SMX Convention Center, the meetings and exhibitions arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., posted record bookings and visitor turnout last year as demand for large-scale events surged nationwide.
“Since the pandemic reopening, we have seen sustained demand not only in Metro Manila but also in key regional destinations,” Peggy Angeles, executive vice president of SM Hotels and Conventions Corp., said.
She added that accessible venue locations encouraged higher attendance at consumer-focused events.
The company hosted 1,632 events across its eight venues in 2025, a 10-percent increase from 1,480 a year earlier, driven by corporate, trade, and consumer shows.
Visitor traffic rose 34 percent to 8.54 million, boosted by exhibitions and public events that drew strong walk-in participation.
Nearly half of all events were held outside Metro Manila and provincial destinations like Clark, Bacolod, Davao and Olongapo.
These included flagship trade exhibitions and consumer shows such as PhilConstruct, WOFEX, the Manila International Auto Show, travel fairs, bridal expos, and large-scale cosplay conventions.
SMX was said to be expanding capacity to meet rising demand.
The SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2026, while SMXCITE, a new 18,000-square-meter exhibition facility within the SM Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City, is targeted for early 2027.
On Tuesday, SM Prime shares fell by 10 centavos, or 0.47 percent, to close at P21.05 each.