Guests on White Beach in Boracay, with paraw sailboats on the water

International destination

The Philippines for corporate offsites and incentive trips from India

Manila's ballrooms and convention centres, then Cebu, Boracay and Palawan for the islands, with an Air India non-stop from Delhi in about 7 hours. ICE India handles Philippines conferences, incentive trips and offsites, with venue, travel and on-site arrangements coordinated for the group.

Plan an event in The Philippines
Getting there
Air India flies non-stop from Delhi in about 7 hours. Other Indian cities connect through Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
Best months
December to May, with highs of 30 to 34 °C in Manila
Suits
Incentive trips and leadership offsites, plus dealer meets and conferences, for 50 to 3,000 people
ICE India in the Philippines
Planned by ICE India, with vetted local partners on the ground.

Why companies choose the Philippines

  • English is widely spoken

    Hotel teams, guides and drivers brief and work in English, so a group needs no interpreter at any stop.

  • Ballrooms for large groups

    One Manila hotel holds 3,900 in a single hall, and the Philippine International Convention Center has a plenary hall for more than 3,500.

  • A city and an island in one trip

    Conference days in Manila's business districts, then a short flight to a beach resort for the reward.

  • Islands that make an incentive

    Limestone lagoons in El Nido, white sand in Boracay and island hopping by outrigger boat need no set-building.

  • Resorts built for groups

    Cebu and Boracay have beachfront resorts with ballrooms, outdoor dinner lawns and sea-view terraces on site.

  • Close to Indian working hours

    The Philippines is only 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of India, so office calls and conference timings stay familiar.

The Philippines for corporate groups

The Philippines suits companies that want business and leisure in one programme. Manila has the hotels, the convention centres and the flight connections. The islands have the beaches and the scenery.

Fifty leaders can meet in a Makati hotel, and 1,500 dealers fit one Manila ballroom. A reward trip for 100 then moves on to Cebu, Boracay or Palawan.

For group flights, hotels and visas to the Philippines, see corporate travel.

Visas for Indian passport holders

Indian passport holders can enter without a visa for most group trips. ICE India checks each passport and booking before departure.

Visa-free entry
14 days for tourism or business, not extendable. Each traveller needs a passport with six months of validity beyond the stay, a confirmed hotel booking, proof of funds and a return or onward ticket.
Longer stay with a visa from another country
Travellers holding a valid visa or residence permit for the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore or a Schengen state can stay 30 days visa-free, also not extendable.
eTravel registration
Every arriving traveller completes the free eTravel declaration online at etravel.gov.ph, within 72 hours before arrival.
Longer or other stays
A stay beyond these limits needs a visa from the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi or through the e-visa system, applied for before travel.

Two days groups plan around in the Philippines: island hopping and sunset sailing

A day among the lagoons of Palawan and an evening under sail in Boracay. Most island programmes are built around one of them.

Outrigger boats lined up on the beach at El Nido, with a limestone cliff behind

Lagoons, white beaches and limestone cliffs around El Nido

Island hopping

Groups board outrigger boats from El Nido for the islands of Bacuit Bay. The usual first route calls at the Big Lagoon, the Secret Lagoon and Seven Commando Beach, with time to swim and kayak.

A lunch of grilled fish and rice is served on a beach between stops. Boats return to town in the late afternoon.

Time
A full day, about seven to eight hours.
Group size
Groups sail in several boats at once, each with its own crew.
As the gala night
A beachfront dinner at the resort on the night after the trip.
Food
Grilled fish, rice and fruit on the beach, with vegetarian and Jain lunches briefed in advance.
A paraw sailboat silhouetted against an orange sunset off Boracay

Traditional sailboats off White Beach, Boracay

Sunset paraw sailing

The paraw is the traditional twin-hulled sailboat of Boracay. Sailings leave White Beach around 5:00 to 5:30 pm and follow the shore as the sun goes down.

A whole group can sail in a fleet of paraws, with a beach dinner waiting when they land.

Time
Thirty minutes to an hour, timed for sunset.
Group size
Each boat takes about six to ten guests, so a group sails as a fleet.
As the gala night
Dinner on Punta Bunga Beach at Shangri-La Boracay, which seats 300.
Food
Seafood and barbecue on the sand, with Indian menus on request.

Where to go in the Philippines

The country is a chain of islands. Most programmes pair Manila, for the meetings, with one or two islands, for the reward.

The towers of Makati lit at dusk, seen from above
The Makati and Bonifacio skyline above the low-rise city

Business districts, Intramuros and Manila Bay

Manila

Metro Manila is a cluster of cities. Makati and Bonifacio Global City hold the business and conference hotels. Pasay and Parañaque hold the Manila Bay resorts and the convention centres.

Groups choose a base by what the programme needs: a boardroom, a ballroom or a view of the bay. Most programmes spend two or three nights here, then fly on to an island.

The bay side suits large dinners and exhibitions, while Makati suits conferences that run alongside shopping and dining. Most hotels are close to a mall, so team dinners rarely need coaches.

Makati
The business core. The Peninsula Manila and Makati Shangri-La stand near Ayala Avenue, with the Greenbelt restaurants and the Ayala Museum a short ride away, so a free evening needs no planning.
Bonifacio Global City
A planned district of glass towers. Shangri-La The Fort anchors it, and One Bonifacio High Street has restaurants for group dinners within walking distance after the sessions end.
Pasay and Parañaque
The bay side. Conrad Manila links to the SMX Convention Center by a walkway bridge, and Okada Manila in Entertainment City has its own large ballrooms.
Intramuros
The walled Spanish city. Fort Santiago and Manila Cathedral stand inside its walls, and groups tour them on foot or by bamboo bicycle.
The Cebu City skyline on a clear day
The chandeliers and altar inside the Basilica del Santo Niño in Cebu City

The Queen City of the South and the Mactan resorts

Cebu

Cebu City is the oldest Spanish settlement in the country, with Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño in the centre. Fort San Pedro, begun in 1565, is the oldest fort in the Philippines.

The beach resorts are across the bridge on Mactan Island, 15 to 20 minutes from Mactan-Cebu Airport. Large groups use Cebu for an incentive stay because its resorts have big ballrooms and space for outdoor dinners.

Two bridges, the Mandaue-Mactan and the Marcelo Fernan, join Mactan to the mainland, so a group can stay on the beach and still reach the old city in a morning.

Cebu City
A city base for conferences. Radisson Blu Cebu is in the centre, and the heritage sights are a short drive from any hotel.
Mactan Island
The resort coast. Shangri-La Mactan sits on 13 hectares, with a golf park that seats 350 for dinner and a beachfront that seats 300.
Mactan Shrine
The monument to Lapu-Lapu, the chieftain who defeated Magellan in 1521, makes an easy half-day stop on Mactan.
Fort San Pedro
The bastion fort in Cebu City begun in 1565, now holds a museum, an open-air theatre and the Cebu office of the Department of Tourism.
Grass-covered Chocolate Hills rising above the forest in Bohol
A thatched-roof cruise boat with guests aboard on the green Loboc River in Bohol

The Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers

Bohol

More than 1,200 grass-covered hills rise from the Bohol countryside and turn chocolate brown in the dry season. The island is also home to the tarsier, one of the world's smallest primates.

Bohol works best as a day trip from Cebu. Fast ferries cross to Tagbilaran in about two hours, then coaches take the group inland. A full countryside tour takes about eight hours.

Panglao Island, near Tagbilaran, has beach hotels for groups that want to stay overnight, and the usual tours start from there.

A typical day visits Baclayon Church and the Blood Compact Shrine, which marks the first treaty of friendship between the Spanish and Filipinos, then the Loboc River, the tarsiers and the hills.

