Travel Explore Philippines

IMPORTANT REMINDERS
FOR CONFIRMED BUYER DELEGATES TO THE
iTRAVELiEXPLORE M.I.C.E. BUYER INVITATIONAL PROGRAMME 2009
July 6-11 2009

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  1. Please note that nationals from certain countries need a Visa to enter the Philippines. Please contact the Philippine Tourism Representative(Philippine Marketing Consultant for Middle East Buyers only) or the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate in your area for details/information on entry requirements to the Philippines.

  1. One critical entry requirement is the declaration of foreign currency brought into the country in the amount of US$ 10,000.

HOTEL & RESORT ASSIGNMENT

  1. The Philippine M.I.C.E. hospitality industry, together with Local Government Units in the Destinations of Choice, are extending tremendous support and assistance to the Philippine Department of Tourism and the Philippine Convention & Visitors Corporation to ensure a most memorable experience for you and the rest of our Delegates.

  1. Hotel and Resort assignment of Delegates therefore is based on equitable distribution of the 137 M.I.C.E. Buyers from all over the world, following the drawing of Buyer names among the Partner Hotels and Resorts; without bias to any property, individual or group. The Organizing Committee however assures Delegates of Quality Facilities and Services wherever they will be billeted since it has carefully selected its Partner Hotels, Island Resorts, and Destinations of Choice.

LUGGAGE TAGS & INSTRUCTIONS

  1. We will be sending to confirmed Buyer Delegates three(3) pieces of ITRAVELIEXPLORE Luggage Tags and a colored ribbon:

  • For any hand carried luggage; use:

    • One Luggage Tag with the name of your first Hotel in Manila

  • For check in luggage, use:

    • One Luggage Tag with the names of your Manila Bay area Hotel and Makati/Ortigas Hotel;

    • One colored ribbon to indicate your first Hotel in Manila

To facilitate stowing and transfer of your luggage upon arrival at the airport

  • One extra Luggage Tag

Upon receipt of the Luggage Tags, please ensure that you tag your luggage as indicated above to facilitate luggage handling.

WHAT TO BRING

  1. Here is a checklist of things you should consider bringing on your trip to the Philippines. Please read carefully to ensure a comfortable and worry-free travel to the Philippines.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

  • Attire – You simply need one Formal Wear and one Business Attire for this trip. For the rest of the Programme, you will need light, comfortable, and ultra-casual clothes. Refer to the Programme of Activities for the suggested attire per activity.

  • Comfortable Footwear – Aside from one pair of formal/business footwear, bring comfortable walking shoes: rubber shoes, beach Flip Flops or your Crocs (or any water repellent sandals).

  • Swimwear– There will be lots of opportunities for you to get wet. Get your swimsuit and goggles ready!

  • Sunblock and Lip Protection – July in the Philippines is usually rainy but it can still get hot and humid. Protect yourself from the sun…the higher the SPF, the better.

  • Sunglasses – Bring a pair of polarized sunglasses to block out the glare of the sun.

  • Hat or Cap – Another obvious item to bring to protect yourself from the sun or a bad-hair day.

  • Umbrella –You may want to bring your own foldable umbrella wherever you go as protection against both rain and sun.

  • Overnight Bag / Backpack – Travel light when you leave Manila for your Destination of Choice. A Backpack becomes handy when you go exploring in your Destination of Choice.

  • Camera –Why come to a place like your Dream Destination and not document your trip? A camera is considered a necessity on this trip. You may regret it if you do not bring one.

  • Toiletries – Bring basic necessities like toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, soap, razor, lotion, etc. Most of these items are made available by your host resort, or can be purchased in the resort boutiques; but your personal brand preference may not be available.

  • Medicine – Bring basic medicine such as: Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Loperamide, and Mefenamic Acid We have designed the Programme to include as many activities as possible. You may need to take some painkillers (or a massage!) to ease your muscles after a ‘hard day’s work’.

  • Power Converter – The electrical current in the Philippines is 220v. You will need a power converter if your electric appliance is running on 110v. If it can run on 220v, you may need to bring a power adapter so the prongs fit properly. Most laptops and modern electronics can automatically select 110v or 220v power input. Check the input voltage on your device to be certain.

IMPORTANT ATTIRE TO BRING

  1. PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO BRING THE FOLLOWING ATTIRE required for the following important activities:

  • Welcome Dinner Reception on July 6, Monday:

    • For MALES - Black Formal Pants and a white undershirt

    • For LADIES - Black, sleeveless or strapless evening wear

  • M.I.C.E MART on July 10. Friday:

    • Business Attire

    • NOTE: Please wear short sleeved shirts (for Males)/blouses (for Ladies) under your Suits/Jackets. The Farewell Dinner that follows immediately after the M.I.C.E MART will be in an open air venue at Eastwood City.

  1. Please note that male Buyers who did not submit their sizes may encounter some problems with the attire that will be provided them for the Welcome Dinner Reception. These Buyers are advised to bring their attire to the SMX Convention Center to be exchanged for the proper size, if available.

