The Philippines is turning business into pleasure — quite literally — as the country’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) scene gains strong momentum with the successful staging of Philippine Travel Exchange and MICECONnect 2025.

Organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the joint event gathered 147 local tourism and events sellers and 114 foreign buyers from 20 key markets, putting the country’s best travel and business offerings front and center.

With the theme “Tourism Transformed: Cultivating Connections, Driving Sustainability,” this three-day program went beyond the boardroom — merging business goals with the beauty of travel. Through business-to-business (B2B) sessions, networking mixers and a digital platform that made appointment scheduling a breeze, over 3,000 B2B meetings were recorded during the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX). 

But it was not all suits and spreadsheets. To showcase what makes the Philippines a unique MICE hub, participants joined post-event familiarization tours that took them from Cebu-Bohol’s tropical charm to Davao’s dynamic culture, Clark’s modern infrastructure, Cagayan de Oro and Bukidnon’s adventure landscapes, and Palawan and Boracay’s world-famous coasts. These trips highlighted how the country’s destinations can effortlessly blend authentic local experiences, sustainability and business-ready facilities — redefining what it means to “work and wander.”

This milestone marks another leap in the country’s evolving role in the regional MICE arena, where sustainability, digital innovation and partnership-driven growth pave the way for a new era of travel and enterprise.