Chocolate Hills
Groups climb to the viewpoint at Carmen, in the middle of the island, for the view across the hills.
Tarsier Sanctuary
Visitors see the Philippine tarsier in its forest habitat, from a short walking path.
Loboc River
A cruise on a covered catamaran, with a buffet lunch of Filipino dishes and live music on board.
Baclayon Church
A Spanish colonial church built in 1595, with a museum of 16th-century relics beside it.
Two sailboats on turquoise water off Boracay, seen through palm fronds
Palms and swimmers along White Beach, Boracay

White Beach, paraw sailing and beachfront resorts

Boracay

A small island with a long stretch of powder-white sand, divided into three stations. Resorts, restaurants and beach bars are within a short walk of each other.

There is no airport on the island. Groups fly to Caticlan, then cross by boat in about 15 minutes, with coaches and buggies at the other end.

White Beach is about four kilometres long, so groups usually choose one resort and walk the sand to dinner. The sea off this west coast averages 28 °C.

Puka Shell Beach, at the northern tip, is wilder and far quieter, and suits a morning walk or a picnic.

Station 1
The quietest and widest stretch of sand, with the larger resorts. Willy's Rock, a small shrine on a rock, stands at its end.
Station 2
The busiest part, with restaurants, bars and shops. D'Mall, a pedestrian lane of stalls and cafes, runs behind it.
Mount Luho
The highest point on the island, with a panoramic view over the beaches and the sea, reached by tricycle or a short hike.
Bulabog Beach
On the windy east coast, known for kiteboarding and windsurfing, and a change from the calm west.
A boat entering the Big Lagoon at El Nido between limestone cliffs
The bow of an outrigger boat heading for the Snake Island sandbar in Palawan

El Nido, Puerto Princesa and the Underground River

Palawan

El Nido in the north has the lagoons and island hopping. Puerto Princesa, the capital, has the Underground River and the larger hotels.

Palawan resorts are smaller than those in Cebu and Boracay, so the island suits groups that can fit in two or three hotels. The two bases are far apart, so most programmes choose one.

Puerto Princesa suits larger groups because it has the bigger hotels. El Nido suits smaller groups, with boutique resorts and the boats for island hopping.

Puerto Princesa
The gateway city. Four Points by Sheraton at Sabang and Astoria Palawan both have conference halls, and the Honda Bay islands are reached by outrigger boat from Sta. Lourdes Wharf, about 30 to 45 minutes north of the city.
Underground River
At Sabang, 80 km from the city, a paddle-boat tour enters the cave. Allow a full day for the tour and the drive.
El Nido
A fishing town on Bacuit Bay, the starting point for the island-hopping tours, with limestone cliffs rising straight from the water.
Lio and Nacpan
Lio Beach, 4 km north of the town, has boutique resorts beside the airport. Nacpan Beach is a quieter stretch further north.

Flights from the main Indian cities to the Philippines

Indian flights land at Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), 25 to 45 minutes from the Makati and Bonifacio Global City hotels in normal traffic. Cebu, Boracay and Palawan are short domestic flights from Manila.

Reaching The Philippines
FromAirportNon-stop flightsOne-stop routes
DelhiIndira Gandhi International (DEL)Air India, about 7hNon-stop
MumbaiChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM)No non-stop serviceSingapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
BengaluruKempegowda International (BLR)No non-stop serviceSingapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
ChennaiChennai International (MAA)No non-stop serviceSingapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
HyderabadRajiv Gandhi International (HYD)No non-stop serviceSingapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
KolkataNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (CCU)No non-stop serviceSingapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur
KochiCochin International (COK)No non-stop serviceSingapore or Kuala Lumpur
AhmedabadSardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (AMD)No non-stop serviceDelhi, with the Air India non-stop onward
Pune, Jaipur, Patna and other citiesLocal airportNo non-stop serviceDelhi or Mumbai on one ticket

Hotels and venues for groups in the Philippines

Thirteen properties across Manila, Cebu, Boracay and Palawan, from resort ballrooms for 300 to Manila halls for 3,900.

