08 December 2016 — For the first time ever, in over 40 years of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Poland,  the Philippines was featured as the Country Partner  during the tourism event called “Meet the Bidder” Grand Edition held at the Sound Garden Hotel in Warsaw, Poland on November 23.

The “Meet the Bidder, which was organized by Mr. Marcin Lewandowski, serves as a major platform in connecting “suppliers” and “buyers” of ideal hosts for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) industry.

“Meet The Bidder” which started in 2012 is a yearly event designed to promote a particular region/country as an incentive and business travel destination dedicated to the promotion of companies from a given destination. This event provides suppliers with an opportunity to meet the buyers and acquire new business opportunities by presenting different forms of activities which can be undertaken in a region/country; available high-quality hotels and venues; DMC companies; unique attractions and landmarks of the region/country.

The 2016 Grand Edition was divided into two parts: the first was an industry discussion on the safety of incentive travel, which is a growing concern for the industry, and the second part was composed of B2B meetings between the exhibitors and Polish MICE industry representatives.

Officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT) based in Frankfurt, namely, Tourism Director Ms. Margarita Patricia Valdes and Operations Officer Ms. Anabelle Apostol gave a PowerPoint presentation before at least 45 participants who are tour operators, owners of travel agencies, travel agents and representatives from Poland’s growing MICE industry.

Attaché Ms. Evelyn Vega of the Philippine Embassy in Warsaw coordinated the Philippines’ participation to this event with the Business Development Director of “Meet the Bidder” Ms. Katarzyna Kaluza and with the DOT-Frankfurt officials.

Last year, Philippine envoy to Poland Ms. Patricia Ann V. Paez and Attaché Ms. Vega were invited by Mr. Lewandowski to observe the proceedings of the “Meet the Bidder’s” 2015 edition. Subsequently, they endorsed the DOT’s participation to this year’s Grand Edition. END