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Discover the benefitsof PHLCVB membership!
Each year, millions of people from around the globe visit Philadelphia for meetings, conventions and tradeshows. And that number continues to grow.
The expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center, under management by SMG, has seen increased interest and bookings since the signing of a new customer satisfaction agreement. In addition, Philadelphia’s global brand continues to attract more international visitors to our city each year.
Take advantage of the extensive network and resources of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). Reach the lucrative meetings and convention market, as well as international travel and group tour audiences, and generate new business as a member of our valued hospitality community.
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), a private, nonprofit membership corporation, is the official tourism promotion agency for the City of Philadelphia globally and the primary sales and marketing agency for the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
We are an Economic Engine for the city, creating jobs and fueling the economy by bringing meetings, conventions and travelers from around the world to Philadelphia.
We are Advocates for Philadelphia and the region’s continuous transformation of infrastructure.
We are Connectors for meeting planners, conference attendees, tour operators, global travelers and our members by orchestrating a symphony of resources to create great expectations.
Who we are:
Overview
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Our MissionTo generate economic impact and job growth by increasing the region’s hotel occupancy and revenues, while concurrently affecting other diverse segments of the hospitality industry. To do whatever it takes to attract ethnically diverse regional, national and international convention and tourism customers through creative sales, marketing and communications efforts.
What We Do• Convention Sales: Focuses on booking meetings, conventions and special events
into the Pennsylvania Convention Center, member hotels and off-site venues togenerate hotel room nights and positive economic impact for the City and [email protected]
• Convention Services: Assists planners and show organizers to ensure a smooth andsuccessful meeting, convention or event in [email protected]
• Marketing & Communications: Supports the efforts of the PHLCVB and PCC bypromoting Philadelphia and the region through innovative messaging, advertising,marketing, public relations and digital campaigns. [email protected]
• Membership: Recruits and services PHLCVB members and brings the hospitalitycommunity together through networking events and educational [email protected]
• Tourism: Concentrates sales and marketing efforts in international markets(consumers, tour operators and travel agents), as well as the domestic group tourmarket. [email protected]
• Finance & Administration: Handles accounting, human resources, officemanagement and legal matters. [email protected]
• Greater Philadelphia Life Sciences Congress (PHLLife): Raises the visibility of thetri-state region (Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware) as a world-class destination formedical, pharmaceutical, and biotech meetings, conventions and [email protected]
• Multicultural Affairs Congress (PHLDiversity): Works with PHLCVB departmentsto attract and support multicultural conventions and tourism and ensures themulticultural community is an integral part of the Greater Philadelphia hospitalitycommunity. [email protected]
• Philadelphia Sports Congress (PHLSports): Seeks to attract major national andinternational sporting events and conventions to the Greater Philadelphia region.Facilitates the annual Army-Navy game. [email protected]
Interested in advertising? Learn more at discoverPHL.com/advertising.
CONTACT USPhiladelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau1601 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103p: 215-636-3322 e: [email protected]. discoverPHL.com/membership
PHLCVB by the Numbers
$1B$1 billion in economic impact generated by meetings and
conventions each year
15th15th most internationally visited city, up from the 21st in 2001
50+50+ tradeshows, sales missions and customer events attended each year, where we promote our city
and our members
200+200+ international journalists and tour operators hosted by the
PHLCVB each year
60+60+ full-time staff members, ready to recommend your business to meeting
planners, group tour travelers and international visitors
Overview
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Partner with the PHLCVB and gain immediate access to comprehensive tools that will help you directly reach meetings and conventions, international tourism and group sales markets.
Grow your Business as a PHLCVB Member• Sales Leads: Hotel members receive sales leads directly from customers interested in bringing their groups to
the region, while all members can access tourism leads posted in the Members-Only section of our website.
• Convention Calendar & Profiles: Online tool that contains the contact information of meeting planners for all upcoming conventions, meetings and events booked by the PHLCVB. Only members have access!
• Referrals: The PHLCVB staff sends our members business prospects and refers meeting planner needs directly to them.
• Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide™ (OVG): Provides listings of member hotels, restaurants, entertainment and shopping venues, transportation, attractions, tours, sports facilities and universities.
• Professional Planners Guide (PPG): Offers local and national meeting and event professionals comprehensive listings about member offsite venues, accommodations, convention services and more.
• Digital Tools: Customizable listing pages on discoverPHL.com, plus social media access and promotions.
Member Benefits & Services
CLOTHING
& SHOE
PURCHASES
ARE
TAX-FREE! THE INSIDE SCOOPTHE BEST PLACES TO EAT AND EXPLORE IN PHILADELPHIA
10 GREAT EXPERIENCES FOR UNDER $10 | OUR VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE TO STAY, PLAY & DINE+
WHERE TO STAY, PLAY & DINE+
Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide™
CLOTHING & SHOE
PURCHASES ARE
TAX-FREE!
