5 transportation systems and new hotels and restaurants to more retail shopping and increased use of entertainment venues like theaters, museums, and sports arenas — and the security of the jobs to support them. “Group business is the lifeblood of our hotels,” says Ken Reed, general manager of Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the host hotel, attached to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “Not only from the revenue of guest rooms but the ancillary revenue that group business brings to the hotel.” Like a hotel’s food and beverage revenue. At Marriott Downtown, for example, that would include banquets and sales at Cirq Bar, THIRTEEN Restaurant, Liberty Lanes Pub, and Center City Pantry. These kinds of sites are open to the public and lone visitors, obviously, “but conventioneers will use them more than others,” says Reed (especially if they’re bookending their conference trip with extra days in town). So will organizations sponsoring the convention, who use the occasion to host their own client meetings. The busier the region’s hotels are, says Reed, the busier their employees are — especially the hourly ones whose work schedules fill or empty according to occupancy. These group events “put all our people to work, so they can make full paychecks.” On a broader level, Philadelphia’s ability to host an increasing number of large, global gatherings like AAIC24 is adding to its global reputation as a city of note. With an increasing number of direct international flights from Philadelphia International Airport, the city is already attracting more travelers from outside the U.S. borders, raising its profile as a gateway to the United States. The influx of international visitors has spurred cultural exchanges and a lively evolution of unique art, dining, and entertainment experiences. The world has taken notice. • The Lonely Planet travel guide recently named Philadelphia as the number-one American city to visit in 2024 and one of the world’s top five destination cities, thanks to its “perfect blend of old school and modern metropolis.” • USA Today has dubbed Philly as both the “most walkable city” and “best city for street art” in the country. • The Michelin Green Guide chose Philadelphia as the 8th U.S. city to feature in its prestigious global guidebooks. • Condé Nast Traveler featured Philadelphia on its list of “The Best U.S. Cities for Arts and Culture,” calling the city a “cultural powerhouse” and noting how visitors are often pleasantly surprised by the depth and variety of experiences it offers. • And the New York Times named Philly’s food scene one of the best in the country, describing the city — which has more James Beard Award-winning restaurants per capita than New York — as “a mecca for food lovers, from high-end restaurants to its famous cheesesteaks.” These accolades help attract international conventions and tourists who seek a destination that balances history with modern innovation. And as Philadelphia continues to deliver, it further strengthens its status as a place that’s sophisticated enough to host complex, important gatherings with aplomb. (The success helped put Philly on the short list for future mega-gatherings, like the FIFA World Cup and MLB’s All Star Game, both of which the city will host in 2026.) “Philadelphia is now seen as a destination in itself — not just a day trip for people visiting New York or Washington D.C., but a place that conference goers would love to explore,” says The Franklin Institute president Larry Dubinski, who sits on the PHLCVB board. “I’ve done a lot of international travel, and I have to say — Philly has it all. “Business leaders see this when they visit,” he continues. “They look around and think, ‘Hey, maybe we should open a branch of our company here.’ I credit the PHLCVB. The outreach they’re doing, especially to the European, Asian, and Canadian communities, is letting everyone know what a tremendous city this is.” “Everyone” would soon include organizers of the Alzheimer’s Association’s International Conference, who arrived in Philadelphia in late July to prepare for their annual meeting, which would run from July 28th to August 1st. They were about to experience “a tremendous city” in action — and it would surpass their expectations. “Group business is the lifeblood of our hotels,” says Ken Reed, general manager of Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, the adjacent, the host hotel, attached to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “Not only from the revenue of guest rooms but the ancillary revenue that group business brings to the hotel.”
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