We visit a city where conventions are in the city’s constitutional DNA.
Philadelphia, the city where the US Constitution was ratified at a convention, has quite a history of hosting major events, including more recently this summer with eight FIFA Club World Cup matches at Lincoln Financial Field. The city welcomed 346,000 football fans from 50 states and 120 countries during that tournament, and downtown hotels saw an 18% increase in occupancy and a 15% increase in average daily rate.
As well as big sporting competitions, Pennsylvania’s largest city is on the ball for meetings and conventions and continues to be strong for the group segment, Maria Grasso, chief sales officer at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) tells CMW. “We are seeing an increase in lead volume, requested rooms and attendance,” she says.
She admits that new political waves and tariff issues have had an effect on events business and planning, but emphasises that the PHLCVB continues “to stay true to who we are. Our team is dedicated to promoting Philadelphia as a welcoming destination for all visitors – an inclusive, and culturally rich city.”
PHLCVB CSO Maria Grasso
Certified welcome
Philadelphia was named a Certified Welcoming city by Welcoming America. It was the largest city in the US to receive the designation and that is a reflection of Philadelphia’s commitment to making sure all people feel included through its policies, programmes, and values, says Grasso.
The PHLCVB outlook for meetings is strong, says Grasso, pointing to competitive bids on the events books well into the 2030s. “We are actively leveraging the 2026 spotlight to keep our pipeline full. It remains critical that we strengthen partnerships, reinforce our welcoming reputation, and remain agile in effort to keep Philadelphia top of mind for global travellers and event organisers.”
Event at The Franklin Institute
What makes the city special?
The CVB team is rightly proud of the city’s connectivity for attendees, with Philadelphia International Airport – American Airlines’ top trans-Atlantic hub – providing more than 700 non-stop flights to over 120 destinations worldwide.
Philadelphia was also recently named ‘Most Walkable City to Visit’ for a third consecutive year by USA Today readers and experts.
Premier venue, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, is in the heart of Philadelphia’s downtown and within walking distance of more than 14,400 hotel rooms, including direct connectivity to the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. The Center has won praise for its progressive work rules and streamlined services that are designed to create a hassle-free customer service experience for event organisers.
2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference at the PA Convention Center
Life sciences support
The city ranks among the top US life sciences cities, according to CBRE’s 2024 report, and is home to top medical, research, and higher education institutions. With support from PHL Life Sciences, a division of the CVB and the first of its kind, event organisers can get connected and plug into the region’s extensive life sciences community.
“Philadelphia is committed to sustainability,” Grasso says and notes that, last year, the city received a LEED for Cities and Communities certification at the highest Platinum level for its achievements in improving overall sustainability and quality of life for residents.
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is a LEED Gold Certified facility and well placed to assist event organisers host environmentally responsible events and reduce any event’s carbon footprint. It has been quite a pioneer for sustainability, launching its ‘Green Team’ back in 2016.
“The venue has also recently received its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star Accreditation for the sixth consecutive year, and its gold certification to the Events Industry Council (EIC) Sustainable Event Standards for the third consecutive year,” Grasso adds.
Philadelphia Skyline from the Loews Hotel
Key venues
Asked to select the key conference venues as well as some lesser-known, unique venues with an extra ‘wow’ factor for events, Grasso points to $78.8m in capital investments over the past four years at the Pennsylvania Convention Center which now offers more than a million square feet of sellable space and one of the largest ballrooms on the East Coast.
“Most recently, the Center launched a state-of-the-art training facility to enhance safety, technical skills, and hospitality training for its staff and labour partners, thought to be the first of its kind in the nation,” she notes.
Connected to the Center by skywalk is the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the city’s largest hotel. It has undergone significant technology and design upgrades in recent years, including updates to its more than 1,400 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet (9,290sqm) of meeting space.
The Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown, the city’s second-largest hotel with 760 guestrooms, is located just two blocks from the convention centre and offers guestrooms with panoramic views of Center City, with more than 60,000 square feet of event space and 24 meeting rooms.
After a $23m renovation, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel now offers 47,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including three ballrooms. Housed in a historic building, America’s first skyscraper, this hotel has 580 rooms and is located right across from the Center.
Wow factor venues
For event organisers looking for less traditional venues in Philadelphia, Gasso has these recommendations:
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Reading Terminal Market: By day, one of America’s largest and oldest public markets with more than 75 family-owned businesses offering the best of Philadelphia specialties and international cuisine. By night, the market can be converted into an event space. It is within walking distance to many downtown hotels.
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The Franklin Institute: Inspired by the innovative spirit of Benjamin Franklin, this top science museum makes for a unique event backdrop with rentable spaces including neoclassical halls, a planetarium, and a rooftop deck. Planners can incorporate hands-on science activities for their attendees, led by the museum’s science experts.
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National Constitution Center: Located in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district, with Independence Hall, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, as well as a grand hall and rooftop terrace. Guests can engage with history as they interact with exhibits such as Signers’ Hall, a life-size replica of the Constitutional Convention.
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Lincoln Financial Field: Home of the Philadelphia Eagles, the stadium offers stunning views of the city skyline and can provide quite a backdrop for any offsite event. It can transform event spaces into trade show floors and more. The facility also features 11,000 solar panels that generate clean energy.
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Philadelphia Museum of Art: This historic venue offers majestic event space for those seeking a grand setting. With the world-renowned ‘Rocky Steps’ outside and reimagined space inside, the museum can accommodate a wide range of events, from elegant galas to corporate functions.
Major events and results
One recent major event, the 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference, hosted its biggest ever event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Almost 9,000 attendees were on site (with 5,700 attending virtually) representing 120 countries.
Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer, Dr Maria Carrillo, said: “There’s nothing like a face-to-face opportunity where people are presenting work, and then get ideas about how they can work with those presenting around them.”
And the latest full year figures, for 2023, showed that the PHLCVB hosted 264 events with 550,000 attendees, generating $261m in spending and filling 563,400 hotel rooms. This spending supported 80,000 jobs, and no doubt spurred cultural exchanges and a lively evolution of unique art and entertainment experiences in this vibrant city.
