Metrobank Travel Fair Cebu City

Travel enthusiasts from Cebu flocked to the Ayala Center Activity Center last November 17 to 19, 2023 for the Metrobank Travel Fair. For the entire weekend, Metrobank gathered its travel merchant partners to offer the best travel and accommodation deals to those who are planning to go on their next getaway and discover the world.

Metrobank credit cardholders were able to snatch deals of up to 40% off from participating merchants, such as Philippine Airlines, AirAsia, EVA Air, Anantara Hotels, Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu, Marco Polo Cebu, KLOOK and many more! On top of this, Metrobank Credit Mastercard® holders who made a minimum single-receipt purchase of PHP10,000 during the fair received a PHP500 eGC. Meanwhile, those who made a minimum single-receipt purchase worth PHP25,000 during the Fair got a FREE Plaza Premium lounge access at the Cebu International or Domestic airport.

(L-R ) From Metrobank: Melissa Samson, VP and Head of Credit Card Product & Segment Strategy, Miko Beltran, VP and Head of Credit Card Usage & Portfolio Management, Gail Male, SVP and Head of Credit Cards, Personal Loans & Digital Channels Group, Emmeline Go, Region Head of Visayas Region, Cheston Cornelio, VP and Head of Digital and Business Transformation, Ana Lorenzo, AXA Phils Marketing Director

Lastly, Metrobank credit cardholders with a PHP10,000 minimum single-receipt spend at any of the participating merchants during the fair earned raffle entries to get a chance to win a trip for two (2) to Hong Kong!

Harping on the revenge travel fever, Metrobank also introduced new exclusive benefits and offers for the Metrobank World Mastercard®, enabling cardholders to discover a world of privileged travel, dining and shopping experiences, tailored to their needs. Cardholders can earn 1 mile per PHP17 foreign currency spend, enjoy two (2) complimentary global airport lounge access every year via Dragon Pass, avail of up to 50% off on luxury dining deals at select partners, and get rebates at over 4,000 Mastercard® merchants like Lane Crawford in Hong Kong, Takashimaya in Japan, and Bloomingdales in the US. Plus, for a limited period, until April 30, 2024, cardholders can enjoy a low forex fee of 1.85% for every foreign currency transaction.

Metrobank Travel Fair Cebu perks

Don’t have a Metrobank credit card yet? No need to worry! You can apply for a card online via https://apply.metrobank.com.ph/creditcard or visit the card application booth at the Metrobank Travel Fair. You can also visit the nearest Metrobank branch to apply for a Metrobank credit card or open a Metrobank debit card.

Learn more by visiting the Metrobank website at https://www.metrobank.com.ph/.

Follow Metrobank and Metrobank Card PH on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

2GO, the Philippines' largest sea travel transportation solutions provider and a subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation, is thrilled to unveil its sea travel movement, #ShipNatinTo. With an unwavering commitment to enhancing the passenger experience at sea, 2GO brings an exciting array of upgrades and initiatives that continue to elevate the convenience and excitement of sea travel.

Café 2GO opens in 2GO ships with freshly brewed original blends.

 Brewing with new offerings and scaling experience

2GO proudly introduces Café 2GO, an onboard café available on all ships, offering signature coffee blends that redefine the sea journey experience. This novel locale merges the charm of a traditional café with the tranquility of the open sea, featuring a diverse menu of snacks, including sandwiches, pastas, and breakfast meals, complementing your favorite coffee. Indulge in beloved coffee blends alongside Filipino pasalubong favorites like Goldilocks and Brownies Unlimited, making Café 2GO the ultimate haven for relaxation during sea travel.

Watsons joins to go on its journey to elevating sea travel experiences available in 2GO ships.

Watsons Sets Sail

In October, passengers will have the opportunity to indulge in their overall wellness onboard with the availability of Watsons items on all 2GO ships. This addition ensures passengers can conveniently purchase their travel essentials, skin care needs, as well as over-the-counter medicine, as they journey towards their chosen destinations. With Watsons now joining the retail roster alongside Kultura and Miniso, passengers can expect a complete and delightful shopping experience while onboard. 

More frequent sea journeys

In October, 2GO is making travel from Manila to Puerto Princesa and Coron more convenient with a revamped weekend schedule, offering Friday afternoon departures from Manila and Monday morning returns. This provides an ideal opportunity for enriching weekend getaways to and from these stunning destinations. 

2GO is also introducing passenger callouts from Batangas to Tagbilaran, Cagayan, Cebu, and Butuan, along with nine voyages a week to Caticlan, opening exciting exploration opportunities for travelers from Southern Luzon. Furthermore, there are now more scheduled routes from Cebu and Cagayan de Oro traveling four trips per week connecting these vibrant cities to Manila.

