Younger Filipino consumers are the the next, potentially lucrative target of SM Investments Corp..
The real estate conglomerate recently declared that it is strengthening its entertainment ecosystem across its portfolio to meet and possibly capture the growing demand for experiences of this fast-growing demographic.
In a statement released yesterday, SM Investments Corp. revealed that it is positioning its portfolio “to tap the P1.94-trillion Philippine creative economy, which grew by 8.7 percent in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.”
“The group’s presence in entertainment is not limited to its malls and arenas. Through SMIC SG Holdings, SM became the first Philippine company to invest in Klook, the Asia-based travel and experiences platform,” the company said.
“Its one stop logistics solutions provider, 2GO, features karaoke lounges and video arcades in its vessels, rare in inter-island travel.
BDO Unibank and China Bank also integrate lifestyle and travel-related rewards into customer programs,” it added.
Frederic DyBuncio, SM Investments CEO and president, said that in SM Investments’ people-facing businesses, it is transforming malls, convention centers, and arenas into multi-dimensional experience hubs.
Indeed, the MOA Arena, designed for global productions, continues to host international acts and will soon be complemented by a larger arena in Cebu.
Meanwhile, the SMX Convention Center is benefiting from the surge in fan meets, gaming expos, and pop culture conventions, with attendance and bookings rising significantly since late 2023.
At the same time, SM Investments is working to make its entertainment portfolio “not just an add-on but an enabler of business and community value.”
DyBuncio said that SM Investments is enhancing the portfolio’s capacity to drive “consumer traffic across group businesses, strengthens partnerships with global content providers, and creates shared spaces for leisure and wellness, such as the FIFA-grade football pitch at SM MOA Sky.”
“At SM, we recognize the younger generation’s growing preference for experiences, and this shift opens new opportunities for growth across our businesses. By listening closely to our customers, we are broadening our entertainment offerings to strengthen engagement and create long-term value across the SM ecosystem,” he said.
“With its scale, integration, and customer-first mindset, the SM group is positioning itself as a leading player in the country’s fast-expanding experience economy where business growth, consumer satisfaction, and community value intersect,” DyBuncio added.
