Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and Regional Partners Attending 2010 ABA Marketplace in Maryland to Promote Philadelphia as Host City for Next Year’s Marketplace
Largest Domestic Group Travel Convention Coming to Philadelphia Jan. 8-12, 2011
PHILADELPHIA…January 6, 2010…From January 15-19, 2010, tourism and convention services staff from the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), Pennsylvania Tourism, regional CVB’s, and participating PCVB members will promote Philadelphia as the American Bus Association’s (ABA) Marketplace 2011 host city to more than 3,500 members of the group travel industry at this year’s Marketplace, which is being held at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
ABA Marketplace is the largest business-to-business show in the group travel industry. Attendees include tour operators, itinerary planners and other bulk “buyers” of travel and tourism services who have the decision-making power to steer group tours to a destination. The 2011 Marketplace will take place January 8-12 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
“Having the American Bus Association’s Marketplace 2011 in Philadelphia means potential future business for the Philadelphia region and we hope our presence both on the tradeshow floor and at the PCVB-organized closing night event will generate interest in coming to Philadelphia in 2011,” said Fritz Smith, vice president of tourism, PCVB. “We greatly appreciate the substantial support from our participating sponsors including the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Pennsylvania Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (PACVB), and many other PCVB members and colleagues from throughout the region.”
To generate excitement for Philadelphia in 2011, this year’s attendees are invited to don poodle skirts and leather jackets and boogie the night away as they network at the American Bandstand-themed event on the last night of Marketplace, January 19, from 7:30 - 10 p.m. (Philadelphia media are invited to attend). The ballroom at the Gaylord will be transformed into a sock hop with icons of the ‘50s including a jukebox, giant records, and electric guitars. Partiers can sample Philadelphia favorites at a “diner” featuring burgers, cheeseteaks, hoagies, and Herr’s potato chips; and quench their thirst at a soda fountain with root beer floats and black cherry soda. Desserts include Tastykakes and Hershey’s Chocolate. Entertainment will be provided by local band, the Party Dolls, and deejay Sam Lit (son of legendary Philadelphia deejay, Hy Lit)
During this year’s Marketplace, the PCVB tourism sales staff and more than 35 PCVB members will have one-on-one appointments with more than 300 tour operators to sell Philadelphia and the region as an overnight destination for groups, and will have a booth at the show with brochures and other sales materials.
When in Philadelphia, the tradeshow is expected to utilize a total of 10,840 room nights and generate an estimated $10.8 million in economic impact. According to the ABA, the host city can expect to increase its group tourism business by an estimated ten to 25 percent as a result of hosting the show. A fully loaded motorcoach (40 passengers on average) on a charter or tour making an overnight stay contributes an average of $5,000 to $13,000 per day to the local economy in expenditures including meals, lodging, shopping, admission fees, souvenirs, and local taxes.
The group tour market has maintained a steady growth in the Philadelphia region despite a nationwide dip in tourism. According to reports gathered by the PCVB and PKF Consulting (Hospitality Research Firm) from member hotel properties in the Center City area, motorcoach visitation increased from 36,697 group tour room nights in 2007 to 36,750 in 2008 (2009 figures will be available in February). And, as the baby boomer market keeps growing, group tourism is expecting to increase.
The 2011 Marketplace is being planned by a coalition of Pennsylvania partners including the PCVB, Philadelphia and The Countryside, the Pennsylvania Tourism Office the Pennsylvania Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (PACVB), regional CVB’s, and a number of local and regional sponsors. Sponsors for the 2010 ABA closing event include: Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, Brandywine Valley, Valley Forge Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gettysburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sight & Sound Theatres, Lancaster County/Pennsylvania Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, Buck’s County Conference & Visitors Bureau, Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Adventure Aquarium, The Franklin Institute, City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Adventure Aquarium, National Constitution Center, Delaware Tourism, Hershey Park, Holiday Inn Independence Mall, Holiday Inn Express Midtown, Doubtletree Hotel Philadelphia, and Crowne Plaza Philadelphia Downtown.
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About the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB), www.PhiladelphiaUSA.travel, a private non-profit corporation, is the City of Philadelphia’s primary sales organization. The mission of the PCVB is to market Philadelphia as a convention, meeting and tourist destination to regional, national and international audiences. Focusing on the meetings and conventions business and the travel trade, the PCVB’s sales force works diligently to increase the city’s hotel occupancy and average daily rate, while concurrently affecting other segments of the hospitality industry.
About the ABA
The American Bus Association is the trade organization of the intercity bus industry with more than 1000 motorcoach owner and tour company members in the United States and Canada. Its members operate charter, tour, regular route, airport express, special operations and contract services. Another 2,600 members are travel and tourism organizations and suppliers of bus products and services who work in partnership with the North American motorcoach industry. Visit www.buses.org for more information.
