2 A YEAR OF PROGRESS AND GROWTH Karen Dougherty Buchholz Chair of the Board PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU Gregg Caren President & CEO PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU David A. Nasatir, Esq. Chair of the Board PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY John J. McNichol President & CEO PENNSYLVANIA CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY AS WE REFLECT ON AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR for the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA), we are proud to share the achievements of 2024. Philadelphia hosted impressive events and welcomed visitors from around the world, which significantly increased hotel room revenue, almost doubling the economic impact from the previous year. In the spring, WrestleMania XL took center stage, shattering attendance records. Attendees came from all 50 states and over 60 countries, with the event being hailed by the WWE as the most successful in the entertainment giant’s history. Then, between May and September, 1.6 million room nights were sold in Center City, 8% higher than the previous year. A contributing factor of this success was a special two-week period that welcomed the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) to the convention center with over 12,000 people from more than 100 countries, the Jehovah’s Witness convention at the Wells Fargo Center and another incredible international event, the Liverpool/Arsenal soccer match at Lincoln Financial Field. This was a perfect storm that generated significant business. All throughout the year, our teams continued to promote Philadelphia in our top markets around the world to prospective travelers, with impactful sales and media activations alongside incredible partners such as the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Philadelphia Phillies as they hosted events abroad. Our sales teams continued to book conventions well into the future, submitting competitive bids that will fill the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the sports complex, hotels and attractions. In 2024, the PCCA continued to invest in the Center’s facilities and operations to enhance the experience of customers, exhibitors and event attendees. Notably, the convention center opened six new permanent concession stands, commenced construction on a new executive boardroom meeting space, and opened a new training center to ensure that its show floor labor partners have the latest safety and skills training, as well as a high-level of hospitality-focused training. The Center also remained focused on prioritizing sustainability and providing expert support for green meetings and events. The facility achieved a new LEED certification and the PCCA invested resources in a range of sustainability projects that continue to minimize the environmental impact of the Center’s operations. The results in this report represent the collective effort of our industry partners who work together every day to support and grow the nearly 80,000 hospitality-related jobs in Philadelphia and the more than 193,000 hospitality-related jobs in the region. These accomplishments are a testament to the strength of our industry, the dedication of our partners, and the enduring appeal of our World Heritage city. The PHLCVB and PCCA remain committed to sustaining the momentum and to continue to advocate for and passionately promote Philadelphia as a welcoming and accessible destination to meet, visit, live, and do business, in order to produce a positive economic impact in Philadelphia and for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2
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