PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU REPORTS RECORD CONVENTION BOOKINGS FOR FUTURE YEARS

Conventions Booked In 2015 Will Generate More Than $1.1B for Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA…February 05, 2016…Positive feedback from meeting planners, convention attendees and exhibitors who met at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) last year contributed to record convention bookings in 2015, according to the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). The PHLCVB posted its highest year of bookings ever with 856,663 room nights secured for future years, surpassing last year's bookings by 1.2 percent. Almost 75 percent of those room nights are related to meetings and conventions taking place at the PCC, with the rest tied to meetings taking place at regional hotels and other venues. In total, the convention groups booked in 2015 are estimated to generate more than $1.1 billion in economic impact for Philadelphia and the region.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of last year's sales efforts. Stellar feedback shared by groups who met at the Convention Center in 2015, our strong partnership with the business and civic community, as well as Philadelphia's growing reputation as a vibrant, welcoming destination have contributed greatly to our ability to sell our city to meeting planners,” said Julie Coker Graham, PHLCVB President & CEO. “Since the implementation of new work rules in 2014 at the Center, we have seen renewed interest from meeting planners who were previously wary of what they would experience in Philadelphia and so we're thrilled that not only are groups are returning, but that we're also attracting new groups.” 

Of the 2015 convention bookings, 69 percent are returning groups (up from 45 percent in fiscal year 2013, which was the last full booking year before the changes at the Center took place) and 31 percent are new groups who have never hosted a meeting in Philadelphia. Among the returning groups are LIGHTFAIR® International (LFI®), the world's largest annual architectural and commercial lighting trade show and conference, and the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). Both are major wins for the PHLCVB and the Convention Center as they are highly respected within the convention and tradeshow industry, and will generate more than $43 million and $41 million in economic impact for Philadelphia respectively. 

“The PHLCVB has worked with the Pennsylvania Convention Center and facility manager SMG as a strong partner in the progress of our Convention Center as a desirable destination for new and repeat customers,” said John J. McNichol, president & CEO of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “Major shows such as BIO International and LIGHTFAIR International took a second look and booked with us based on our performance and efficiency. We appreciate the cooperation of our four trade partners, hotels and businesses, and the unified support for the Convention Center from across the hospitality industry and the efforts that made this possible.”

The large citywide conventions booked by the PHLCVB are major contributors to driving hotel occupancy in Philadelphia. Over the last two years Center City hotels thrived during citywide conventions, with occupancy on the busiest night during conventions increasing by 12 percent, ADR (Average Daily Rate) increasing by $37 and Revenue per Available Room increasing by $52, versus comparable days with no citywide conventions. 

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“It is rewarding to see that the partnership between the PHLCVB, the PCC and the hotel community continues to be fruitful. Coming off a year with record hotel occupancy, the future continues to look bright for Philadelphia and for our region's hotels,” said Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA) president Greg Stafford. 

Under the new leadership of Julie Coker Graham, the PHLCVB is already working on strategies to target untapped convention markets including corporate business and international conventions. The organization recently added a sales manager whose portfolio includes the international convention market.

Looking ahead in 2016, the PHLCVB currently has 275 meetings and conventions booked for the calendar year January 1-December 31. Those meetings and conventions will consume 552,269 total room nights and generate more than $730 million in economic impact for Philadelphia.

Here is a look at the top 15 PHLCVB-booked meetings and conventions at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and area hotels for 2016.

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Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com , a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.