THE INSIDE SCOOPTHE BEST PLACES TO EAT AND EXPLORE IN PHILADELPHIA10 GREAT EXPERIENCES FOR UNDER $10
OUR VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE TO STAY, PLAY & DINE+
WINTER 2014 | discoverPHL.com
Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide™
HEAD OF THE CLASS
GET SCHOOLED ON FOOD, CULTURE AND FUN IN PHILADELPHIA’S VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
LEARN ABOUT OUR CITY’S COMMUNITY OF MAKERS
WHERE TO STAY, PLAY & DINE
+Students congregate on Locust Walk on the University of Pennsylvania campus
FALL 2014 | discoverPHL.com
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Member EnewsConvention AlertsMembership Labels for Direct MailMembership EventsMeet-and-Greets
More BenefitsAnnual LuncheonBrochure DisplayPublic RelationsVIP Pass ProgramFamiliarization & Press Rours
Co-op Advertising ProgramsMembership SignageFirst Class ProgramAdvertising Opportunities
Only PHLCVB Members get exclusive listings in our Publications:• Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide™ (OVG):
The official guide with all a visitor needs to know about Philadelphia plus listings of PHLCVB member hotels, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment venues, transportation, attractions, tours, shopping, sports facilities and teams, colleges and hospitals. The OVG is distributed at high traffic locations, including the Pennsylvania Convention Center, member hotels, the Independence Visitor Centers, Amtrak’s 30th Street Station and Philadelphia International Airport. This guide reaches more than one million visitors each year and is available in print, online and as an app on iPhone or iPad. View the biannual guide at discoverPHL.com/OVG.
• Professional Planners Guide (PPG): Offers meeting and event professionals comprehensive information, maps, floorplans and tools they require to build their meeting experience in Philadelphia. Includes valuable PHLCVB member listings, including offsite venues, accommodations, convention services and more. The guide is distributed during PHLCVB sales missions and tradeshows throughout the world, sent in response to inquiries and sent directly to an exclusive list of meeting and travel planners. View the guide online at discoverPHL.com/PPG.
Meetings and Conventions Mean Business• Convention Calendar & Profiles: Located in the
Members-Only section of discoverPHL.com, use the Convention Calendar and Profiles to view all upcoming meetings and conventions booked by the PHLCVB. See how many attendees are expected and where they are staying, so you can plan ahead, plus get contact information for the planners.
• Sales Leads: Get access to tourism and convention leads from the PHLCVB directly, regarding international tour operators and meeting planners looking for hotels, transportation, dining, shopping, attractions and more.
Work the Network• Member Networking Events: Network with other
members and PHLCVB staff at educational and social events held throughout the year. Bring plenty of business cards and find new business.
• PHLCVB Annual Meeting and Luncheon: Join 1,200+ attendees at the pre-Thanksgiving PHLCVB Annual Meeting and Luncheon. It’s a celebration of Philadelphia, our members and our accomplishments, and is the largest hospitality networking event in the region.
• Quarterly Member Meet-and-Greets: Members are invited to meet with PHLCVB staff for convention and tourism referrals. Great for new members to introduce themselves to the PHLCVB staff, and ideal for current members with new information to share.
• Tourism Update Meetings: Attend PHLCVB tourism-led meetings to brainstorm sales and marketing ideas, plus learn how to reach the lucrative international tourism market.
• Sponsorship Opportunities: Host or sponsor a membership networking event.
Increase Your Online Presence• Website: Your business information, including a
photo, links to your social media accounts. An unlimited description and more can be customized on your listing page and updated as often as you wish through our online member database, iDSS. Member listings are promoted on discoverPHL.com.
• Events: As a member, you can add events to be promoted on the discoverPHL.com website. Events are featured on the homepage of the website and at discoverPHL.com/events.
• Deals: PHLCVB Member deals are displayed on discoverPHL.com/deals and are promoted to incoming convention attendees. This is a great opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of convention attendees and international travelers.
Promote Your Business• Social Media Outreach: We have developed
a large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram fan base. The PHLCVB also maintains an active Members-Only LinkedIn page, which you are encouraged to join. Send post ideas directly to us via [email protected].
• VIP Pass Program: Attraction and tour members can participate by offering complimentary and discounted admission for VIP customers and press visiting the city. Contact [email protected] or 215-636-3316 to sign up.
• Membership Labels for Direct Mail: Build your database by obtaining hard copy labels for nearly 800 members for letters of introduction, invitations or discount offers. You can also request the information in an excel document. Contact [email protected] for more information.
