August 21, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — SM Investments Corp. (SM Investments), the parent company of the Sy family’s SM group, is expanding the entertainment ecosystem across its portfolio to capture the growing demand for experiences among younger Filipino consumers.
The 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.
SM Investments sees entertainment as not just an add-on but an enabler of business and community value, driving consumer traffic across group businesses, strengthening partnerships with global content providers and creating shared spaces for leisure and wellness.
“At SM, we recognize the younger generation’s growing preference for experiences and this shift opens new opportunities for growth across our businesses,” SM Investments president and CEO Frederic DyBuncio said.
“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.
At present, 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.
Its one stop logistics solutions provider, 2GO, features karaoke lounges and video arcades in its vessels, while BDO Unibank and China Bank integrate lifestyle and travel-related rewards into customer programs.
In its people-facing businesses, SM is transforming malls, convention centers and arenas into multi-dimensional experience hubs.
SM Supermalls executive vice president for marketing Joaquin San Agustin said that malling for the older generation of customers in SM Malls was much simpler and practical in the past, primarily revolving around dining and shopping.
“Fast forward to today with our emerging segments, the millennials and Gen Z, who grew up on the internet and social media — they now value the experience, the feeling of inclusivity, community involvement and even sustainability,” San Agustin said.
Designed for global productions, the MOA Arena continues to host international acts and will soon be complemented by a larger arena in Cebu.
SMX Convention Center, meanwhile, is benefiting from the surge in fan meets, gaming expos and pop culture conventions, with attendance and bookings rising significantly since late 2023.
“We see the value in constructing world-class venues in key areas that would be able to support their economic growth,” Arnel Gonzales, vice president for arena operations at MOA Arena, said.
