SM group plans to build more convention centers

MANILA, Philippines – Sy-led SM Group is planning to build more convention centers in the coming years in “key strategic areas” to take advantage of the country’s booming economy.

In a media lunch at the opening of the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura Premier in Taguig City on Friday, May 17, SMX Convention Specialist Corp. vice president and general manager Dexter Deyto said the group is looking to tap key markets for the planned convention centers nationwide.

“We’re looking at key strategic areas. We already have in NCR (National Capital Region) and in Mindanao so we’re looking at Visayas and Northern Luzon,” he said.

“Once we have covered those major areas, later on we could have smaller facilities in between.”

Currently, the Sy-led group has 3 maximum capacity convention centers nationwide, namely:

• SMX Manila beside Mall of Asia in Pasay City finished in 2007
• SMX Davao in Davao City finished in 2012
• SMX Taguig beside SM Aura Premier in Taguig City

Deyto said the SM Group’s expansion plan include a 3- to 5-year timetable and a strategic planning scheme for the location of the planned convention centers.

“It really depends on the properties available. It’s usually an integrated development where we have different establishments in one development area like a mall, a convention center and a hotel, similar to what we have in Pasay (Mall of Asia),” he said.

He also added that the business of convention centers are all about location and capturing the target market including corporate, associations, international conventions and congresses, among others.

2015 APEC Summit

Part of the strategic plan of the group is capturing the market that will be brought by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2015.

The Philippines is hosting the economic regional meet slated to be held in 9 cities in the country .

Deyto revealed that the government, particularly the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Tourism (DOT), has been meeting with them, along with other hotels and convention center providers, regarding the summit.

“(The APEC Summit) is also one of the main reasons why we are planning to build more convention centers in 2015. We are expecting a lot of business opportunities,” he said.

SMX Convention Specialist Corp., part of the SM Prime Group, also handles and operates the various trade halls in SM Megamall and Cebu. – Rappler.com