• Membership Signage: All members are given a plaque and window cling to display at their place of business, letting customers know that they’re a proud member of the PHLCVB.
• Story Ideas: Send us your story ideas for potential use as website content or in PHLCVB publications. Let us know about special initiatives your business has to attract a diverse customer base by contacting [email protected].
• Tourism Opportunities: Join our convention and tourism sales teams at events throughout the world as they cultivate relationships with meeting planners, tour operators, journalists and other leaders who drive the lucrative international tourism market. As a member, you can also be part of International Familiarization Tours where we showcase Philadelphia and our members when tour operators and international journalists come to visit. Contact [email protected] for more information.
discoverPHL.com
Member Benefits & Services
• Advertising: Only PHLCVB memberscan advertise in the Philadelphia OfficialVisitors Guide™, Professional Planners Guide, ondiscoverPHL.com and on our official city map. VisitdiscoverPHL.com/advertising for more information.
• Member Site Visits: Invite us over for site visits andevents at your property, attraction, restaurant orbusiness so our staff can experience and referwhat you offer to meeting planners, conventionattendees and international/group visitors.
Additional Services
• Member E-News and Members-Only Section:Monthly electronic newsletters keep you informedabout events and issues of importance to thePHLCVB community. You are automaticallyenrolled when you join, and can also accessall of the news and more by logging into theMembers-Only section of discoverPHL.com.
• Video and Image Library: The PHLCVBlibrary of digital images, logos and videos areavailable for use in your promotional materialsand on your website. View the gallery atdiscoverPHL.com/photos. We ask that youplease credit the photographer and thePHLCVB for every photo you use. For moreresources, visit PHLpartners.com, where youcan download Philadelphia content andthe PHL mark to add to your collateral. Note:You are not permitted to use these photos foradvertising purposes.
• First Class Program: The PHLCVB has teamedup with the Community College of Philadelphia(CCP) to offer any employee of a PHLCVBmember organization that has never taken acollege class the opportunity to take one at CCPfor free.
• Public Relations: Gain international exposurefor your business by participating in PHLCVBpress trips.
discoverPHL.com
Member Benefits & Services
Promote Your Business
Website Tools for Members
Members-Only SectionIn the “Members-Only” section of discoverPHL.com, members have access to:
• Convention Calendar and Profiles • News on the hospitality industry and updates from the PHLCVB • Dates of upcoming Members-Only events • Links to our official publications, plus the PHLCVB
Annual Report and Business Plan • Tourism Leads • Member Directory …and more!
How to update your listing on discoverPHL.com: All members receive a unique listing on discoverPHL.com, which you can edit and update as often as you want through our member database, iDSS. (Individual member listing pages account for almost one-fifth of all page views on the website.)
Log in to iDSS by clicking “Members” at the top of discoverPHL.com, and then select “Update Your Listing” from the drop-down menu. You will be prompted for a username and password – if you don’t have these, please contact your PHLCVB Membership Services Manager.
Once you log in, take seven simple steps: 1. Update business information, including contact information,
website URL, social media links and more.
2. Edit your short website description (what appears when your business is in a list of search results), your full description (what appears on your listing page), plus the information that we include in each of our print publications. Check to make sure you are within the character count limit.
3. Add/change your member photo and thumbnail (what shows up in search results).
4. Add a PDF to your listing, such as a brochure or menu.
5. Update your amenities list, including hours, pricing, etc.
6. Add a Deal to your member listing (discoverPHL.com/deals is among the 20 most popular pages on our website).
7. Add an Event, which will appear both in your listing and in a feed on the homepage of discoverPHL.com.
For detailed instructions, watch the iDSS tutorials available at discoverPHL.com/membervideos.
If you’d like your listing to appear in multiple categories, contact us today!
How to log in:Log in by clicking “Members” at the top of discoverPHL.com, and then select “Members-Only” from the drop-down menu. You will be prompted for a username (phlmember) and password (discoverphl) to log in.
discoverPHL.com
The PHLCVB convention calendar and profiles are published as an exclusive resource to members of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). They list information that can be valuable when soliciting new business for your company. By using this resource, PHLCVB members can take advantage of Philadelphia’s lucrative convention industry and increase their exposure to this important market.The convention calendar and profiles can be accessed on the Members-Only section of our website (discoverPHL.com) and requires a username and password (see “Website Tools” for more information).
The files can be downloaded in either PDF or Excel format. The Excel format will easily allow you to sort according to your needs (e.g. date, size, facility, etc.).The convention calendar and profiles include contact information for the meeting planner who is coordinating the meeting or convention. When making contact, keep in mind that the meeting planner will be interested primarily in group services and facilities.
Helpful Hints:Before contacting the meeting planner:
• Look at the name of the group.
