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As UNESCO’s first Creative City of Gastronomy in the Philippines, Iloilo City is filled with stories of tradition, culture, and innovation. From the rich, savory flavors of La Paz batchoy to the delicate sweetness of freshly made piaya, the food scene reflects the city’s deep-rooted history and bright future. But Iloilo is more than just a destination for the palate - it’s also a place where one can journey through time.
Travel agencies have the unique power to bring these stories to life. As part of the Lungsod Lunsad Project, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), in partnership with the Iloilo City Government and the Iloilo City Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Exhibitions Center (MICE Office), hosted an orientation to officially launch the Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours on December 10, 2024 at Iloilo City Hall.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Food plays an important role for Ilonggos - it brings people together through shared meals and celebrations. Picture a group of friends huddled together on a rainy afternoon, sharing steaming bowls of pancit molo, its fragrant garlic broth filled with delicate wonton dumplings. Or imagine a family gathered around a table laden with grilled fish, steamed crabs, and tangy kinilaw as they spend a lazy weekend by the beach.
These are more than just meals; they are rituals that strengthen bonds and create lasting memories that reflect the warmth and generosity of Ilonggos. Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours aims to capture these ideals through five unique experiences:
Iloilo's cuisine reflects the diverse influences that have shaped the city over time. Malay, Spanish, Chinese, and American flavors have all left their mark on the culinary landscape. As such, this curated tour features iconic spots such as Camiña Balay nga Bato, Molo Mansion, the Agatona 1927 Museum Café, and more. It’s perfect for students, international tourists, and cultural enthusiasts who want to gain a deeper understanding of the city's multicultural heritage.
Get off the beaten path and discover local favorites and hidden gems. In this short but sweet journey, visitors will be taken to exciting stops that are both affordable and delicious. Start at Jaro Plaza with sizzling sisig; then head off to Mandurriao for a sample of buko batchoy; and finish strong at Madge Café in Lapaz market with their pre-war coffee recipe.
In this tour, guests will visit restaurants and vendors committed to sustainability and community support. It’s recommended for non-government organizations, educational institutions, and eco-conscious travelers who are passionate about ethical and sustainable practices. Sample products with locally sourced ingredients, like tablea chocolate from Balay Tablea or coffee beans from Monkey Grounds. Taste deliciously filling vegan meals from NutriVege Co. and Healthy Kitchen. Hear inspirational stories about their founding and advocacy; and perhaps become a patron.
Tradition meets modern flair in this upscale experience that highlights the city’s emerging food entrepreneurs and innovative dining spots. This event is perfect for discerning gastronomes, business professionals, industry insiders, and tourists who want a more exclusive culinary adventure. For starters, there’s Balay Remedios, a century-old ancestral home serving Filipino-Spanish recipes. Follow it up with reimagined Ilonggo recipes from Punot at Riverside Boardwalk. Cap the day with a 7-course contemporary twist on traditional cuisine at LaMeza Ilonggo at Richmonde Hotel.
For balikbayans and visitors seeking native delicacies and pasalubongs, this tour is for you. With a spotlight on small-scale businesses and artisans, the route will take guests on a cultural exchange of take-home treats and historic pastries locals love. Let the trip begin at Jaro, where one will find the famous Biscocho Haus, the original Panaderia ni Pa-a, and DeOcampo barquillos. Don’t go home without sampling the famous ube brazos from Lapaz bakeshop and pancho from Buho bakery at Iloilo City proper.
As many of Iloilo's culinary traditions have been passed down through generations, think of Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours as a journey back in time. Travel agencies, tour suppliers, and food establishments are the guides who will weave captivating tales of heritage and flavor, enchanting both Ilonggos and international travelers. From heirloom recipes to time-honored cooking techniques, Iloilo's cuisine offers a glimpse into the city's past.
You can download all these maps here.
Forget flipping through dusty brochures! The modern traveler embarks on a dynamic digital journey long before they set foot on a plane. Armed with smartphones and a thirst for authentic experiences, they navigate a multifaceted landscape of travel apps, social media platforms, and online reviews.
For travel agencies and tour operators, this means embracing digital tools to create a seamless yet engaging customer experience, from inspiration to the final booking confirmation. It's about harnessing technology to connect with travelers on a deeper level, fueling their wanderlust and ultimately transforming travel dreams into reality.
Travelers are increasingly turning to social media, blogs, and online magazines for inspiration. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok are particularly influential. Travel agencies can take advantage of this by ensuring they have updated social media pages that include itineraries, prices, videos, and lots of attractive photos.
Once inspired, travelers delve into online research, comparing destinations, and reading reviews. They will seek personalized experiences that cater to their interests (i.e., millennials and Gen Z are more inclined to book walking tours). Expect them to modify bookings, examine prices, and explore off-the-beaten-path destinations. Make sure you have set tours that are flexible and can cater to different preferences.
