PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia had a record-breaking summer for tourism in 2024. The Convention and Visitors Bureau released the numbers at their annual lunch, today, at the Franklin Institute.
Philadelphia’s hospitality industry has not only come back from the pandemic, it has set a new benchmark, said PHLCVB president Gregg Caren.
“Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 1.6 million room nights were sold in the city. That’s 8% higher than last year — and higher than any year on record.”
Caren credited a week in late July, early August, when there were three international events — the Alzheimer's Association International Conference at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Jehovah's Witnesses Convention at Wells Fargo Center, and an Arsenal-Liverpool soccer match at Lincoln Financial Field — also giving a boost to international tourism, with arrivals and spending up 8%.
“This was the perfect storm for our convention and international tourism world that helped ignite our tourism economy,” Caren said.
“You have made Philadelphia the city people don’t just visit, they remember.”
Mayor Cherelle Parker chimed in with data from Philadelphia International Airport.
“Year to date through September, we’ve welcomed 23.4 million travelers — and that’s 11% more than last year,” she said.
Domestic and international travel is expected to stay strong through the holiday season, as well, with PHL projecting 1.04 million people passing through between Nov. 22 and Dec. 3, representing about 12% more than last year.
The mayor also announced, beginning this year, new international flights to Edinburgh, Milan, Barbados and Costa Rica.
Parker noted the hospitality industry is one of Philadelphia’s largest employers, with more than 80,600 jobs, and said it’s essential to realizing her goals for the city, which in turn will help tourism.
“It’s connectivity. Each of us have a lane in helping to show the globe who we are,” she said.
All this, and the city is still two years out from 2026, when Philadelphia will play host to several large-scale events. The city will be a focal point of celebration for the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. Wells Fargo Center will host March Madness. The Linc will host six FIFA World Cup matches from June 14 to July 4. And America’s birthplace will host America’s favorite pastime with the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
“We are getting our house in order now,” said Parker, assuring hospitality officials the city will be ready.
Convention Center president John McNichol said he’s confident.
“You can never be entirely prepared, but you can be as ready as anyone can be. We’ve done big things in the past, so I have no doubt it will all come together in the end.”