• Consider the size of the gathering. Eliminate any that may be too large or too small for you to service well.
• Note meeting dates so contact can be made at the appropriate time in advance of the meeting or convention (See “When to Make Contact” for tips).
Highlight your success:
• Have you worked with them before in Philadelphia or another city?
• Have you worked with similar groups?
• Look at the site of the meeting— mention if you have worked in that venue before.
Do your homework:
• Are you familiar with the group and its work?
• Do you know someone who is active in the group?
Also keep in mind:
• If your place of business is in close proximity to the headquarter hotel or meeting venue, be sure to mention details. (If your company is not close by, do not be deterred. Depending on the service you offer, proximity may not be a factor in the meeting planner’s selection.)
• Use every advantage you may have in your introductory email or letter, including testimonials from planners.
When to Make Contact:Timing is everything.
• 18 months: Businesses involved in ground operations, destination management, audio-visual services and security should make contact.
• 12 months: At one year out, the planner is heavily involved in the current year’s meeting, so wait to reach out.
• 11 months: Suppliers such as limousine operators, printers, office equipment rental, computer supplies, florists, restaurants with private dining rooms, photographers, mailing and shipping services, music suppliers and child care services should contact planners.
Make Your Company Stand Out:• Get the attention of the meeting planner
through creative, timely correspondence. Remember that you are not the only company contacting this planner, so consider how you can make your company stand out.
• Make sure you mention in your initial email: Your availability and interests in this meeting, general cost, proximity to and familiarity with the meeting venue, names of similar industry groups you have worked with in the recent past, and the name of the PHLCVB sales or services representative.
• Remember that the contact listed in the convention calendar or profile may not be responsible for the purchasing decisions of every aspect of the meeting.
• Many groups have committees for specific duties such as spouse tours, publicity, etc. Ask who will make decisions for the type of product or service you offer.
Services for Individual Attendees:If you cater to individual delegates, the convention calendar and profiles can help you plan your staffing and inventory needs. By making note of meetings and tradeshows near your place of business, you will be better able to predict activity.
Member restaurants, retail establishments, sightseeing and transportation companies also reach the individual delegates through their listings in the Philadelphia Official Visitors Guide™, which is available at the convention registration desks, area hotels, the Independence Visitor Center, Philadelphia International Airport, 30th Street Station, local attractions and online.
discoverPHL.com is promoted to planners and attendees through an extensive electronic communications program and you can reach convention attendees through our online Deals program. To learn more, contact your Membership Services Manager.
Convention Alert emails are sent out to members three to four weeks prior to each convention, giving you updated details of who is coming.
Connect with Conventions as a PHLCVB Member
Follow @meetPHL, our Twitter account dedicated to meetings and conventions, and get involved in the conversations with our upcoming groups.
Connect with Conventions
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Update your account information. Edit your account and contact information, listings, amenities, and social media through our member database, iDSS. Login by clicking “Members” at the top of discoverPHL.com and then choose “Update Your Listing” in the drop-down menu.
Enhance your listing. Add images, events and deals to your online listing. Events and Deals appear as separate listings on our site and will help drive traffic to your business. Check out discoverPHL.com/events and discoverPHL.com/deals for examples.
Use the Convention Calendar for new business leads. Pursue business opportunities by viewing upcoming conventions and events. You can access the Convention Calendar through the Members-Only section of discoverPHL.com.
Attend PHLCVB Member Networking Events. Network with other members and PHLCVB staff at educational and social events held throughout the year. Contact [email protected] for more information on our events, including sponsorship information.
Stay informed. Read the Convention Alerts, monthly Member Enews and event invitations you receive as a PHLCVB member.
Follow us and share your news. Join our “Philadelphia CVB Members” group on LinkedIn, plus follow us on Facebook (facebook.com/discoverPHL), Twitter (twitter.com/discoverPHL; twitter.com/meetPHL), and Instagram (instagram.com/discover_phl). And, don’t forget to send [email protected] any news you would like us to share.
Increase your visibility. All official PHLCVB print and web products provide opportunities for members to purchase prime, targeted advertisements. If you are interested in advertising, visit discoverPHL.com/advertising to learn more.
Stay in touch. Please keep the PHLCVB in mind when new things are happening in your organization, and alert us of staff changes, renovations, news, awards, etc., so we can help share your news.
Take Advantage of our Open-Source Assets. Download photos, videos, facts and sample copy about the City of Philadelphia on PHLpartners.com to use on your website and in your collateral. Or, visit discoverPHL.com/photos to access our full image library for photos and videos to use in promotional materials and on your website. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Schedule a Services Visit. Your Membership Services Manager will come and meet with you to review your account and ensure you are taking advantage of all PHLCVB member benefits.
Member Checklist
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