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"WE HAVE started to open the eyes of the country that Cagayan de Oro is a convention city," said Vice Mayor Vicenete Emano even as he projected that the place will absolutely be the prime convention city in the next three years.

Emano issued the statement even as a US economic official said Cagayan de Oro is emerging as a "leading business hub within the Philippines."

"The city is clearly on the map for visitors who are well aware of this region's scenic beauty and exciting eco-tourism adventures," US Commercial Counselor Judy Reinke told participants and exhibitors at the opening of the Oro Best Expo 2007.

The event is a three-day business enterprise, services, and trade exposition organized by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro chamber) held at the Limketkai Atrium.

The event is a three-day business enterprise, services, and trade exposition organized by the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro chamber) held at the Limketkai Atrium.

"Through this trade show and exhibition, it is even more firmly established as an economic center featuring thriving investment zones and related businesses," Reinke, the event's keynote speaker, said.

With the presence of 15 American brand name firms, the US embassy official said the event is an indication the US government is "well aware of the positive direction the city and economy has been taking."

"The firms shown here are marquee names, and all of them want to do business here. Some of these companies are well known to you and they come from a wide variety of industry sectors," Reinke, a first-time visitor, added.

Meanwhile, Emano said that for this month alone a number of national conventions are being held in the city such as the National Convention of the Philippine Nurses Association on October 23-25.

He cited that the city has also played host to other many activities.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reported that for the first six months of this year, the city hosted 70 conventions, 848 seminar/workshops, and 29,914 other gatherings.

These events brought in 59,525 guests and delegates, according to the DOT. Mayor Emano said he expects these figures to increase.

With the major development that are now taking place in the hotel industry, the vice mayor projects that the city can go full blast as a convention city in the next three years.

He announced that instead of building just a 17-storey hotel, the management of the Limketkai Co. is now set for the construction of a 21-storey building in the commercial complex.

He said aside from providing more room for increasing number of guests, the construction of this building will make a name for the city as it will be the highest in Mindanao.

The vice mayor added that another 14-storey hotel will be constructed near the City Central School. It was learned that the construction of another 17-storey building near the Nazareno Church is also now being finalized.

Vice Mayor Emano said based on studies, the city still needs about 2,400 hotel rooms to accommodate its guests. The construction of the new high-rise hotels will provide about 1,000 additional rooms, he added. Emano said these developments will boost efforts of the city government to make Cagayan de Oro an ideal tourist destination and a convention city.