The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PCVB) welcomed 20 meeting planners for our Customer Advisory Board (CAB) meeting in mid-July. Among the highlights of the two-day event was a tour of the expanding Pennsylvania Convention Center, which will open in March 2011 and is the economic engine of the Philadelphia hospitality community.

During the expansion tour, the CAB members witnessed firsthand the seamless transition from the existing building to the expanded section, while discovering:

  • The building is 87 percent completed;
  • The role an expanded Convention Center is playing in making Philadelphia a unique meetings destination;
  • How an expanded Convention Center will assist in the continued development of the Avenue of the Arts; and most importantly
  • How the expanded Convention Center will better serve customer needs.

An expanded Convention Center will:    

  • Consist of one million SF of usable space;
  • Be 62 percent larger than the current space;
  • Now have the ability to host two large conventions simultaneously or larger tradeshows;
  • Be the 14th largest in the nation.

The CAB meetings are an opportunity to inform our customers of the new things happening in Philadelphia, and learn from them what is working well and how we can make Philadelphia even better.  We had terrific feedback on the look and feel of the expanded space and everyone is excited for such a great addition to Philadelphia. 

I am also excited to welcome Julie Coker to our team as senior vice president of our convention division, beginning September 7. Many of you know Julie, most recently as the General Manager of the Hyatt Regency at Penn’s Landing and from more than 20 years with Hyatt.

To see video from the CAB Expansion Tour, click here.

Submitted by:

Jack Ferguson
Incoming President
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau