SMX Convention Center Clark won the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibition (MICE) Event of the Year at the 7th Philippine Sports Tourism Awards (PSTA) held at the Marriott Manila on 24 August 2026.

The SMX Convention Center Clark won the award for holding the Sports Tourism Forum 2025 on 7 November last year, wherein stakeholders met to focus on aligning with national initiatives to position the Philippines as a premier sports hub and leveraging major sporting events (such as past FIBA tournaments and international championships) to drive regional tourism and economic growth.

SMX Convention Center Clark General Manager Eduardo Miguel Morato received the award from the PSTA President and Founder Charles Lim, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Pato Gregorio, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Undersecretary Shalimar Tamano.

The 7^th PSTA is co-hosted by the PSC and the Sports Turismo Alliance (STA), the annual event recognizes private entities, local government units (LGUs), destinations, and organizers that successfully integrate athletic events with local tourism to drive economic growth.

Combining MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) with sports tourism creates a high-value economic driver by merging athletic competitions with corporate travel, professional networking, and large-scale industry events.

Some of the key pillars of sport MICE integration include: hosting international sports science symposiums, coaching clinics, or federation annual general meetings alongside major tournaments.

These also include: rewarding corporate top performers with exclusive access or hospitality packages at marquee global sporting events; and organizing sports-themed expos, fitness trade shows, and equipment showcases that attract international vendors, buyers, and sports tourists.

The economic impact of the sport MICE integration is that business and sports tourists typically outspend traditional leisure travelers, driving higher revenues for hotels, local transport, and hospitality providers.