By Juliane Judilla
More than 100 stakeholders gathered for the inaugural MICE Conference, hosted by the Iloilo City Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) Center, on November 5 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Themed “Conquering New Horizons with Sustainable MICE Innovations,” the conference united industry experts to explore sustainable growth for Iloilo City’s MICE sector.
Cultural worker and independent food scholar Guiller “Ige” Ramos Jr. discussed the importance of promoting local produce and gastronomy as premium products in the local economy.
Ramos emphasized showcasing Iloilo’s food culture on the international stage through an educational campaign aimed at locals, leveraging platforms like Facebook and TikTok to raise awareness.
He also introduced his passion project, the “Ugnayan Center for Filipino Gastronomy,” a platform dedicated to publishing, book design, and independent research in edible design, food history, comparative gastronomy, anthropology, and public policy.
Mari Martinez, co-founder and CEO of Rezbin, a waste technology start-up based in Iloilo City, presented the innovations behind his multi-awarded company.
Rezbin operates over 77 drop-off stations and recently partnered with Coca-Cola to establish 30 more. The company collaborates with schools, small businesses, and communities across the city to improve waste management.
Martinez highlighted that effective traceability helps identify establishments contributing significantly to plastic diversion efforts and educates them on recyclable materials.
Rezbin also plans to launch a mobile app that rewards users with points for donating plastic waste, encouraging eco-friendly behavior.
Giancarlo “Gino” Gallegos, founder of Experience Philippines, closed the conference with insights on artificial intelligence in tourism.
Gallegos addressed challenges facing the sector, such as labor shortages and limited access to localized information.
He introduced TALA, an AI-powered assistant for MICE Iloilo, designed to enhance customer engagement, streamline sales, and improve conversion rates by qualifying and nurturing leads using AI voice technology.