Selected corporate venues in The Philippines
HotelAreaRoomsEvent venuesLargest indoor venue (sq ft, theatre)
Manila Marriott HotelNewport City, Pasay57044Grand Ballroom: about 31,180 sq ft, 3,900
Shangri-La The FortBonifacio Global City57621Grand Ballroom: about 19,380 sq ft, 1,890
Okada ManilaEntertainment City, Parañaque99323Grand Ballroom: about 17,750 sq ft, up to 1,500 guests
Conrad ManilaMall of Asia Complex, Pasay3476Forbes Ballroom: about 16,150 sq ft, 1,270
Makati Shangri-LaAyala Center, Makati696Not availableRizal Ballroom: about 15,780 sq ft, 1,540
The Manila HotelRizal Park, Manila Bay570Not availableFiesta Pavilion: about 17,830 sq ft, up to 1,000 guests
The Peninsula ManilaAyala Avenue, Makati35112Rigodon Ballroom: about 6,780 sq ft, 450
Shangri-La MactanMactan Island, Cebu53022The Marquee: about 12,440 sq ft, 900
Radisson Blu CebuCebu City39512Santa Maria Grand Ballroom: about 12,920 sq ft, 1,500
Shangri-La BoracayPunta Bunga, Boracay219Not availableSagana Ballroom: about 4,040 sq ft, 300
Crimson Resort and Spa BoracayStation Zero, Boracay192Not availableCoral Ballroom: about 4,210 sq ft, 350
Four Points by Sheraton Puerto PrincesaSabang, Palawan1684Ballroom: about 6,840 sq ft, 480
Astoria PalawanPuerto Princesa, Palawan1984Mangrove Conference Center: about 4,730 sq ft, 450

Convention and exhibition centres

Manila has two large conference venues in Pasay, near the bay, for events too big for any hotel.

  • Delegates seated beneath chandeliers in the Reception Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center

    Pasay, Manila Bay

    Philippine International Convention Center

    The country's established home for summits and national conferences, with a theatre-style plenary hall, a large dinner hall and a flexible forum.

    • Plenary Hall: more than 3,500 theatre seats
    • Reception Hall: 2,500 seated dinner
    • The Forum: up to 3,000
  • Crowds at an exhibition on the concourse of the SMX Convention Center in Pasay

    Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay

    SMX Convention Center Manila

    A purpose-built exhibition and conference centre beside the Mall of Asia, with four ground-floor halls and five function rooms upstairs.

    • Hall 1 or Hall 4: 2,880 theatre seats
    • Halls 1 to 4 together: about 98,300 sq ft
    • Function Room 5: 2,944 theatre seats

Where to hold the evenings

Where a whole group can eat, celebrate or play together after the working day.

  • Gala dinner venues

    Hotel ballrooms and beach lawns with stage, sound and lighting. Capacities are the largest group each venue takes.

    • Fiesta Pavilion, The Manila Hotel: up to 1,000
    • Grand Ballroom, Manila Marriott Hotel: about 2,000
    • Grand Ballroom, Shangri-La The Fort: 1,200
    • The Marquee, Shangri-La Mactan: 600
    • Punta Bunga Beach, Shangri-La Boracay: 300
    • Grand Ballroom, Okada Manila: up to 1,500

  • Indian restaurants for groups

    Manila and Cebu both have Indian restaurants, and several take private bookings. Vegetarian and Jain menus are sent to the kitchen in advance.

    • Swagat Indian Cuisine, Legazpi Village, Makati
    • Royal Indian Curry House, Poblacion, Makati
    • New Bombay, Metro Manila
    • Kashmir, Metro Manila
    • Bollywood Tandoor, Cebu City

  • Team activity venues

    Experiences that work for team-building and incentive groups.

    • Bambike Ecotours, Intramuros: guided bamboo-bike rides
    • Ayala Museum, Makati: private functions and cultural evenings
    • TOPS, Busay Hills, Cebu City: sunset views over the city
    • Honda Bay, Puerto Princesa: island hopping from the city
    • Kawasan Falls, Badian, Cebu: canyoneering

What groups do in the Philippines

  • Fort Santiago and Intramuros

    A walk through the Spanish-era walled city, from the fort at the river mouth to the cathedral and the old stone streets.

