and encourage the private sector to reconsider their views and position. As an envoy, it is our task to hold the hand of the private sector and the hand of the government and have them shake hands,” Chua stated.
   The conference will also highlight the roles of the public and private sectors in establishing significant reforms, provide a venue for the government-private sector dialogue and promote industry growth through investments and business opportunities in the Philippines.
   About 1,500 delegates are expected to grace this event, those coming from PCCI’s network of 1,200 direct members, 98 local chambers nationwide, 122 industry associations, 29 bilateral business councils and foreign chambers.

BMW and Sofitel Bring Luxury from Room to Road

By C. Jude Defensor

The Sofitel Philippine Plaza has extended its 5-star service beyond its rooms and onto the road with the unveiling of its newest limousine fleet composed of BMW vehicles - the first and only all premium diesel limousine fleet in the country.
   The fleet is composed of the new BMW 730Ld long wheel base limousine, which offers substantial leg room and comprehensive luxury specifications including rear seat entertainment, climate controls, stereo controls and privacy screens. BMW 520d luxury sedans are also available to provide sophisticated guests a more personalised transport option that both suits their needs and matches the standards of the hotel. The brand-new limousines are driven by highly experienced, discreet and knowledgeable drivers from Hertz, the fleet operator.
   “Sofitel Philippine Plaza’s decision to choose BMW is recognition of BMW Group’s worldwide reputation and market position in the premium luxury car sector,” said Andreas Biehler, president of BMW Philippines. He also pointed out that the choice of all-diesel engines underscores their mutual desire to provide world class luxury services with a strong sense of social responsibility”

   Bernd Schneider, General Manager of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza described how for many hotel guests, their stay can now begin and end memorably with a special limousine service that only a BMW could deliver.
   BMW Philippines recently introduced the latest variant of the BMW 5 Series model range: the new BMW 520d – featuring a powerful yet fuel efficient 2.0 liter BMW diesel engine. The fuel efficiency of the BMW 520d was showcased in the recently staged Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Economy Run for Passenger Cars and Light Duty Vehicles. Amidst adverse conditions of the winds and steady rain brought by typhoon Caloy – the BMW 520d delivered outstanding results with an official DOE fuel consumption rating of 21.07 kilometers to a liter. Aside from a six-speed automatic gearbox with Steptronic – a first-of-its-kind featured with the 2.0 liter BMW diesel engines, other standard features of the luxury sedan are 17-inch alloy wheels with Run-flat tyres, Start-Stop button, iDrive, automatic air conditioning with extended features, and a multi-function steering wheel. The new BMW 520d is now available at all authorized BMW dealers
 

THE FIRST PHILIPPINE International Tourism Fair, or PITF, will promote Cebu and other provinces as the country’s most sought-after tourism destinations during its three-day event to be held at the Cebu International Convention Center, or CICC, this September 5-7.
   As the country’s only international business-to-business travel trade fair, the PITF aims to renew the Philippines as a world-class tourism destination and place Central Philippines, specifically Cebu, in the global tourism market.
   Headed by the NAITAS, or the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies, the PITF aims to create a mindset of Cebu as a complete tourism hub in the mode of Thailand’s Phuket and Indonesia’s Bali as a single entity representing an entire country.
   According to Angel Ramos Bognot, NAITAS president, Cebu was long chosen due to its presence of culture of tourism, international airport, hotel and resort chains, diverse cultural and heritage attractions, and many more.
   “Manila will be promoted more as a convention and corporate destination owing to its numerous convention facilities and linkages to other cities. While Cebu will be singled out as a center of tourism activities and a jump-off point to Central and Southern Philippines,” she affirmed.
  Other places taking centerstage are Palawan, Bohol and Boracay during the destination marketing seminar wherein certain mechanics and procedures will be set aside for national replication.
   Supporting organizations include the Department of Tourism (DOT), PAGCOR or Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Provin

cial Government of Cebu, Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), Seair, Philippine Airlines, Montebello Villa Hotel, and the cities of Cebu and Mandaue.

         PITF Components
   A special highlight is the Travel Exchange, or Travex, wherein 120 quality buyers will engage in high-level deals with foreign counterparts to include the Philippines’ tour programme in their own country.
   Ramos emphasized that these buyers have been especially screened by the DOT’s tourism attaches abroad to ensure maximum publicity and returns for the industry.
   Over 120 booths have been reserved for the Visayas-Mindanao Trade Fair that also includes 30 top tour operators from Manila.
   An interesting seminar will highlight the ins and outs of participation in overseas trade fairs for a better-informed industry sector.
   Country presentations on such nations as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore will also be held to brief the participants on the regional attractions. Ramos added that an Indian guru will lecture on the needs and requirements of the Indian market in order that Cebu may be better-prepared to service new markets.
    While the first two days are exclusive for industry stakeholders and media, the last day will be open to the public.
   “We firmly believe that the event will lead to more forthcoming investment opportunities and arrivals in the country,” she enthused.
   Ramos also expressed confidence that Cebu will be fully equipped to handle next year’s event which will be stretched to a week-long event to include the PITF, the Tourism Congress, the Kalakbay Awards, and tthe International Travel Girl Pageant.
 

MTF’s Travel and Leisure
Get-Away Re-cap

By Katrina Cabanos

The Makati Tourism Foundation’s (MTF) second Travel and Leisure Get-Away drew to an uneventful close last Wednesday, August 22. “We didn’t have any closing ceremonies,” Annette Feliciano, the chairperson of the project says, almost regrettably. The expo lasted from August 20 to 22 and was held in the Glorietta Activity Center in Glorietta 3.
   Last year’s Travel and Leisure Get-Away expo, also in Glorietta and which Feliciano deems a great success, was apparently too raucous for the stores in the vicinity. This year, having learned their lesson, representatives from those stores asked the management of the Ayala Malls to specifically instruct the Travel and Leisure Get-Away organizers to keep the noise and bustle to a minimum.
   Also last year, raffle draws were conducted almost on an hourly basis which generated complaints about the noise. According to Feliciano, even the audio visual presentations in the booths had to be kept under inconspicuously low levels. “These are crowd-drawers,” Feliciano admits, without which definitely affected the crowd turn-out. She says that from what she observed,