SMHCC Expands MICE Footprint with P5.3 Billion Investment Starting with SMX Cebu and SMXCITE

SM Hotels and Convention Corp. (SMHCC), the hospitality arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., is ramping up its MICE footprint with a P5.3 billion investment plan over the next five years. The expansion will begin with two major developments in Cebu and Pasay.

Set to open in the third quarter of 2026, SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu will be one of the largest and most advanced convention venues in the Visayas. Cebu is one of the country’s top 10 provincial economies in both size and share of national GDP in 2023, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu will offer over 21,000 square meters of leasable space across six levels, directly integrated with the SM Seaside Arena and SM Seaside Cebu Mall. With spacious pre-function areas, large-scale back-of-house features and complete digital infrastructure, the Cebu venue is positioned to become a regional hub for large-scale conventions, events and exhibitions.

SMHCC also broke ground on SMXCITE at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City last April. Set to open in the first quarter of 2027, SMXCITE will add 18,000 square meters of leasable space to the existing 17,000 square meters at SMX Manila, enabling SMHCC to accommodate large-scale, concurrent events.

“Our expansion into Cebu and Pasay reflects our strong belief in the potential of these cities. By building next-generation venues with scale and flexibility, we are enabling more communities to benefit from the business and tourism opportunities that MICE events bring,” said SMHCC executive vice president Peggy Angeles.

These projects are part of SMHCC’s broader strategy to grow its events portfolio outside Metro Manila and support economic activity in emerging urban centers. Each SMX venue is co-located with hotels, malls and transport infrastructure to provide seamless access for organizers and guests.