The city is set to welcome more than half a million major event attendees to Philadelphia this year
submitted by Jaime Martorana, Communications Manager, PHLCVB
PHILADELPHIA – Today, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), alongside partners at Visit Philadelphia, hosted the 2024 Tourism Outlook event at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. The event featured a look at tourism results for 2023, sales and marketing initiatives for each organization in the year ahead, and industry advocacy priorities for 2024.
PHLCVB President and CEO Gregg Caren shared insight on the events the city is welcoming this year that were booked by the bureau. Philadelphia’s tourism and hospitality industry is gearing up to host more than 180 total meetings, conventions and sporting events generated by the PHLCVB this year including 20 citywide events. The PHLCVB-booked events are projected to bring in more than 500,000 attendees to the city.
Defined as a convention or event that generates more than 2,000 hotel rooms on its peak night, “citywides” create stability within the industry and help support hospitality jobs in the Philadelphia region. The citywide calendar began in January with Modern Language Association’s 2024 Annual Convention (January 4-7).
One major standout for the city this year is WrestleMania 40, taking place April 6-7 at Lincoln Financial Field. The WWE® megaevent will also feature additional spectator events at Wells Fargo Center (April 5 and 8) and WWE World at WrestleMania at the Pennsylvania Convention Center April 4-8. All told, the city is anticipated to welcome more than 200,000 attendees.
“When you see people walking on the street in Center City with a convention name badge,” said Caren, “welcome them. When we host big events, that business directly supports our city’s hospitality workers, including hotel and restaurant staff, among others.”
Caren also shared projections from Tourism Economics in the international traveler segment. In 2024, the PHLCVB anticipates Philadelphia will welcome 1.3 million overnight visits from international travelers generating nearly $800 million in spending in the Philadelphia region. These overnight visits are supported by the PHLCVB’s continued promotional efforts in 18 international markets, including Canada, UK, India, China and Germany, the top feeder markets for Philadelphia’s international visitation.
About the PHLCVB:
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) creates positive economic impact across the Philadelphia region, driving job growth and promoting the health and vibrancy of our hospitality industry by marketing the destination, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and attracting overnight visitors. The PHLCVB’s work engages our partners, the local Philadelphia community as well as culturally and ethnically diverse regional, national and international convention, sporting event and tourism customers. The PHLCVB is also the official tourism promotion agency for the city of Philadelphia globally and is responsible for growing the number of overseas leisure visitors who come to the region each year. To learn more, visit www.DiscoverPHL.com.
