CLARK FREEPORT — The SM Group has poured close to P1 billion in investment in its twin projects here, including SMX Convention Center and expansion of Park Inn by Radisson Hotel, both situated within the SM City-Clark shopping complex in this Freeport, key officials announced Tuesday.
This developed as top officials of the SMX, SM City shopping complex and Park Inn, held a ground breaking of the convention center project.
“SMX Clark will be the second stand-alone convention center after SMX Manila,” said Miss Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Convention Corporation during a press conference held at Park Inn Hotel here.
These developments, Angeles said, will strengthen SMHCC niche in the (MICE) , meetings, incentives, convention, events industry and will reinforce SMX as the country’s premier events venue.
SMX Clark will stand in a 4,000 square meter lot with two levels for the event venues and a mezzanine floor for offices. The structure would be built adjacent to the Park Inn Hotel. It has three trade halls, three function rooms complented by 14 small meeting rooms.
A bridgeway that will link SMX to SM City Clark and Park Inn Hotel, which will provide convenient access, is part of the design, Neil Rumbaoa, SMHCC vice president for marketing, said in a statement.
Park Inn Clark expansion involves the construction of additional 100 rooms on top of the existing 150 rooms.
“The hotel focuses on delivering modern essentials of great hotel experience, ” said Ann Ulalo, Park Inn Hotel manager adding clients shall feel good, good stay good people and a good place.”That’s our selling lines”.
The strong demand of business, Ulalo said, drove SM Group to put up these projects.
“The main reason why SM Group decided to expand towards north is the repeated requests brought about by increase of economic activities at Clark to include the Clark International Airport flights,” noted SMX vice president and general manager Walid Wark.
Andrea Madlangbayan, SM City Clark shopping complex manager, said multi level parking station will be built soon to address the inadquate parking spaces problem.
Some 2, 500 parking slots would be available once the parking station project is completed, she added.