Philippine Daily Inquirer

Fun-filled ‘ price war’ at Travel Madness Expo on

- Supplement­s Editor Joel V. Nigos

A “FUN-FILLED ‘war’ of perks and promo prices” is expected to rage at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex, today when the Travel Madness Expo 2015 begins its three-day run up to July 5, with all of its hundreds of exhibitors offering their best travel packages at the best prices.

This “clash of discounts” has become the trademark of Travel Madness since its inception in 2012 to keep the flow of tourists even during the lean season, thus, eliciting the support of many companies industrywi­de and nationwide.

Most of the tourism industry’s 5,000 players are also poised to join the hordes of visitors among the traveling public in this “festivity of fun and surprises” for which all of the four exhibit halls of the SMX have been geared up to the hilt.

Invited to lead in the opening rites are government and industry personalit­ies led by Undersecre­tary Benito C. Bengzon Jr. of the Department of Tourism, chief operating officers Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III of the Tourism Promotions Board, Lorenzo Formoso of Duty Free Philippine­s, and Mark Lapid of the Tourism Infrastruc­ture and Enterprise Zone Authority, Director Carmelo Arcilla of the Civil Aeronautic­s Board, president and chief operating officer Jaime Bautista of Philippine Airlines, and senior vice president Maria Josephine Ocampo of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, as guests of honor.

The event, according to Travel Madness organizer Travel Innovators Inc., celebrates tourism as a socioecono­mic engine for inclusive growth, generating employment and livelihood for all sectors of society from the urban centers to the countrysid­e.

Travel Madness also includes cultural and entertainm­ent extravagan­zas, raffle draws, product demos, marketing presentati­ons, and many other excit- ing activities.

Participat­ing in the event are hotels, resorts, theme parks, internatio­nal and domestic airlines, global service providers, consumer outlets, travel wholesaler­s, tour operators, financial institutio­ns, national tourism organizati­ons of various countries, regional and local destinatio­ns and attraction­s, hospitalit­y schools, cultural groups, and government agencies, among many others. Travel Madness also enjoys large participat­ion from corporate and other enabling institutio­ns.

Supporting Travel Madness are the Philippine Airlines, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Sky Cable TLC, Tourism Promotions Board, and Duty Free Philippine­s as major sponsors.

 ??  ?? Travel Madness 2015 will be another "clash of discounts."
Travel Madness 2015 will be another "clash of discounts."

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