THE PHILIPPINE International Convention Centre (PICC) performed above expectations last year, surpassing targets based on 2008 figures.

The centre was able to reap the benefits of investing more effort into bidding for events, many of which materialised last year after a low period in 2009, said its director of marketing and events management, Roberto Garcia. “We were able to achieve our target by the middle of 2010.”

The biggest events held at the PICC last year were a series of ASEAN ministerial meetings and a seatrade and maritime conference, which generated some US$1.1 million in revenue.

The centre also has a number of big events lined up this year, such as the Asia-Pacific Dental Congress in April, JCI Asia-Pacific Congress in May and the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology in August.

Meanwhile, the PICC will complete its expansion and renovation programme by the third quarter of the year. The renovation, which started in 2004, will give the centre a new suite of meeting spaces and improved public facilities.