The American Chemical Society was set to bring some 15,000 people to the Pennsylvania Convention Center the week of March 22 for its annual gathering.
The group pulled the plug on the event on Monday, citing coronavirus concerns and a flurry of cancellations from individuals who had planned to be there.
A day earlier, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology canceled its convention, which was set to start in Philadelphia on Friday.
The group expected about 6,500 people for the annual meeting but decided the rising number of presumptive coronavirus cases in southeastern Pennsylvania didn't warrant putting its members at risk.
The cancellations are bad news for the hotels that will lose all those room nights, as well as the food service, hotel housekeepers and the hospitality industry workforce as a whole. It means fewer hours and lighter paychecks.
Related
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau is keeping an eye on one other big convention set to start April 25: the American Psychiatric Association, which is still is planning to bring as many as 20,000 people to the region.
According to a published report, the group is keeping an eye on the growing number of presumptive coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania and consulting with city public health officials and other medical-related organizations planning to hold similar gatherings.
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