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Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Identifies Six Key
Strategies and Actions for Long-term Continued Growth
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: 

  • 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. 
  • 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). 
  • 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. 
  • Membership�Provided improved services, products and events, resulting in an 89 percent retention rate of current members of the hospitality industry. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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: 

  1. 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) 
  2. 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) 
  3. 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) 
  4. 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�) 
  5. 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) 
  6. 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. 
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Contact:

The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Sarah Hines, 215/636-3412
 www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel

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Also See: Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Continues to Energize the Hospitality Industry; Generates More Than $1 Billion in Future Convention & Tourism Bookings / July 2006
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