Center City Philadelphia Leisure Room-Nights Increased 3% in 2009

PHILADELPHIA, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Mayor Michael A. Nutter and the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) announced today that Philadelphia set another leisure record: Center City leisure room-nights rose 3%, from 714,000 in 2008 to 735,000 in 2009, according to PKF Consulting. Originally forecasted to be down 2% in 2009, Center City Philadelphia's leisure market showed its strength and resilience by growing for the third consecutive year—despite the fact that 2009 was the most difficult year the tourism industry has faced since 9/11. Over the last 13 years, leisure hotel room-nights in Center City have increased by 189%.

What's more, Saturday night, an important benchmark of leisure tourism, continued to be a big win for Center City hotels in 2009, with 81% of rooms occupied. Over the past six years, Saturday has been the busiest night of the week for Center City hotels, and Saturday night occupancy in downtown Philadelphia has bested that of downtown Baltimore, Boston and Washington, DC. In 2009, Baltimore, Boston and Washington, DC hotels averaged 68%, 77% and 71% occupancy, respectively, while Center City Philadelphia reached 81%. (Source: Smith Travel Research)

"Thanks to our passionate tourism community, as well as brand new and tried-and-true attractions, Philadelphia managed to show some growth in Center City in 2009, and we look forward to continuing this momentum in 2010," said Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City of Philadelphia. "And every dollar that leisure tourists spend here helps our region recover from this economic downturn."

"Years of effective tourism marketing, Philadelphia's growing brand strength and the range of regional attractions pay off," said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of GPTMC. "In these uncertain times, travelers look for value in the form of a great destination that is fun, authentic, historic, accessible and worth discovering—and Philadelphia delivers."

What Keeps People Coming To Philly?:

• A Great Product: Philadelphia is a great destination, and it continues to grow. New attractions and new ways to enjoy old favorites have added to Philly's momentum over the years. The region shed its do-it-in-less-than-a-day reputation, evolving into a premier destination with too much to do—visitors have to stay longer and come back more often. People travel to the region again and again for its:
  • Official and unofficial arts and culture scene
  • Moving history
  • Eclectic neighborhoods
  • Buzzed-about restaurants
  • Family activities
  • Spirited sporting events
  • Outdoor fun
  • Indie and big-name music acts
  • Designer-owned shops
  • Only-in-Philly events and exhibitions
  • Historic and modern hotels
• Location: Philadelphia is within a five-hour drive of a quarter of the U.S. population, so it's easy to plan a short, hassle-free trip or week-long vacation. And packages that offer great rates, value-added giveaways or free hotel parking, such as the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, keep the trip-planning easy and affordable for all price points.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to Hear Philly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

SOURCE Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

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