  • Ayala Museum

    Collections of Philippine art, gold and history in the middle of Makati, with galleries that open for private evenings.

  • Magellan's Cross and the Santo Niño Basilica

    The cross planted in Cebu in 1521 and the country's oldest church, a few minutes apart in the old city.

  • Manila Bay at sunset

    The bayside promenade and the Rizal Park lawns are where Manila gathers as the sun goes down.

  • Puerto Princesa Underground River

    A UNESCO World Heritage Site, entered by paddle boat from the beach at Sabang, about two hours from Puerto Princesa.

  • Kayangan Lake, Coron

    A clear lake among limestone cliffs, with a boardwalk for swimming. Coron is about an hour's flight from Manila.

A sample programme in the Philippines

A route for 80 to 150 guests that pairs a Manila working morning with a gala dinner, an Indian dinner in Makati and a beach morning. Each brief reshapes it.

4 nights, 5 days

  1. The lights of Metro Manila at night, seen from a tower in TaguigDay 1

    Arrival in Manila

    Guests arrive from each office and are met at Manila airport. The group transfers to a hotel in Makati or Bonifacio Global City and has a welcome dinner there.

  2. The stone gate of Fort Santiago in Intramuros, ManilaDay 2

    Conference and Intramuros

    Sessions run in the hotel ballroom until lunch. In the afternoon the group walks Intramuros and Fort Santiago. The evening's dinner is Indian, at Swagat in Legazpi Village, Makati.

  3. Visitors at Magellan's Cross in Cebu CityDay 3

    Cebu and the gala dinner

    A morning flight to Cebu. Visit Magellan's Cross and the Basilica del Santo Niño in the old city, then cross to Mactan Island. The gala dinner is in The Marquee at Shangri-La Mactan, with a stage and an awards ceremony.

  4. A tarsier clinging to a branch in BoholDay 4

    Bohol and the Chocolate Hills

    An early fast ferry to Tagbilaran, then coaches to the Chocolate Hills and the tarsiers. The group returns to Cebu by ferry in the evening.

  5. A jetty running out into the sea at a resort on Mactan IslandDay 5

    A beach morning and departure

    A free morning on the Mactan beaches, then the flight to Manila to join the flights home.

Food, souvenirs and shopping in the Philippines

Tasting and buying fit into stops on the programme, with no day set aside for shopping.

  • Local food to try

    Filipino food is hearty and sour, sweet and salty at once. Manila and Cebu both have restaurants that serve it well to groups.

    • Sinigang, a sour tamarind soup, and kare-kare, oxtail in peanut sauce, at Mesa, Greenbelt, Makati
    • Chicken barbecue and pancit at Aristocrat, Malate
    • Lechon, roast pig, at Zubuchon, Cebu
    • Grilled skewers at Larsian, Cebu City
    • Halo-halo, shaved ice with sweet beans and fruit
    • Calamansi juice, from a small local citrus

  • What to bring home

    Dried fruit, biscuits and coffee make easy gifts for the office and at home.

    • Dried mangoes from Cebu
    • Otap, flaky Cebu biscuits
    • Polvoron, powdered milk shortbread
    • Barako coffee, a strong local bean
    • Ube jam, made from purple yam
    • Pearl jewellery from Palawan

  • Where to shop

    Malls for brands, markets for food gifts, and the island promenades for souvenirs.

    • Greenbelt and Ayala Center, Makati: malls and restaurants
    • SM Mall of Asia, Pasay: one of the largest malls in Manila
    • Taboan Market, Cebu City: dried fish and dried mangoes
    • Carbon Market, Cebu City: fruit, spices and street food
    • D'Mall, Boracay: souvenirs and beachwear

When to go

December to May is the dry season. It is cool from December to February, and hot from March to May, when Manila highs reach about 34 °C. June to November is the rainy season, with the heaviest rain from July to October.

Island programmes are best planned for the dry months, when boat trips run most reliably and the Chocolate Hills turn brown.

