PHILADELPHIA…September 25, 2013…The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has hired Sartha Marketing, a leading marketing agency based in India, as the official in-country tourism representative of the City of Philadelphia. The partnership between the PHLCVB and Sartha Marketing launched in early September and will build on Philadelphia's reputation as a global travel destination by promoting international tourism to the City.

The announcement coincides with members of the PHLCVB team traveling to India to represent the City as a world-class destination to the India market during the 2013 Brand USA India Mission. The mission, which takes place September 22 – 27 pairs representatives from more than 35 U.S. destinations with travel industry professionals and media in New Delhi and Mumbai.

“We are on a mission to bring the world to Philadelphia,” said Jack Ferguson, president & CEO of the PHLCVB. “To accomplish this we have to first take Philadelphia across the world to create awareness, build brand presence and solidify relationships with travel industry partners, which will ensure that Philadelphia is top of mind when planning a U.S. trip.”

Brian Said, executive director of tourism at the PHLCVB added, “India is a relationship-driven market which led to our decision to select Sartha as our tourism representative in India and personally attend the Brand USA trade mission to this emerging market.”

India is a rapidly growing market for overseas travel to the United States and Philadelphia, with the City seeing a large increase in overall travel from India as well as an increase in spending per visitor. In fact, the India market is expected to grow to 50 million passengers to the U.S. annually by 2020 according to industry forecasts. Final numbers for 2012 travel have yet to be released.

Although direct flights between India and Philadelphia are not yet available, Air India and Emirates airlines offer options connecting through Dubai to both John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Philadelphia can be reached conveniently within 2 hours of both airport hubs via Amtrak, SEPTA or New Jersey regional rail systems. Travelers from India can also arrive in PHL via London, Frankfurt, Paris and other European cites. New Service to PHL on Qatar Airways (slated to start in April) will give travelers an added option to travel via Doha.

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Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourist 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. The PHLCVB incorporates the short code PHL, an open source graphic identifier for the City of Philadelphia into the Convention & Visitors Bureau brand identity. The graphic identifier and other assets for use by public, private and non-profit organizations can be found at www.PHLpartners.com. To request a login, email phlpartners@discoverphl.com

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