MV 2GO Maligaya accommodates more passengers to embrace the wonders of sea travel

#ShipNatinTo, sama-sama sa saya with MV 2GO Maligaya 

Returning to sea in October, MV 2GO Maligaya boasts significant upgrades designed to accommodate more passengers and whisk them away to exciting destinations across the Philippines. With an additional passenger capacity of 200, MV 2GO Maligaya is poised to bring in more sea travelers on memorable journeys one island at a time.

Blessie Cruz, Senior AVP/Marketing Head shares, "2GO guides passengers to a gateway of incredible adventures and cherished memories. Our commitment lies in enhancing the sea travel experience, enjoying more of our world-class Philippine destinations, and crafting memorable moments with our loved ones."

2GO Travel launches #ShipNatinTo, elevating sea travel experiences in the Philippines.

Experience Elevated Sea Travel

To celebrate the launch of #ShipNatinTo, 2GO announces its latest sea sale from October 4 to 6 for only 99, inclusive of 50 kilo baggage allowance. Travel from November 1 onwards and experience 2GO Travel’s elevated sea travel from Manila to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Coron, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Ozamiz, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga and vv. Or travel within VISMIN from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Ozamiz.

To start sea traveling, 2GO tickets are available online through the 2GO App or at travel.2go.com.ph. 2GO tickets are also available at 2GO retail outlets, SM Business Centers, any of the 2,000 authorized agents nationwide, or call (02) 8528-7000.

About 2GO Group Inc.:

2GO GROUP, INC. enables the movement of goods and people throughout the Philippines. It is the largest point-to-point transportation and logistics provider in the country. At its core are five business units, namely 2GO Sea Solutions, 2GO Special Containers and Value-Added Services (SCVASI), 2GO Express, 2GO Forwarding and 2GO Logistics. 

A part of SM Investments Corporation, the country’s leading conglomerate, 2GO offers multimodal transportation, warehousing and inventory management, special containers, and project logistics as well as e-commerce logistics, including last-mile deliveries, and express courier deliveries. 2GO also provides sea travel, and a wide range of peripheral logistics such as freight forwarding, import and export processing, and customs brokerage. 2GO leverages on all its services to create unique supply chain solutions for all its customers. 

Backed by 148 years of expertise in transportation and logistics, 2GO has made a mark for providing the best travel experiences, efficient movement of products and cargoes, and for catalyzing business growth in domestic and international markets.

The Bohol run of the Motor7 Photo and Video Competition 2022 rolled out this week. Motorbikers have until August 22, 2022 to roam the Philippines’s tenth largest island and snap stills or record videos of their experiences at its alluring geosites.

Motorbike riders are capturing the amazing natural and man-made wonders of the Central Visayas provinces in awe-inspiring pictures and videos through the contest series initiated by the Department of Tourism- Central Visayas (DOT7).

“Motor7 – The Geopark Ride to Recovery,” as the Bohol leg is captioned, advances from Bohol’s application for the coveted Global Geopark distinction with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  It is, to date, the only site in the Philippines being considered for the citation.

DOT7 Chief Tourism Operations Officer Gelena Asis-Dimpas says riders travelling through Bohol may choose as their subjects any of the unique geosites within the newly-documented Motor7 circuits in the province - caves, karsts, springs, waterfalls, uplifted marine terraces and an uplifted coral garden. They may also opt to feature the indigenous Eskaya tribe in their entries aside from highlighting the local motorbiking culture.

Motorbiking is developing into a cultural phenomenon, a lifestyle that enables enthusiasts to celebrate the outdoors and bear witness to the bounties of the natural environment, appreciating the panoramic land and seascapes of the region while traversing mountain trails, highways and seaside lanes. 

Motor7 was established by the DOT7 as a regional program to fully harness the potential of the activity as a tourism product. Through its program status, Motor7 has sustained events that promote environmental awareness and conservation, heritage preservation and livelihood development.

Dimpas adds, “The Motor7 Photo and Video Competition is helping riders appreciate the significance of open spaces, protection of land and seascapes and our common heritage. It is also opening up opportunities for start-up food outlets, campsites and other businesses.”

The contest is open to Central Visayas-based photography, videography and motorcycle touring enthusiasts. Professionals and hobbyists alike are welcome to submit entries.

Details on the Motor7 Photo and Video Competition 2022, including guidelines and mechanics, are available on the Motor7 Central Visayas Adventures and Visit Central Visayas facebook pages. Strict adherence to competition guidelines and mechanics is strongly advised.

The fully-airconditioned, brownout-free facility will have its own landscaped garden lawn with panoramic sea views

BORACAY ISLAND, Philippines, Megaworld subsidiary Global-Estate Resorts, Inc. (GERI) is opening its Boracay Newcoast Convention Center (BNCC) this month, right within its expansive 150-hectare Boracay Newcoast in the eastern part of Boracay Island. 

The 1,200-seater convention facility is a modern tensile structure that can be divided into three smaller rooms, each with a capacity of 400 persons for theatre-type set-up and 250 persons for banquet-type set-up. Surrounding the facility is an open garden lawn, which can be used as an extended amenity for events.

