Increase in Total Hotel Room Sales, International
Destination Recognition, and More Highlighted
in the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors
Bureau�s Annual Report
PHILADELPHIA - August 1, 2007 - The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors
Bureau (PCVB) released its Annual Report today, reflecting accomplishments
in fiscal year 2007. The report was released in tandem with the PCVB�s
Strategic Plan �From 30,000 Feet,� which provides six strategies for 2008-2012
and beyond that will contribute to a new level of prosperity and quality
of life for our region.
�Expansion obviously plays a huge role in everything we are planning
for the future as we grow in status as a convention destination,� says
Tom Muldoon, president, PCVB. �In addition, there are many other factors
that will drive Philadelphia's growth as a global destination. The Annual
Report tells us that we�re heading in the right direction. The Strategic
Plan provides an excellent roadmap.�
There is much to celebrate in the Annual Report, with the PCVB fulfilling
its return-on-investment by giving a big boost to the region�s economy.
PCVB-led efforts generated more than a billion dollars of economic impact
in the past fiscal year, as measured by conventions, group tours, and international
visitation. This impact supports job growth in the hospitality industry,
which is now Philadelphia�s third-largest business sector.
Other highlights from the Annual Report include:
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Convention Sales and Services�The PCVB�s sales team exceeded convention
sales goals by a significant 10 percent. The services division hosted 28
major conventions.
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International Tourism�Philadelphia was named one of only three of
the top 20 cities in the U.S. that has shown an increase in overseas visitation
from 2000 to 2006, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of
Commerce and Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI).
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Domestic Tourism�Boosted attendance to regional attractions by promoting
group packages, including a record number of groups for the popular �King
Tut� exhibition at The Franklin Institute Science Museum.
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Membership�Provided improved services, products and events, resulting
in an 89 percent retention rate of current members of the hospitality industry.
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Marketing and Communications�A new innovative Web site, www.PhiladephiaUSA.travel,
features interactive maps, downloadable publications, enhanced member listings,
and much more. In the 2006/2007 fiscal year, the site received 2,873,813
page views.
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Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC)�During its 20th year as a division
of the PCVB, PSC served as an important incubator for the region�s 2016
Olympic Games bid efforts and hosted the 80th Army/Navy Game in Philadelphia.
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Multicultural Affairs Congress (MAC)�MAC began its celebration of
20 years of outreach to the multicultural conventions and tourism markets
with the release of a new �Share the Heritage� guide and by re-launching
the first CVB-hosted multicultural website, www.PhiladelphiaMAC.org. MAC
served on the oversight committee for President�s House Commemorative Site.
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Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress (GPLSC) �The PCVB launched
this new congress to facilitate outreach to several lucrative convention
markets, including higher education, venture capital, pharmaceutical, biotechnology,
and health care.
The PCVB�s Strategic Plan evolved from a two-day planning conference in
March 2007. More than 50 stakeholders participated in the process, with
attendees coming from many sectors of the region�s hospitality industry.
The stakeholders included representatives from attractions, hotels and
restaurants, businesses and corporations, the Pennsylvania Convention Center,
and the PCVB�s Board and staff. The result of the planning conference is
a working document that will guide the PCVB, the City and region, and the
hospitality industry for years to come. It identifies and summarizes six
key strategies and actions; therefore creating a map for the future.
The areas of concentrated emphasis, as highlighted in the Strategic
Plan, are as follows:
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Deliver an exceptional convention experience (e.g., complete the PCC expansion;
develop �best-in-class� approach to hospitality efforts, put the customer
first in all areas of the industry)
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Deliver exceptional sales and service and connect divisions in new ways
(e.g., leverage the important work of the three PCVB congresses � MAC,
PSC, and GPLSC to generate more business and provide more services)
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Raise Philadelphia's profile as a global destination (e.g., expand into
new and emerging international tourism markets, such as China, and strategize
on how to raise Philadelphia�s global profile)
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Extend the Philadelphia brand through collaboration and niche marketing
(e.g., leverage marketing budget by collaborating with stakeholders and
position Philadelphia as �Hip and Hi-tech� without losing the customer-focus
of �Hi-touch�)
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Strengthen the PCVB infrastructure as a platform for success (e.g., educate
the region on hospitality industry; work with policy makers to increase
funding; obtain sponsors for programs)
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Achieve local pride in the Philadelphia region (e.g., attract one or more
signature events; continue to promote Philadelphia as a site for future
Olympic Games)
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel,
a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion
Agency for the City of Philadelphia, and the primary sales and marketing
agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The PCVB competes with its
counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization
has departments dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences
markets. |