  2. For the rest of the required attire per activity, please refer to the Programme of Activities and to “TRAVEL ESSENTIALS” which recommends what attire to bring on this trip.

ARRIVAL REMINDERS

  1. We will be sending confirmed Buyer Delegates one (1) iTraveliExplore Button Pin which we request you to wear upon disembarkation from the plane. This Button Pin will help our Airport Arrival Team to identify you as a Delegate as soon as you deplane. This is especially important for Delegates arriving alone and/or without any Philippine escort from their country of origin.

  2. Upon deplaning, please look out for, and approach immediately, our Airport Arrival Team carrying a sign with the ITRAVELIEXPLORE Logo and which reads:

WELCOME DELEGATES
ITRAVELIEXPLORE M.I.C.E. BUYER INVITATIONAL PROGRAM 2009

  1. Our Arrival Team at the Airport will likewise carry Flaglets with the ITRAVELIEXPLORE Logo to guide arriving Delegates to Immigration, to the Baggage Conveyor Area, past Customs, and to the Arrival Lobby where our Mabuhay Guides are waiting to bring you to your respective vehicles and to your hotel destination.

DOMESTIC DEPARTURES TO YOUR DESTINATION OF CHOICE

  1. Your domestic plane tickets will be in the care of the Tour Operator Representative/Mabuhay Guide assigned to each Destination of Choice:

  • BICOL -Rajah Tours and Travel

  • BOHOL -Baron Travel Corporation

  • BORACAY -Blue Horizons Tours and Travel

  • CEBU -Baron Travel Corporation

  • EL NIDO -c/o the Mabuhay Guide

  • ILOCOS -CCT.168 Tours and Travel

  • MARINDUQUE -Ansett Holidays

  1. There is no need to bring an Overnight Bag as one of our Partners will provide you with one. For your departure to your Destination of Choice on July 7, we strongly advise you to use this Overnight Bag, securely tagged with the ITRAVELIEXPLORE Luggage Tag.

  1. You will have to leave the rest of your luggage with the Hotel Concierge upon check out. You will find your luggage in your Hotel rooms in Makati/Ortigas when you return from your Destination of Choice on July 9, Thursday.

  1. Please note that the passenger baggage allowance for all domestic trips is 10 kilos only (except for those taking Philippine Airlines to Ilocos which allows 20 kilos/passenger). Delegates with excess kilos must be prepared to pay extra per excess kilo.

For handcarried bags, the baggage allowance is 7 kilos.

Delegates destined for El Nido will be weighed together with their luggage and will be required to check in their luggage (No handcarry policy). Delegates destined for Marinduque will likewise be weighed together with their luggage but may handcarry their luggage.

M.I.C.E. MART

  1. The Philippine M.I.C.E Hospitality Industry is eagerly looking forward to the M.I.C.E. MART on July 10, Friday at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. The M.I.C.E. MART will give them the opportunity to meet with you and the rest of the Buyer Delegates on a one-on-one business session to discuss and explore mutual business interests based on pre-scheduled appointments.

  2. Please make sure therefore to fill up the Appointment Scheduling Form that will be sent to you, indicating the Philippine M.I.C.E Suppliers whom you would like to meet during the M.I.C.E MART.

  3. At the same time, there will be 100 Philippine M.I.C.E Suppliers, any of whom will likewise request appointments with you and the rest of the Buyer Delegates. The Organizing Committee will strive to satisfy all appointment requests within the allotted time, and therefore requests your full cooperation to honor these additional Business Appointments.

  4. Buyers are invited to attend the Market Seminars to be held at 8:00 am BEFORE the start of the Business Exchange at 10:30 am. Resource Speakers will come from the Buyer Delegations of North America, India, and Middle East. Please go to www.wowpinoy.net/travelexplore/destinations for more details on these seminars.

SECURITY AND QUARANTINE MEASURES

  1. The Bureau of Quarantine is enforcing preventive and precautionary measures at the International Airports for all arriving passengers to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

  2. Certain Hotels in MetroManila likewise implement similar measures at the entrance for all Guests.

  3. Hotels in MetroManila implement certain security procedures to ensure the safety of their Guests. Please be aware that Guests undergo security check at the Hotel entrance; e.g. inspection of vehicles, opening of bags and other carried items.

FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR INQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL THE PHILIPPINE TOURISM REPRESENTATIVE IN YOUR AREA (PHILIPPINE MARKETING CONSULTANT FOR THE MIDDLE EAST) OR EMAIL THE ITRAVEL/IEXPLORE PHILIPPINE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AT: cit@dotpcvc.gov.ph or cit.unit@gmail.com ATTENTION TO: MS. ROSVI C. GAETOS, Overall Chairman.

WE WISH YOU A MOST PLEASANT TRIP AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO THE PHILIPPINES!

For more details, please contact IT/IE 2009 Organizing Committee
Tel: 525-6110 / 525-6635 / 525-9318 • Fax: 521-6165
Email: cit@dotpcvc.gov.ph / cit.unit@gmail.com
website: www.dotpcvc.gov.ph