The SMX Convention Specialist Corporation (SCSC) has two additional convention centers to build in the next two years in its pipeline as it continues to bank on the country’s growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, exhibitions) industry.

Aimed to be one of the premiere destinations for the global MICE industry, SMX Convention Center is a subsidiary of the SM Hotels and Convention Corporation (SMHCC) that owns all the SMX Convention Centers in the country, among other establishments.

SCSC General Manager Dexter Deyto told Manila Bulletin that the company has two more convention centers in its medium-term pipeline.

“[The first] one, yes, [there’s already a location but] the other one, we are still planning. [This will be built] in the next two years because we are still on the planning stage,” Deyto said in an interview.

Although Deyto didn’t specify if these convention centers will be built under a stand-alone format like the SMX Convention Center in Mall of Asia complex or will be put up inside the mall, he said both formats are ideal to the company.

“There are advantages to both but for the MICE hubs, which are Manila and Cebu, we are looking at stand-alone because that’s the best because these are really the MICE hubs,” Deyto said.

“The advantage being in the mall is that it already has its own market. The integration is there together with the mall and the hotel. So there’s also a definite advantage being inside the mall,” he added.

The company is now planning to grow its presence in the Visayas by setting its sights on Cebu.

In an earlier report, Deyto said they will be looking at more detailed plans for SMX Cebu by next year.

The convention center will be part of SM Prime Holdings’ mixed-use complex named SM Seaside City in the South Road Properties in Cebu.

On November last year, the company formally opened SMX Bacolod, its first convention center in Visayas, located inside SM Group’s new lifestyle wing of SM City Bacolod.

“For Bacolod, there’s actually provision to have a hotel also. So soon, there will be a hotel also right beside the mall. It’s an integrated development. The mall, the hotel, the convention center, even the arena, depending what’s possible,” Deyto said.

SMX Bacolod is the fourth convention center, next to SMX Convention Center Manila, SMX Convention Center Davao, and SMX Convention Center Taguig.

Deyto said they are also looking at putting up a convention center in Northern Luzon because SMX Convention still does not have a branch outside of Metro Manila in Luzon.

SMHCC is the fifth core business of the SM Group of Companies. It has set out to establish landmark hotels, exhibition and convention centers, and entertainment facilities throughout the Philippines.