“A theatre-type setting will give us a capacity of around 1,200 persons, while a banquet set-up will allow up to 750 persons. With a view overlooking the Sibuyan Sea, the Boracay Newcoast Convention Center is perfect blend of a modern MICE facility and a tropical haven, right at the heart of our 150-hectare tourism township,” says Cleofe Albiso, managing director, Megaworld Hotels & Resorts, the operator of the BNCC.

The BNCC will be fully-airconditioned and will be equipped with a 100% back-up power supply. The convention facility will also be equipped with WiFi internet access, fixed video screens and motorized projector screens with sound system. The facility will also have its own service kitchen, ensuring smooth banquet services for MICE events.

“We will also have a high ceiling of up to nine (9) meters, which event organizers prefer so they can be flexible with their designs and program performances. We carefully took into consideration the major requirements of events, not just for conventions and conferences, but also for weddings,” adds Albiso.

Savoy Hotel Boracay and Belmont Hotel Boracay, the two hotels already operating inside Boracay Newcoast, will handle the banquet requirements of the BNCC.

The new convention facility will also have a close proximity to the beach area of Boracay Newcoast. Currently, the beach area offers WiFi services and other lounging facilities perfect for ‘workcation,’ a term that caters to the trend among travelers who want to enjoy the beach while working.

With the opening of Cebu and the rest of the Philippines, Anjo World Theme Park projects growth as more and more people are now coming to the theme park.

“We are very positive of the prospects for Anjo World, which is now a known brand,” says Chester Lim, president of the Anjo World Theme Park.

Mr. Lim also sees the need to increase tourism confidence to enable the industry to recover from the adverse impact of the pandemic.

(L-R) CCLEC Assistant Marketing Manager Kendall Roa; CCLEX Communication and Stakeholder Management Manager Jasmin Suma-oy; CCLEC Senior Legal Manager Atty. Rosemarie Versoza; CCLEC President and General Manager Mr. Allan Alfon; Anjo World Theme Park President Mr. Chester Lim; Ms. Josiefe Lim, Chairman and CEO of CBI Group of Companies; Mr. Cedric Reyes, Head of Sales and Marketing for Anjo World Theme Park; and CCLEC Corporate Communication Specialist Princess Dawn Felicitas

He expressed hope that the government will continue with its efforts to promote tourism since the sector has been a major contributor to the economy as well as help create thousands of jobs and promote small businesses.

Anjo World’s is now experiencing increasing number of guests as more and more people are going to the park, Lim added.

Cedric Reyes, head of sales and marketing for Anjo World, said they are now looking at going into collaboration with other industry stakeholders such as resorts in Mactan and Cordova.

In fact, Anjo World will be signing a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) to establish a Sales Promotion Partnership entitled “BRIDGING THE FUN IN CEBU.”

Under this MOA, Anjo World will give Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) motorists a discount of P100 for every purchase of one Day Adventure Pass upon the presentation of a CCLEX toll receipt. However, each motorist can avail of the discount for a maximum of four tickets per receipt in per day.

The MOA will be in effect until November 29, 2022.

“We partnered with Anjo World as part of our vision of connecting communities and people. Through CCLEX, families from Mactan Island will now have a more accessible route to enjoying destinations and sights in the south, including Anjo World, truly bridging the fun that largely benefits Cebuanos,” says Allan G. Alfon, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation president and general manager.

CCLEX, an engineering marvel and being the longest and tallest bridgeway structure in in the country, has been a tourist attraction in itself, providing added value to the tourism industry in Cebu, Mr. Alfon pointed out.

“The 8.9-kilometer modern toll expressway is also seen to spur tourism activities in the southern part of Cebu Province as it provides direct access from Mactan Island to Cebu City's South Road Properties,” he added.

Anjo World Theme Park signs a memorandum of agreement with the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) to establish a Sales Promotion Partnership entitled “BRIDGING THE FUN IN CEBU.”

With this MOA, Mr. Reyes says they are expecting a good number of guests from Mactan and Cordova.

Also, he disclosed that they will revive talks with Mactan resorts to tie up with them by giving discounts to their guests.

Even foreign guests are slowly coming back. “We are excited. Lately, we are getting Korean (guests) and a few Americans,” according to Mr. Reyes.

Anjo World is Cebu’s first outdoor theme park, featuring more than 12 world-class rides and attractions for the Filipino family to enjoy. The rides include the 200-foot-high Ferris wheel, the tallest in the Visayas; the “Anjo Eye” and a spinning roller coaster “The Pharoah.”

Family-oriented rides such as Golden Carousel, London Taxi bumper cars, Space shuttle, among others are also available.

Also located inside the park is Snow World, a winter-themed attraction that features the sights of different larger than life ice sculptures in a negative 10 degrees temperature indoor facility setting.

Guests of all ages are welcome, whether vaxxed or not.

The Anjo World Theme Park is open from 12 noon to 8 pm Wednesdays to Fridays and from 10 am to 8 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.