While seeking unique experiences, travelers remain price-conscious. They look for deals, compare packages, and rely on reviews to guarantee they get the best value. They also expect a smooth and user-friendly booking process across multiple devices. As such, travel agencies must include ways for quick booking.
For example, their Facebook page can include a direct link to an order form. From here, guests could easily fill out their personal info and contact details, choose a tour, and pay using their preferred mode of payment. Philippine-based billing and collections platform Mochi Solutions, now provides order form integration to make this possible. Check out the video below:
Modern travelers crave authentic and immersive experiences that connect them with local culture, food, and people. They love using technology to enhance their travel, whether to aid in on-the-go decision-making (e.g., find local places to eat at) or simply to share photos and feedback online. Photos and reviews help shape the perception of destinations. Hence, it’s important to make a great impression right off the bat.
Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours encourage the use of tech! Scan the QR codes to see the route of each tour. It opens to Google Maps where guests can follow the itinerary on their own, leave reviews for each establishment they have already visited, and quickly share the tour with friends or family!
By understanding the modern customer journey, businesses can curate meaningful experiences that foster cultural appreciation and leave a lasting impact.
To ensure seamless transactions and elevate the experience for participants, Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours proudly partners with Paymongo and Mochi Solutions. This collaboration empowers travel agencies with cutting-edge payment processing and booking management tools, simplifying operations and enhancing customer convenience.
Travel agencies and tour operators can use Canva, a free online tool, to design eye-catching marketing materials like brochures, flyers, photo carousels, and newsletters that reflects their brand. Include popular content such as TikTok videos and Facebook reels.
Mochi Solutions is a billing and collections platform dedicated to helping Filipino businesses get paid faster. Travel agencies will love how it streamlines the invoicing process and automates repetitive tasks. Get started by signing up with your name and email address. After verification, users can now log in and view their dashboard. From here, they can enter customer information, make invoices, and set up the payment portal.
To start accepting various modes of payment, activate PayMongo directly from your Mochi account. Simply go to Settings, then Payment Portal, select PayMongo, and click on Get Started. Users will be redirected to the Merchant Onboarding form where they need to fill out the required information.
With PayMongo activated, travel agencies can accept multiple payment methods, including credit/debit cards, e-wallets (GCash, GrabPay, Maya), and bank transfers. Plus, they are compliant with PCI-DSS, an international security standard, to protect both merchants and customers against fraud. Together, PayMongo and Mochi makes for simpler, faster invoicing and payment collection.
Include a "Book Now" button that links to the Mochi order form in social media posts. Ensure that the link works as expected through optimization and testing.
Once booking and payment has been made, just copy and paste all the details into the calendar. This way, tour operators can see which customers are booked on which dates. Use a digital calendar (e.g., Google Calendar) to keep track of bookings, avoid double-bookings, and stay organized.
Ever wondered how to transform a simple food tour into an extraordinary cultural experience? The Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours orientation was the perfect place to learn this and more. Participants certainly had their hands full with lots of hands-on activities and networking opportunities. Here are the highlights of the orientation:
Exclusive Previews: A sneak peek at the curated tours that demonstrate Iloilo's rich food and cultural legacy. Sample brochures, maps, and itineraries were given as a guide to help participants craft their own amazing excursions.
Practical Workshops: Guests learned how to make branded materials tailored to their brand identity using Canva. They also discovered new ways to simplify bookings, accept payments, and enhance customer engagement with tools like Mochi Solutions and PayMongo.
Increased Visibility: Guests acquired practical tips and tricks to successfully promote and sell tours across multiple channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
Collaboration Opportunities: Attendees connected with suppliers and featured establishments. They also had access to suppliers and tour arrangement information using an exclusive database for better business transactions.
Online Promotion: Participants were featured on press releases as well as the official Iloilo City of Gastronomy website, where visitors can easily book their tours. This is a positive boost to their credibility and brand.
The participants are considered as cornerstones of this exciting culinary tourism movement. This event marks only the beginning of a collective effort to showcase Iloilo’s exquisite food culture and rich history to the world.
Can’t wait to book a tour? Check out the full list of participating travel agencies.
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Meet and Taste Iloilo City Tours are not just about indulging in delicious food; they're about unlocking the heart and soul of the city. By weaving together culinary adventures with cultural immersion, they offer a deeper understanding of Iloilo’s history, traditions, and the warm hospitality of its people.
Driven by the innovative partnership of Mochi and PayMongo, the program empowers local businesses to thrive in the digital age. By seamlessly integrating online booking and diverse payment options, these tours break down barriers and make exploring Iloilo's gastronomic treasures more accessible than ever before.
Want to be a pioneer? Book a demo today and see how Mochi makes a difference. Together, let’s make Iloilo City the ultimate gastronomic destination - one delicious dish at a time.
Mochi Solutions is a billing and collections platform designed to help Filipino businesses get paid on time, every time. By digitalizing the invoicing process and automating repetitive tasks, we empower businesses to focus on growth.
