Large Events, International Travelers Drive Record-Breaking Summer Visitation to Philadelphia in 2024

PHL CVB Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau

Hotel Room Nights Sold, International Visitor Spend Surge More than 8% Over Summer 2023

PHILADELPHIA – During the summer of 2024, more people visited
Philadelphia than ever before, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors
Bureau announced today. Bolstered by significant events, including WrestleMania
XL, Alzheimer’s Association’s International Congress, and new nonstop
transatlantic routes from Philadelphia International Airport (PHL),
convention attendance and international visitation spent during the
crucial spring and summer seasons exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

At the Bureau’s Annual Luncheon event celebrating Philadelphia’s
hospitality community ( a full event recap with photos and captions can
be found here [1]), PHLCVB President and CEO Gregg Caren announced that
between Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day 2024, more than 1.6 million
room nights were sold in Center City Philadelphia, an 8.2% increase over
2023, and the highest number ever recorded in the city, according to
Tourism Economics.

In addition:

  • The record number of room nights sold is primarily driven by the two-week period where Philadelphia welcomed:
  • The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference with over Twelve thousand people from over 100 countries.
  • The Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses at the Wells Fargo Center has over 3,000 delegates from nearly 30 countries.
  • The Liverpool/Arsenal soccer match at Lincoln Financial Field drew international and domestic fans.
  • Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) grew 51% over 2023 during the Summer of 2024, with significant growth on the dates with overlapping demand from all three events.
  • Inbound arrivals at Philadelphia International Airport were up close to 7% during May-August over 2023.
  • International visitor spending grew 8% over 2023 during May-August 2023.

Year to date, in 2024, international visitor spending has trended up 27% over 2023. This reflects longer stays and greater engagement with our city’s attractions, dining, and experiences.

Caren praised the over 850 hospitality professionals gathered at The
Franklin Institute for “bringing the city to life” for convention
attendees and international visitors. “This city is a tapestry of
history, culture, art, and innovation–and every single one of you plays
a part… Philly is more than just a city–it’s an experience that calls
people back time and again,” Caren said.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker added that tourism, conventions,
and events support over 80,000 regional workers. Mayor Parker
thanked the PHLCVB and said that record-setting numbers come at precisely
the right time. “Thanks to the work of the PHLCVB, Philadelphia’s
profile worldwide has been raised by hosting major conventions,
sporting events, and international visitors. All this hard work is
essential as we gear up to welcome the world in 2026 — inviting
everyone to experience our city’s history, culture, and hospitality.”

As America’s birthplace and First World Heritage City, Philadelphia will
be at the center of the U.S. Semiquincentennial (250th Anniversary of
the signing of the Declaration of Independence) celebration on July 4,
2026. In addition, the Philadelphia area will host several major
international sporting events and conventions, including:

  • Six matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026(TM)
  • The 2026 Major League All-Star Game
  • The 2026 PGA Championship
  • PMCA Convening Leaders 2026

In addition to attracting significant events, Philadelphia has benefitted
from American Airlines’ investment in PHL as a transatlantic gateway. In
In 2024, American debuted three nonstop seasonal routes from Philadelphia:
Copenhagen, Nice, and Naples. The airline recently announced that all
three routes would return in 2025, alongside new seasonal routes to
Milan and Edinburgh give international travelers more opportunities
to enjoy the City of Brotherly Love.

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 conventions, 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 international leisure visitors who come to the
region each year. To learn more, visit discoverPHL.com [2].

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