Philadelphia ready for a full slate of meetings and conventions for 2022

Philadelphia’s tourism and hospitality industry is gearing up for the return of major conventions with 152 key events generated by the local CVB projected to generate nearly half a million hotel room nights in the city before the end of the year. The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has 19 citywides planned in this year which are expected to draw up to 450,000 attendees and generate upwards of $371min economic impact. Defined as a convention or event that generates more than 2,000 hotel rooms on its peak night, ‘citywides’ help support hospitality jobs in the Philadelphia region. “As demand for travel and in-person events continues to increase, I am optimistic looking ahead to the meetings and conventions slated for this year,” said Gregg Caren, president and CEO of the PHLCVB. “Right now we are anticipating attendance levels to be 50-70% of what was originally projected, with the hopes that this will continue to increase over time. Thanks to new and returning events, hotels, restaurants and other businesses that rely on Philadelphia’s visitors will see a boost from 2021 levels. The return of convention attendees will be a welcomed sight across the city this year.” Key drivers in bringing meetings and conventions to Philadelphia from significant market sectors are the PHLCVB’s unique business development divisions: PHL Life Sciences, PHL Diversity and PHL Sports. In 2022, PHL Life Sciences-related events will represent 91,000 total hotel room nights. Notable events include the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Conference (7-16 October). PHL Diversity will welcome Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. for its National Boule Convention, (20-24 July), expected to generate more than 9,000 hotel room nights. PHL Sports will partner with the University of Pennsylvania and the Wells Fargo Center to host the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball East Regional (25-27 March), the tournament’s first visit to Philadelphia since 2016. The sold-out crowds are expected to generate more than 8,000 room nights for area hotels. This year, Philadelphia is also welcoming back the Army-Navy Game, marking the 90th time the historic rivalry has been hosted in the city. The game, being played at Lincoln Financial Field December 10, is expected to attract 50,000 visitors to Philadelphia. Throughout the pandemic the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) put initiatives in place to prepare for a safe re-opening, investing approximately $25m in capital improvements. These focused on environmental hygiene and implementation of enhanced health and safety protocols, based on guidance from the CDC and facility operator ASM Global’s VenueShield programme. Measures resulted in the Center earning its GBAC STAR accreditation in 2020 and reaccreditation in 2021. “The PCCA’s focus last year was on reopening safely for our customers,” said John McNichol, PCCA president and CEO. “We went to great lengths to ensure the safety of our guests and staff, while maintaining the highest levels of customer service in a hospitable environment. Resulting from these initiatives, we saw a steady return of events to the Pennsylvania Convention Center and as we move toward a post-pandemic era, we will continue to prioritise the well-being of all who enter our facility.” The facility is currently undergoing several capital renovation projects and network infrastructure upgrades with the goal of improving the overall guest experience.