‘PROMOTING Philippine tourism is the ‘most important job this country has. It is through tourism that we can compete in the global marketplace.’

The words of the Sy family patriarch are more than just words of wisdom… they are a guiding vision. And such a vision is breathing life into SM Investments Corp.’s latest project-the Mall of Asia Complex.

The Mall of Asia Complex is envisioned to be the country’s premier business and tourism district, situated in the coast of Manila Bay. The 60-hectare mixed-use development will integrate technologically advanced infrastructure with office, retail, institutional, residential and leisure components. The project is expected to boost the country’s tourism industry and redefine Manila’s place among the new and exciting urban centers of Asia.

At the center of this emerging business district lies the SM Mall of Asia. The 386,000-square meter shopping complex showcases a variety of stores and live entertainment venues, al fresco dining spaces, and interaction areas for the culture and the arts. Tagged as the largest mall in the Philippines, the SM Mall of Asia offers the ultimate shopping experience with the country’s first IMAX Theater, an Olympic-sized ice skating rink, and an upcoming aquarium.
 

Just a few steps away from the SM Mall of Asia are the’ SM Corporate offices, which consist of six sprawling one-story buildings. These offices presently house the corporate offices of the SM Group with a daily population of’ 3,000 personnel and around 1,500, suppliers, clients and applicants.

On the southern portion of the complex lies the Shrine of Jesus church, which has been a favored venue  for weddings and other Catholic ceremonies.

Connecting via a pedestrian bridge from the north side of the SM Mall of Asia is the OneE-Com Center, which is targeted for completion by year-end. The center is a 10-story contemporary building designed for e-commerce, contact centers, business process outsourcing companies, and specialized office uses.

Among the tenants of the OneE-Com Center is the 16th club of Fitness First Philippines Inc., which will occupy the building’s first and second floors. Also set to open this month at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SMX Convention Center-a world-class venue consisting of open exhibition areas, multi-functional halls and flexible meeting rooms with modern exposition amenities for major conference and trade exhibits. The three-story, 46,000-sq m building with basement and parking, features second-level commercial shops and a pedestrian bridge way leading to the SM Mall of Asia. The SMX Convention Center is envisioned to be the country’s premier destination for both local and international trade and cultural events.

For those looking for the finest boardwalk experience the Mall-of-Asia Complex offers The Esplanade. The 1.5-kilometer strip of fully landscaped open-space will be allocated to house retail and entertainment establishments and can accommodate up to 800 guests (banquet setup). The entire stretch of the promenade will have jogging paths, hike trails, playing courts, and outdoor restaurants.

Another major development project at the Mall of Asia Complex is the SM Arena, a sprawling indoor facility for big-time sports and entertainment events that can seat over-l6, expectators. This expansive arena is expected to be the venue of choice of major gigs of well-known international artists in the music and entertainment industries.

In addition, the Mall of Asia Complex inaugurated the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center last Oct. 10-the first of its kind themed-park devoted solely to science and technology. A partnership between SM Prime Holdings and United States-based Leisure Entertainment Consultancy, the SM Mall of Asia Science and Discovery Center will feature a digital planetarium and a wide range of technology and science-themed presentations and exhibits.

Likewise in the pipeline are the constructions of the SM Ferry, which will feature a modem ferry terminal to service guests and tourists who wish to travel to Cavite City and Bataan, or to SMIC’s planned eco-tourism development estate, the Hamilo Coast in Nasugbu, Batangas; the SM Land Showroom will showcase the resort and residential features of the Hamilo estate; and a leisure strip area set to soft-open by next month where people can converge and unwind after a hard day’s work and look forward to fresh and hip themed-happenings every month with their choice drinks and spirits.

The Mall of Asia Complex will also give rise to real property investments such as hotels, upscale offices and full-serviced apartments.

SMIC just recently forged a memorandum of agreement with the Microtel Inns and Suites hotel group to put up a 150-room hotel strategically located near the SMX Convention Center and the Mall of Asia. Also in the pipeline is the Radisson Hotel set to rise in October 2009.

These are but a glimpse of the many exciting things that the Mall of Asia Complex has to offer. As the country’s property sector continues to recover, SMIC is strategically positioned for the resurgence.

Macroeconomic fundamentals indicate the readiness of the Mall of Asia Complex for a new well-planned and modem business and tourist destination. The Mall of Asia Complex presents a unique opportunity for investors to participate in a viable high-impact project.

The Mall of Asia Complex is owned and developed by the SM Investments Corp.-the holding company of the SM Group of Companies. At present, SMIC has positioned itself as one of the key players in the real property and tourism development with projects such as the Hamilo Coast-an eco-tourism development  in Nasugbu, Batangas, hotels, residential condominiums, retail, shopping malls, and banking and financial institutions.