Resulting to higher foot traffic the entire year.
In its media release on Tuesday, March 3, SM Prime reported that its meetings and exhibitions arm, the SMX Convention Center, was able to cement its leading position in the sector in the country after booking a record number of events in 2025.
Across eight properties in its portfolio, SMX booked a total of 1,632 events, which is up by 10% from 1,480 logged in 2024.
“Booked events during the year were almost evenly divided between Metro Manila and regional venues, reflecting the rising popularity of provincial destinations such as Clark, Bacolod, Davao and Olongapo,” noted the company.
Meanwhile, visitor traffic was able to see a 34% uptick, jumping from 6.37 million in 2024 to 8.54 million in 2025, with SM attributing the growth to the expanded lineup of booked events and their “strong audience pull.”
Major events staged at SMX venues in the entire year were the likes of PhilConstruct, WOFEX, SIGMA, the Manila International Auto Show and the Travel Tour Expo, which are regarded as the flagship trade exhibitions and consumer shows, along with bridal fairs and large-scale cosplay conventions.
Peggy Angeles, Executive Vice President of SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation (SMHCC), said in her comment: “Since the pandemic reopening, we have seen sustained demand not only in Metro Manila but also in key regional destinations. The accessible locations of our venues also encouraged walk-in visitors, particularly for exhibitions and consumer shows open to the public.”
She added, “We are scaling capacity in step with demand, while focusing on developments that complement our current portfolio. This allows us to extend growth beyond the capital and strengthen our presence in key provincial markets.”
Some of the forthcoming expansions include the soon-to-be opened SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu, which is poised to become the largest convention center in the Philippines once it opens in the fourth quarter of 2026.
In Pasay City, where the flagship SMX Conevention Center Manila is located, SMXCITE (SMX Center for International Trade and Exhibitions), spanning 18,000 square meters, is set to open in early 2027 and will be the country’s largest international exhibition venue.
