The Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) and MICECONnect continue their legacy as the country’s premier, government-organized travel trade platforms. Hosted by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the collaborative events will happen on September 8 to 10, 2025, at the Conrad Manila, providing local tourism stakeholders a chance to cultivate new market opportunities and showcase the best of the Philippines to an international audience.
Guided by this year’s unified theme, “Tourism Transformed: Cultivating Connections, Driving Sustainability,” both events will emphasize their shared role in forging partnerships and promoting responsible tourism practices into industry growth.
Since its establishment in 1996, PHITEX has grown into the Philippines’ largest government-led travel trade event, attracting a global network of qualified buyers for organized business meetings with the country’s leading tourism suppliers. MICECONnect, launched in 2019, complements this platform by bringing together the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, positioning the Philippines as a premier destination for world-class events.
“PHITEX and MICECONnect are powerful catalysts for promoting meaningful connections and driving shared growth for our tourism industry,” said TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles. “By linking the Philippines’ top tourism suppliers with qualified buyers, we not only elevate the country’s competitive edge, but also create opportunities that empower local communities and drive sustainable growth.”
At the heart of PHITEX is the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX), a two-day program of curated business-to-business (B2B) networking engagement between 87 local seller companies and 71 international buyers. Likewise, MICECONnect will host its own series of tailored B2B sessions that connect 60 MICE sellers with 48 international buyers representing the meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibits sector. Together, these platforms create a comprehensive marketplace for tourism and drive business opportunities across the travel and events sectors.
Buyer participants of PHITEX will represent the country’s key inbound tourism markets, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the USA, and Vietnam. Additionally, MICECONnect will welcome buyers from across the globe to include non-traditional markets with business event requirements that the Philippines is well-positioned to serve.
Beyond the trading floor, this year’s event will highlight smart and sustainable tourism initiatives, such as the use of a unified digital platform that serves as an all-in-one hub, enabling participants to manage business matching appointments, access the event program, and connect with other delegates alongside the robust use of social media for real-time engagement.
Following the events, post-event familiarization tours will take place with PHITEX delegates heading to Cagayan De Oro, Bukidnon, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Boracay, and the Municipality of Malay. MICECONnect delegates, on the other hand, will travel to key MICE destinations, including Cebu, Bohol, Davao, and Clark, to showcase the country’s readiness to host large-scale events.
The tours will prioritize local engagement, cultural preservation, and environmental awareness that reinforce our commitment to responsible tourism practices among local communities and travelers.