Davao City wins bid to host Ad Congress

DAVAO CITY—This city will be the host of the Philippine Ad Congress next year, the biggest biennial gathering of the country’s top businessmen and media executives.

Arturo Boncato, head of the Department of Tourism in Southern Mindanao, said AdBoard, the event’s organizer, announced the choice of Davao City as congress venue a day after Baguio, Boracay, Subic and Camarines Sur submitted their formal bids to become hosts and made their final presentation at the AdBoard’s office in Makati last Monday.

“We are very happy that Davao will be hosting the biggest gathering of creative minds in the country. This is also the first time that a Mindanao city plays host to the Ad Congress,” Boncato said.

Boncato said Davao City is prepared to host the congress, scheduled in November. The city, he said, is home to many hotels and convention sites.

The city, according to tourism officer Jason Magnaye, has 6,600 hotel rooms and a convention venue that could accommodate up to 5,000 people.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she was elated by the choice of Davao City as next year’s host.

Duterte thanked Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez for backing the city’s bid.

The Inquirer learned that Jimenez had vigorously pushed for the city as host of next year’s gathering.

Aside from the Ad Congress, the city will also host the Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions, a gathering of the country’s event organizers, next year.

At least 500 participants, some from  Singapore, Japan and Malaysia, are expected to attend the MICE meeting to be held at SM Lanang’s SMX Convention Center here. Ayan Mellejor, with a report from Judy Quiros, Inquirer Mindanao