SM Prime Holdings, Inc., one of Southeast Asia’s largest integrated property developers, is investing P1.7 billion to double the capacity of its Mall Asia Manila complex and position the Philippines as a premier Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) hub in the region.
The P1.7 billion investment will be used for the development of SMXCITE (SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions SMXCITE), which will feature two new buildings designed to accommodate international trade shows, product launches, corporate gatherings and large-scale consumer exhibitions. Each building is capable of hosting more than 18,000 guests.
The investment reflects SM Prime’s long-term bet on the MICE industry’s growth and Manila’s emergence as a regional hub. Expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2027, SMXCITE will add over 18,000 square meters (sqm) of leasable trade hall space, doubling the existing SMX Convention Center Manila’s footprint.
“This expansion reflects our confidence in the Philippines’ growing stature in the MICE space,” said Peggy Angeles, Executive Vice President of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp.
“With world-class infrastructure and a strategic location, we believe Manila can rival regional peers as a go-to venue for international trade events.”
Together with SMX Manila, the development will offer over 35,000 square meters of combined space, enhancing the MOA Complex’s appeal as a destination for international exhibitions and business events.
Once completed, SM Prime’s total convention portfolio will grow to nearly 60,000 square meters of gross leasable area across eight venues nationwide—including SMX Aura in Taguig, SMX Bacolod, SMX Davao, SMX Clark, SMX Olongapo, Sky Hall Seaside Cebu and Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.
SMXCITE will also carry forward SMX Manila’s sustainability benchmarks, including design elements that maximize natural daylight to reduce energy use.
With its scale, accessibility, and environmental features, SMXCITE reinforces Metro Manila’s position as a rising force in the Southeast Asian MICE landscape.