January
Cebu holds the Sinulog festival, with its Grand Parade expected on 17 January 2027. Hotels fill early, so book ballrooms well ahead.
February to April
The driest and sunniest months, and the best window for El Nido, Boracay and Bohol.
May
Still dry, but hot and humid, so programmes move indoors at midday.

The Philippines from the air

The Philippines by droneEl Nido, the Chocolate Hills and Cebu City from above.

  • ICE India has been managing our corporate travel incentives since 2012. As a corporate our requirements are usually specific, involve a last minute rush, lot of back and forth on dates, hotels, number of travelers, etc. Through all of this, it's a pleasure dealing with Mufaddal and his team for the way they manage the trip and the group. The best part is the personalized service and the rapport our group shares with Mufaddal by the end of the trip. All the best!

    Nilesh ShevadeNational Sales Head, ECL Finance Ltd.

  • Mufaddal & his team gave us a new insight & a different perspective about our event. They showcased it beautifully, gave us invaluable tips and made it a huge success. Our event is a multi-faceted one and not easy to understand & implement. They were very professional, creative and worked hard to meet our deadlines. Thank you very much Mufaddal and all the best to you & your team.

    Kusuma RaoPresident, Rotary Club of Bombay Powai (Powai Fest 2017)

  • Dear Mufaddal & ICE team,

    I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the amazing job you did in organizing our all-company offsite in Goa. From start to finish, it was a seamless and enjoyable experience. Your team was a pleasure to work with, and I was thoroughly impressed by their professionalism, attention to detail, and willingness to go above and beyond.

    Mufaddal, throughout the planning stages, you were incredibly responsive and proactive in addressing any questions or concerns we had. You provided us with valuable insights and recommendations that helped us create a customized program that perfectly met our needs for a good balance between team building, local experiences and fun.

    During the event, your team was exceptional in their coordination and execution. They were always available to help and ensure everything was running smoothly. I appreciate you being there to supervise everything and act as a point of contact throughout the event, going out of your way to accommodate any last-minute needs or changes. Your personal involvement really helped us deliver a memorable and meaningful offsite.

    Overall, I am thrilled with the experience your team provided us.

    Jean Marc GoguikianChief of Staff to the CEO - Fairmatic Inc.

Planning an event in The Philippines: questions

Can we combine Manila with a beach island?

Yes. Most programmes spend two or three days in Manila, then fly to Cebu, Boracay or Palawan for two or three more. Cebu and Boracay have the larger resorts, and Palawan suits smaller groups.

What do vegetarian and Jain guests find to eat in the Philippines?

Hotel kitchens and caterers are briefed ahead and menus are adjusted daily. Vegetarian and Jain guests are served proper meals, not just side dishes.

Does the time difference affect the programme?

The Philippines is 2 hours 30 minutes ahead of India. There is no jet lag to plan around, and conference timings stay close to Indian office hours.

Does ICE India work with travel agencies on the Philippines?

ICE India plans Philippines trips for companies, with vetted local partners on the ground. Travel agencies and tourism bodies looking for Indian corporate buyers can read about destination representation in India.

Compare destinations

  • Destination

    Bali

    Villa resorts and beach clubs, a direct flight or a short connection from India.

  • Destination

    Thailand

    Beach resorts and large conference hotels, about five hours by air from India.

  • Destination

    Malaysia

    Kuala Lumpur's convention centres and the islands of Langkawi.

Photographs via Wikimedia Commons: Patrick Roque, Marciano Villavito, Mmlibranda, Herbertkikoy, A.C.T. Alejandre, Øyvind Holmstad, Ralff Nestor Nacor, Elmer B. Domingo, Jesse Alegre and Martin Michlmayr (CC BY-SA 4.0); Liisa Laukkanen (CC BY-SA 3.0); Vyacheslav Argenberg and Wide Awake (CC BY 4.0); Ray in Manila and Deortiz (CC BY 2.0); Marek Ślusarczyk (CC BY 3.0).

Other photographs are from Unsplash and public sources, and remain the property of their owners.