Philadelphia
Come for Philadelphia , stay for Philly
PHILADELPHIA VISITORS AND CONVENTION BUREAU ( PHLCVB ) SAYS BUSINESS EVENTS AND CONFERENCING IS RETURNING FAST , WITH BIG PLANS FOR 2026 IN PARTICULAR
H ow are business events and conferencing returning post-Covid ? While the total number of citywides in Philadelphia is identical to 2019 , hotel rooms sold for meetings and conventions are trending about 7 % below 2019 , but a 15 % increase over 2022 . The International Society for Technology in Education ( ISTE ) saw attendance up 15 % over initial projections for its recent congress . Tourism Economics data , however , predicts a complete recovery from the impact of the pandemic only in 2025 .
The PHLCVB is highlighting the unexpected side of the city in its latest campaign , ‘ Come for Philadelphia . Stay for Philly ’. It recognises that people travel to Philadelphia for the things they know like the Liberty Bell , Rocky , and cheesesteaks , but once here they discover an unexpected side , the ‘ Philly ’ the locals know . The campaign invites attendees to come for the convention , but stay for the unconventional .
The PHLCVB highlights its business development divisions that strengthen the city ’ s offerings to meeting professionals – PHL Diversity and PHL Life Sciences , the only life sciences-focused division of any CVB in the US . Both divisions are strong resources for event marketers , connecting them with thought leaders and contacts in the local community .
How is the events pipeline looking ? Next year , the city will host WrestleMania 40 , which comprises six events across three venues over the course of five days .
In 2026 , the US will be celebrating its 250th anniversary commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia in 1776 . The year will kick off with PCMA ’ s flagship education event , Convening Leaders , and there is the world ’ s largest sporting event , the FIFA World Cup .
The CVB reports 2024 and 2025 have availability for short-term bookings still , while the city is focusing on growing its corporate and international MICE business moving forward .
What recent investments in the city ’ s events infrastructure have been made ? The city ’ s largest hotel , the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown , recently underwent some major renovations . It is the city ’ s headquarters hotel for conventions .
There are several new hotel developments downtown , like the W Hotel , Element Philadelphia , and Canopy by Hilton . They are all within walking distance of the Pennsylvania Convention Center ( PCC ). The city centre now offers more than 14,000 hotel rooms .
The PCC has also invested $ 30m in improving energy efficiency . The facility has received LEED Gold status as a building standard and Gold Level certification to the Events Industry Council ( EIC ) Sustainable Event Standards for venues .
In 2022 alone , the centre achieved a 60 % landfill diversion rate , and doubled its percentage of renewable energy use from 25 % to 50 %.
What are the USPs of your destination ? Philadelphia is located just a two-hour drive from New York City and a three-hour drive from Washington , DC . Philadelphia International Airport is a short drive from downtown , while Amtrak ’ s 30th Street Station is right in the downtown area .
Philadelphia was recently named America ’ s most walkable city by USA Today and has 4,000 public murals and works of art . Philadelphia ’ s Benjamin Franklin Parkway , the cultural centre of the city , is home to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Barnes Foundation , which features one of the world ’ s leading collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art .
Delegates can also explore the Old City neighbourhood on foot , passing Independence Hall , the Liberty Bell , the Betsy Ross House , and other key sites from American history .
There is an award-winning dining scene and McGillin ’ s Olde Ale House is the oldest continually operating pub in the nation .
Philadelphia is also one of the most affordable top-tier cities in the nation . On average , hotel room costs are 20-30 % lower than other major cities in America ’ s Northeast .
Philadelphia also offers unique venues , like a rooftop venue in sight of Independence Hall or the terrace atop the iconic steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art . n
ISSUE 126 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / 25