The Queen City of the South is bracing to unveil three major construction projects dedicated to its booming Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry, all slated to open this year and next.

According to the Cebu Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), organizer of the Cebu Tourism Forum and Experiential Tour on 26 June, a cornerstone event of Cebu Business Month 2025, participants will get a sneak peek of Cebu’s upcoming MICE infrastructure: the SMX Convention Center Cebu, the SM Seaside Arena, and the Mactan Expo Center.

Located at the South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City, the over 40,000-square-meter SMX Convention Center Cebu, owned and operated by SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2025, the world-class, 16,000-seat indoor SM Seaside Arena is set to host international concerts, major sporting events, and large-scale exhibitions—dramatically expanding Cebu’s capacity for world-class event hosting.

Meanwhile, in a Philippine Stock Exchange disclosure this June, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts Group Commercial Director Loleth So announced that the two-level Mactan Expo Center is set to open in the fourth quarter of this year. With a 2,500-seat capacity, the venue is designed to support exhibitions, trade shows, and corporate events, creating a powerful synergy between business and leisure travel.

The Cebu Tourism Forum and Experiential Tour, themed “MICE Ready: Staging Cebu for the Global Platform,” aims to unite local and international tourism stakeholders, convention organizers, and business events professionals to strategically position Cebu as a global MICE destination.

Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco will deliver the keynote address, outlining how Cebu’s tourism strategies align with national priorities and the province’s key role in accelerating the country’s overall tourism growth.

"This event represents a pivotal moment for Cebu's evolution into a premier MICE destination," said CCCI president Jay Yuvallos. 

"We're not just showcasing our potential — we're demonstrating our readiness to compete on the global stage," he added.

Other notable personalities who will grace the forum are Liz Ortiguera, Global Travel and Tourism Leader, who will be presenting worldwide trends in the MICE and tourism sectors;

Dato Vincent Lim, Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations President and former Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers President, sharing insights on the Philippine and international MICE landscapes, and Candice Iyog, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer, Cebu Pacific Air, to reveal airline strategies supporting tourism and business travel growth.

Yuvallos emphasized that the Tourism Forum and Experiential Tour come at a critical juncture, as global business events rebound and organizations seek new, exciting destinations for meetings and conferences.

“With its strategic location, world-class resorts, rich cultural heritage, and now rapidly expanding convention infrastructure, Cebu is positioned to capture significant market share in the lucrative MICE sector,” he said.