SUBIC BAY
draws biggest
Ad Congress crowd
Subic’s proximity to Manila and other urban centers in Luzon, as well as the excellent business and leisure facilities here, combined to attract the biggest number of delegates in the history of the Philippine Advertising Congress (PAC).
PAC organizers said delegates to the 20th Ad Congress held November 21-24 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) reached a total of 3,423, topping records set in other venues like Manila, Cebu, Davao and Baguio City.
The previous congress, which was held in Cebu, recorded only 2,600 delegates, said Boy Pangilinan, the 20th Ad Congress chief of staff.
Most of the delegates from Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Central Luzon, said Subic is an ideal venue for national conferences or trade shows because of its accessibility.
“Subic is a lot closer and you won’t have to pay for air fare to get here,” said Joy Franklin, who publishes a community newspaper in Tarlac.
Franklin, who paid P19,000 to attend the conference as a non-member delegate, added that he would have missed the convention if it was held in another place like Cebu or Davao.
“Just think of the savings you get when the venue is accessible,” Franklin added. “With the savings you get, you can also afford to enjoy the other tourism attractions that Subic is famous for.”
Organizers also said that popular international speakers invited for a series of lectures and discussions during the Ad Congress also helped market the event.
“This is the first Ad Congress that has more than 20 speakers, and the scheduled sessions are the most interesting yet,” said Ad Congress chairperson Yoly Villanueva-Ong.
The speakers included “Stardust” author Neil Gaiman, who talked on “Imagination and Creativity in the Contemporary World”; Derek Callow, regional marketing manager for Google Southeast Asia, and businessman John Gokongwei Jr., chairman of JG Summit Holdings, one of the biggest business conglomerates in the Philippines today.
Delegates who liked to mix business with pleasure also said Subic’s sports and leisure facilities also played up the freeport’s attractiveness as a conference venue.
The Ad Congress schedule included a golf tournament for delegates, an Amazing Race-styled activity with 10 pit stops, kart racing at the slalom track near the Subic airport, all-doubles tournament at the sports gym, and a dodgeball event at the Subic Boardwalk Park.
draws biggest
Ad Congress crowd
Subic’s proximity to Manila and other urban centers in Luzon, as well as the excellent business and leisure facilities here, combined to attract the biggest number of delegates in the history of the Philippine Advertising Congress (PAC).
PAC organizers said delegates to the 20th Ad Congress held November 21-24 at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) reached a total of 3,423, topping records set in other venues like Manila, Cebu, Davao and Baguio City.
The previous congress, which was held in Cebu, recorded only 2,600 delegates, said Boy Pangilinan, the 20th Ad Congress chief of staff.
Most of the delegates from Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Central Luzon, said Subic is an ideal venue for national conferences or trade shows because of its accessibility.
“Subic is a lot closer and you won’t have to pay for air fare to get here,” said Joy Franklin, who publishes a community newspaper in Tarlac.
Franklin, who paid P19,000 to attend the conference as a non-member delegate, added that he would have missed the convention if it was held in another place like Cebu or Davao.
“Just think of the savings you get when the venue is accessible,” Franklin added. “With the savings you get, you can also afford to enjoy the other tourism attractions that Subic is famous for.”
Organizers also said that popular international speakers invited for a series of lectures and discussions during the Ad Congress also helped market the event.
“This is the first Ad Congress that has more than 20 speakers, and the scheduled sessions are the most interesting yet,” said Ad Congress chairperson Yoly Villanueva-Ong.
The speakers included “Stardust” author Neil Gaiman, who talked on “Imagination and Creativity in the Contemporary World”; Derek Callow, regional marketing manager for Google Southeast Asia, and businessman John Gokongwei Jr., chairman of JG Summit Holdings, one of the biggest business conglomerates in the Philippines today.
Delegates who liked to mix business with pleasure also said Subic’s sports and leisure facilities also played up the freeport’s attractiveness as a conference venue.
The Ad Congress schedule included a golf tournament for delegates, an Amazing Race-styled activity with 10 pit stops, kart racing at the slalom track near the Subic airport, all-doubles tournament at the sports gym, and a dodgeball event at the Subic Boardwalk Park.
.jpg)
.jpg)
