Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Gay and lesbian travelers eager to get their “history straight” and “nightlife gay” will find an eclectic mix of fun and fabulous happenings in Philadelphia and The Countryside® throughout the year. Dance parties, drag shows, pride parades and cultural events are among the offerings for gay travelers in 2009. Here’s a look:

Fun Seven Days A Week:

• Woody’s Bar is the quintessential gay hot spot in Philadelphia. With two sprawling floors, including a friendly downstairs bar and packed upstairs dance floor, there’s plenty of man-on-man action seven days a week. 202 S. 13^th Street, (215) 545-1893, woodysbar.com
• Every

Philadelphia’s gay culture is shimmering with a vibrant day and nightlife scene thanks to new restaurants and must-see shops, boutiques and galleries throughout the city. And while visitors are encouraged to get their history straight and their nightlife gay while visiting town, they’re also free to eat, drink and shop, shop, shop. Here’s a look at some of the newest gay-friendly spots in town:

Bars & Restaurants:

• At Bindi, a modern bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) Indian bistro, partners in business and life Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran use locally grown products and fresh drink mixes. The duo also own gourmet shop

Philadelphia is the 13^th most visited U.S. destination for gay and lesbian travelers, according to the 13^th annual LGBT Tourism Study of 4,500 gay and lesbian travelers conducted by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, Inc. This year’s report shows a remarkable increase in total visitation by gay and lesbian travelers to the Greater Philadelphia region and marks a three-year rise in the destination’s visitation ranking. Philadelphia first broke into the prized “Top 20 U.S. Destinations” list in 2006 when it ranked #16; it maintained that position in 2007. Gay and lesbian travelers spend $70 billion a year on travel

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is proud to announce the renewal of three partnerships to support its groundbreaking gay and lesbian marketing campaign, Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®. Southwest Airlines has teamed up with GPTMC for the second year, while R Family Vacations and Mariah Hanson’s The Dinah Weekend are working with GPTMC for the third year. All three partnerships employ innovative and collaborative marketing programs, including cross-promotional advertising, e-mail outreach, social media and targeted public relations. Here’s a look at how GPTMC is working to get the gay-friendly Philly message out:

• Southwest

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) has launched a contest as part of the Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® tourism marketing campaign. Entrants can sign up to win “Philly’s Ultimate Gay Stay,” including a trip to the city and dining, shopping and pampering at some of the city’s gay-friendly businesses, at gophila.com/gayphilly.

Online banner ads promoting the contest will run nationwide on logoonline.com and outtraveler.com, while a print ad will run in Passport Magazine. In addition, targeted outreach at out-of-market events and businesses in cities such as Chicago, Denver, Palm Springs and Columbus

Philly locals will be the centerpiece of new creative developed for the Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® tourism marketing campaign, giving it a next-generation appeal. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Southwest Airlines will debut "We Your People" in national advertising placements and in a five-city city promotional push beginning March 14, 2008. The groundbreaking gay tourism campaign originally launched in 2003 with the iconic images of Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross.

The first "We Your People" ad features local entrepreneur Matthew Izzo, owner of Matthew Izzo Boutiques. He will be joined by more

Name: Matthew Izzo, designer/boutique owner
Affiliation: Matthew Izzo boutiques
His Story: Matthew Izzo opened his first shop in Philadelphia in 2002, and business has been booming ever since. Izzo, a pedigreed Manhattan interior designer, opened his business here because "Philly is fresh. I fell in love with the architecture and newness of it. I was tired of being one of a bunch. Here, I could make a name for myself." Izzo has accomplished that task, with a furniture and home accessories shop, a thriving design business, a hip clothing boutique and a hair salon. When he has time, he paints