Insider Spotlight
The convention center, Megaworld’s first stand-alone facility of its kind, is located within the 30-hectare The Mactan Newtown development in Cebu and is positioning itself as a central venue for high-level regional gatherings.
The big picture
The first ASEAN event of the year will take place at the Mactan Expo as it hosts the ASEAN Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) from Jan. 28 to 30. TRAVEX is a major component of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2026 and is expected to draw tourism ministers, senior government officials, industry groups, exhibitors, business delegates, and media from across ASEAN member states.
The event focuses on travel trade, exhibitions, networking, and cultural activities that support regional tourism cooperation.
Behind the scenes
The P1.5-billion Mactan Expo was two years in the making and has been closely monitored ahead of the ASEAN Summit calendar.
InsiderPH learned that Malacañang officials, together with representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and organizing committee, conducted multiple site visits last year to ensure the facility’s timely completion. Tourism officials and MICE organizations from ASEAN countries also carried out walk-throughs as part of preparations.
Sources familiar with the project said Megaworld further upgraded several interior facilities, particularly common areas and amenities, to meet the standards required for ASEAN leaders and other high-profile delegates.
Design and capacity
The Mactan Expo integrates elements of Filipino identity into its design, incorporating visual references to Cebu’s culture and heritage, including guitars and mangoes, to give the venue a distinct local character.
The main ground-floor hall can accommodate up to 2,500 guests and is supported by pre-function foyers, VIP rooms, a showroom, cafés, a service kitchen, and expansive driveway and drop-off areas. Additional meeting rooms, pre-function spaces, and an open-air balcony are located on the mezzanine level.
Location advantage
Just across the convention center are two fully operational hotels with more than 1,000 combined rooms: Savoy Hotel Mactan and Belmont Hotel Mactan, which has been rebranded as Mercure Mactan Cebu to cater to international guests. Two Gordon Ramsay restaurant concepts, Street Burger and Fish & Chips, also opened nearby last year.
The Mactan Expo is a five-minute walk from the township beachfront and just 10 minutes from Mactan-Cebu International Airport, strengthening its appeal as a regional MICE hub. — Daxim L. Lucas | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
