Cebu to Welcome 2,000 New Jobs and MICE Tourism with Megaworld’s P1.5-B Convention Center

Property giant Megaworld is set to build a two-level standalone convention center inside its 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown township in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.

The P1.5-billion Mactan Expo Center will offer almost a hectare of MICE space (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and accommodate up to 2,500 people for theatre-type set-up, and 1,600 people for banquet-style set-up.

The convention center will be located just across the newly opened Belmont Hotel Mactan along Newtown Boulevard, and will be a few steps away from the beach, giving guests a stunning view of the sea and the sky.

“We hope to build another iconic landmark not just for Mactan but for the entire province of Cebu. This convention center will be a unique standalone structure that will help boost the province’s booming MICE industry,” says Kevin L. Tan, chief strategy officer, Megaworld.

Graham Coates, first vice president and head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls

A Hectare of MICE Space

The ground level of the expo center will feature a convention hall that can host large-scale events such as conferences, trade shows, concerts, and weddings. The convention hall can also be divided into three smaller halls for more flexible arrangements.

The mezzanine level will have two meeting rooms for smaller and intimate events. Both meeting rooms may be combined into a single venue.

The expo center will also have its own expansive foyer and pre-function areas, two drop-off areas, service kitchen area, cafes, and an event showroom. It will also have two passenger elevators, two escalators, and a service elevator.

The convention halls and meeting rooms will be equipped with fixed video screens, as well as state-of-the-art audio and visual systems and video conferencing technology.

Inspired by Cebu’s Culture and Nature

The Mactan Expo Center will have a minimalist design that illuminates at night, creating a striking contrast with the natural surroundings. The façade will be complemented by interiors inspired by Cebu’s local culture, festivals, arts, flavors, nature scenes, and icons. Design elements will be mostly sourced locally.

The convention center will also follow the green building standards set by the Philippine Green Building Council. It will integrate several sustainability features into the structure, such as low emissivity façade glass to reduce heat gain and energy consumption, low flow water fixtures to conserve water usage, rainwater recycling facility to collect and reuse rainwater for irrigation and flushing purposes, sewage treatment plant to treat wastewater before discharging it to the environment, and materials recovery facility to segregate and recycle solid waste.

The expo center will also have its own 100% back-up power and WiFi access in most areas.

(Left to right) Ar. Edwin Matthew Varona from Leandro V. Locsin Partners, Ar. Jesi Alex Ling from Jose Siao Ling and Associates, Graham Coates First Vice President and Head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Cleofe Albiso Managing Director Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, Jennifer Palmares-Fong First Vice President for Sales and Marketing Megaworld Visayas, and Harold Geronimo Vice President for Public Relations and Media Affairs Megaworld

Hotel Accommodations

The township where the Mactan Expo Center will be built already has two hotel properties being operated and managed by Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the country’s largest developer of 100% Filipino homegrown hotel brands. These include the 547-room Savoy Hotel Mactan Newtown and the 550-room Belmont Hotel Mactan.

“Our hotel properties within The Mactan Newtown will be ready to handle the accommodation requirements of the Mactan Expo Center. And one thing everyone should look forward to the Mactan Expo Center is the fact that it will just be a few steps away to the beach,” says Cleofe Albiso, managing director of Megaworld Hotels & Resorts.

Employment Opportunities for Cebuanos

The construction of the Mactan Expo Center will generate around 1,500 local jobs for skilled workers and professionals. Once operational, the expo center will also employ at least 500 personnel for various functions such as event management, catering, security, maintenance, and marketing.

“We will deploy at least 1500 for the construction phase and we’re anticipating at least 500 for the actual operations once it’s fully working,” shared Graham Coates, first vice president and head of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls.

Construction of the Mactan Expo Center will commence this year and is expected for completion by 2025.