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– ADVERTORIAL – Who'sWho IN CONVENTION BUREAUS NOTES: Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau 1700 Market St., Suite 3000 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (855) MEET-PHL (855-633-8745) www.MeetPHL.com Jack Ferguson PRESIDENT & CEO (215) 636-3310 jackf@pcvb.org Highlights of Philadelphia Philadelphia's central location, within a day's drive of 40 percent of the U.S. population, makes getting here easy and affordable. Amtrak's 30th Street Station is one of the busiest hubs in the nation and Philadelphia International Airport is serviced by 30 airlines providing flights to 121 domestic cities and 37 international destinations. The City's grid street design is visitor- friendly and very walkable. Plus, Philadel- phia has incomparable accessibility via bus, trolley, subway services regional rail, including direct transportation from the airport to the Pennsylvania Convention Center in 10 minutes. Philadelphia is The Complete Package: Julie Coker SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CONVENTION DIVISION (215) 636-4470 juliec@pcvb.org a full-on fusion of old and new, historic and hip, trendy and traditional. There's some- thing for every visitor - historic landmarks, world-renowned dining options ranging from upscale eateries to the famous Philly chees- esteak, tax-free shopping, fast-action sports and an abundance of arts and culture. Philadelphia is also a world-class meetings destination, with a state-of-the- art facility — the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Center — and unmatched service and amenities. Kevin Richards NATIONAL ACCOUNTS DIRECTOR (203) 380-1923 kevinr@pcvb.org Exhibit Facilities The newly expanded Pennsylvania Conven- tion Center is now the 14th largest in the nation and has the capacity to host larger tradeshows or two conventions simultane- ously. The expanded center features one million square feet of saleable space and the largest contiguous exhibit space in the Northeast — 528,000 square feet. The Convention Center also features the larg- est ballroom on the East Coast — 55,408 square feet — and 79 meeting rooms. Hotel Inventory Philadelphia offers one of the most compact housing packages in the country, with nearly 10,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Philadelphia is home to 30 hotel brands at a variety of price points. Taxes h Sales tax in Philadelphia is 8% (There's no sales tax on clothing or shoes!) h Philadelphia's hotel tax is 8.2% Responsibility for Bookings 18-months or less, events are booked by the Pennsylvania Convention Center sales team (with the PCVB sales team securing hotels rooms). Long-term dates (18-months out or more) are booked by the sales team at the PCVB. Support Services The award-winning convention services teams at the PCVB and Convention Center have decades of combined experience. They'll help you increase attendance and access top-notch vendors and suppliers. Plus, they've created a variety of tools for your attendees. On the Horizon This spring, Philadelphia will welcome the Barnes Foundation to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This renowned collection of early French-Modern and post-Impressionist art will be just steps away from the Pennsyl- vania Convention Center along with other world-class museums and institutions along the Parkway, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute Science Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences and the Rodin Museum. www.TradeShowExecutive.com | March 2012 67 Photo by Paul Loftland for PCVB