Large events and international travelers drive tourism industry success, nearly doubling economic impact form 2023
PHILADELPHIA – The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA) published their joint 2024 Annual Report, releasing key data points and major milestones reflecting the success of the tourism and hospitality industry in Philadelphia last year.
In 2024, Philadelphia hosted 267 events booked by the PHLCVB. Of these, 21 were citywide, a convention or event that generates more than 2,000 hotel rooms on its peak night. Overall, Philadelphia welcomed 542,202 attendees from these events, resulting in 581,612 hotel room nights and an economic impact of $636 million.
“We’re proud to share our achievements from 2024, which reflect our industry’s continued strength and resilience,” said Gregg Caren, President and CEO of the PHLCVB. “We remain committed to building on this momentum and passionately promoting Philadelphia as a welcoming, accessible destination to meet, visit, live, and do business. The strong collaboration among our industry partners drove last year’s hospitality successes. Together, this united effort supported nearly 80,000 hospitality-related jobs in Philadelphia County and over 193,000 across the region.”
“In 2024, the Pennsylvania Convention Center welcomed more than 940,000 attendees across 147 events—each one an opportunity for visitors to connect, learn, and create lasting memories,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO of the PCCA. “As we turn toward 2025 and beyond, we remain focused on improving our spaces and operations to deliver the best experience possible for convention attendees visiting the city of Philadelphia.”
The PHLCVB is the official global tourism agency for the City of Philadelphia, representing 10 international markets. In 2024, Philadelphia saw a strong international tourism recovery, with more than 1.2 million visitors contributing to an economic impact of $1.2 billion. When looking at the number of visitors to Philadelphia, the city’s top international markets included Canada (535.1K), the United Kingdom (92.3K), India (62.4K), Germany (55K), and France (37.2K).
To read the full annual report, visit discoverPHL.com.
About the PHLCVB:
The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) creates a 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, and culturally and ethnically diverse regional, national, and international convention, sporting event, and tourism customers. The PHLCVB is also the official tourism promotion agency for Philadelphia globally. It is responsible for growing the number of international leisure visitors coming to the region annually. To learn more, visit www.discoverPHL.com. For high-resolution photos and videos, story starters, press trip information, and more, visit discoverPHL.com/press-room.
About the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority:
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia at the heart of the city’s many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene. Managed by ASM Global, the Center is the 14th largest facility in the nation and features one of the largest exhibit spaces and ballrooms in the Northeastern U.S. The meetings, conventions, trade shows, and other events the Center hosts attract attendees nationwide to Philadelphia, making the facility the most significant economic driver of the region’s hospitality industry.
For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.
