Despite the stagnant economy, attendance figures for the American Bus Association's (ABA) Marketplace look strong and may even exceed previous year's figures, boding well for Philadelphia. The ABA Marketplace is the largest business-to-business show in the group travel industry. More than 3,000 members of the group travel industry will convene in Philadelphia from January 8 – 12, 2011.

Attendees include tour operators, itinerary planners and other bulk “buyers” of travel and tourism services who have the decision-making power to steer group tours to Philadelphia. ABA is an appointment based show where customers meet one-on-one to discuss locations with tour operators. As host city, the hospitality industry of Philadelphia will have the opportunity to showcase the one-of-a-kind venues here.ABA Marketplace attendance is estimated to generate approximately $10.8 million in economic impact for the city of Philadelphia. Attendees are expected to use approximately 10,840 room nights.

“The strong attendance figure is great news for ABA,” said Fritz Smith, vice president of tourism, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB). “It's also a double play for the City of Philadelphia in terms of both the economic impact of the show and the opportunity to expose so many leaders in the group travel industry to the wonders of our great city.”

According to Jack Ferguson, PCVB Incoming President & CEO, one reason that the ABA show is strong is due to Philadelphia's prime location. Forty percent of the United States population lives within a one-day drive of Philadelphia. That makes it easy for group tour leaders to get here. He said, “The entire Philadelphia hospitality is primed to host thousands of group tour operators and showcase everything the city has to offer to their bus groups.”

Moreover, according to the ABA, the host city can expect to increase its group tourism business by ten to 25 percent as a result of hosting the show. A fully loaded motorcoach (40 passengers on average) on a charter or tour making an overnight stay contributes an average of $5,000 to $13,000 per day to the local economy in expenditures including meals, lodging, shopping, admission fees, souvenirs and local taxes.

"The American Bus Association Marketplace is unique in terms of the benefits it provides to the host city and surrounding region," said ABA President & CEO Peter Pantuso, CTIS. "Unlike a dentists' convention, which comes to Philadelphia and spends money on hotels, dining and attractions and then leaves, bus & tour operators who will attend Marketplace 2011 January 8 through 12 in Philadelphia will not only spend money during the event. They will bring back group tours for years to come, boosting Philadelphia's leisure travel revenue from hotels, restaurants, retail purchases and admission tickets to attractions that will all be showcased during Marketplace, ranging from dine-arounds to evening events at both traditional and new tourism offerings. When you have Marketplace in town, it's like having family. And Pennsylvania is also a major bus state."

The group tour market has maintained steady growth in Philadelphia, despite a nationwide dip in tourism. Philadelphia is consistently rated “one of the top 10 Motorcoach Destinations in North America” by Byways magazine. And, as the baby boomer market keeps growing, group tourism is expected to increase.The ABA Marketplace is being planned by a coalition of Pennsylvania partners including the PCVB, Philadelphia and The Countryside, the Pennsylvania Office of Tourism, and the Pennsylvania Association of Conventions and Visitors Bureaus, as well as the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority in New Jersey.

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About the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, a private non-profit corporation, is the City of Philadelphia's primary sales organization.The mission of the PCVB is to market Philadelphia as a convention, meeting and tourist destination to regional, national and international audiences. Focusing on the meetings and conventions business and the travel trade, the PCVB's sales force works diligently to increase the city's hotel occupancy and average daily rate, while concurrently affecting other segments of the hospitality industry.

About the ABA

The American Bus Association is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with more than 1000 motorcoach owner and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,600 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry. Visit www.buses.org for more information.

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