Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Wide-angle Panoramas With Skyline In Background:

• South Street Bridge: Skyline view from west, over the Schuylkill River. As of April 2008, parts of the bridge are under construction and access could be tricky.
• Penn Tower Hotel (roof, 22 stories high): Close to Schuylkill River, skyline view from west. 33^rd Street & Civic Center Boulevard, (215) 898-0405 (Request official permission well in advance of shoot.)
• University of Pennsylvania High Rise Residences (roof or glass-walled penthouse lounges, 26 stories high): East-facing view overlooking the center of University of Pennsylvania campus with sight lines through to Center City; unobscured view from

Today the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) released its Tourism 2009 Report to the Region. The 36-page publication provides a comprehensive snapshot of the region’s leisure tourism industry and takes a look at opportunities and challenges the region faces as a result of the current economy. The annual report also includes visitor volume numbers for 2008 and addresses how tourism impacted the local and regional economy last year. Distribution of the report, themed “The Big Picture” and available for free on gophila.com/tourismreport, coincides with National Tourism and Travel Week, taking place May 9-17, 2009.

Here’s a look at

CAMPAIGN NAME: With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™

CAMPAIGN OVERVIEW: Launching May 2009, With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ is part of GPTMC’s 2009 recessionary strategy to boost leisure visitation and overnight hotel stays in Philadelphia. It appeals to many different audiences through various letters addressed to travelers. Penned by the city itself, the letters let a bit of Philly “atty-tude” through while extending the invitation to visit.

FUNDING: In fall 2008, the mayor of Philadelphia and City Council approved a 1.2% increase in hotel tax on Philadelphia County hotel rooms to be shared among GPTMC, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and the

As part of the new With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™ campaign, visitors who book one of the nearly 100 featured packages on gophila.com/withlove will receive a special gift at check-in. The giveaway includes a Philadelphia Privileges coupon book, a five-pack of With Love postcards and a With Love pin, along with other brochures, coupons and maps. And with starting rates ranging from $77 to $415 per night, gophila.com/withlove has an option for every type of traveler. After checking the Web site, visitors can book their selected packages online or by calling the hotel directly. Here are just a few of the

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today revealed With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™, a new $1.4 million tourism marketing campaign developed in direct response to the current economic climate and designed to increase leisure visitation and hotel occupancy.

In total this summer, GPTMC will spend $2.5 million to woo leisure visitors here. GPTMC’s tourism marketing repertoire features With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™, which includes promotion of Historic Philadelphia; the Galileo, the Medici and the Age of Astronomy exhibition at The Franklin Institute Science Museum; Philly Overnight®; Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay®; and efforts with the Canadian

La Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, o GPTMC (La Sociedad de Comercialización del Turismo en la Zona Metropolitana de Filadelfia) sacó a luz hoy «Con cariño, Filadelfia» (With Love, Philadelphia XOXO™) su nueva campaña de comercialización del turismo de $1.4 millones creada en respuesta directa al clima económico actual y diseñada para incrementar el turismo recreativo y la ocupación hotelera.

GPTMC invertirá este verano un total de $2.5 millones para conquistar visitantes en viaje recreativo aquí. En el repertorio de comercialización del turismo de la GPTMC figuran «Con cariño, Filadelfia», que incluye la promoción «Filadelfia Histórica» (Historic

La Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, o GPTMC (La Corporación de Mercadeo del Turismo de Filadelfia)) publicó su «Informe regional Turismo 2009» (Tourism 2009 Report to the Region). El informe, de 36 páginas, contiene un registro integral de la industria del turismo recreativo de la región y examina las oportunidades y las dificultades que encara la región como resultado de la situación económica actual. El informe anual incluye asimismo las cifras del volumen de visitantes de 2008 y analiza el efecto del turismo sobre la economía tanto local como regional el año pasado. La distribución del

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’s diverse retail scene is growing thanks to big names such as Barneys CO-OP and Juicy Couture, along with indie boutiques such as Zahra Saeed and JimmyStyle. Here’s a look at six shops where locals and visitors are finding fab fashions, hit-of-the-party gifts, fragrant flowers and hard-to-resist homeware:

Fab Fashions:

• Barneys CO-OP – Style-savvy Philadelphians are rejoicing at the arrival of this beloved source of Vena Cava dresses, Rag & Bone button-downs and denim galore (Seven For All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Earnest Sewn, J Brand, Rogan, Current/Elliott and PRPS, among many others). In April 2009, noted Manhattan-based fashion

Name: Joan Shepp
Affiliation: Joan Shepp
Her Story: In 1971, the doyenne of Philadelphia vogue founded her eponymous shop with $100 and the credo: “Fashion is supposed to be fun.” In 1999, Shepp, who now works alongside daughter Ellen Shepp, moved the business from Philly’s burbs to a soaring, 22-foot-ceiling industrial-gallery-salon a block from Rittenhouse Square. Today, Joan Shepp the store proffers the conceptual fashion fruits of exclusive relationships with major international designers (Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester), “it” looks from Christian Louboutin, Marni, D&G and an ever-changing collection of prêt-a-porter garments, shoes and accessories from la mode’s

Thanks in part to the popularity of TV shows like The Amazing Race and movies like National Treasure (filmed partially in Philadelphia) that send people around the world on the search for clues, prizes and hidden treasures, Philadelphia attractions are mapping out creative ways to help visitors get to know the region. City-wide scavenger hunts, card games that rely on knowledge of historic buildings and participatory re-enactments of Colonial playtime allow both kids and adults to learn more about the city while jumping right into the action. Here’s a look at some of the fun and games taking place in

El diverso cuadro de ventas al público de Philly va creciendo gracias a nombres de gran talla como los de Barneys CO-OP y Juicy Couture, junto con los de boutiques de alternativa como Zahra Saeed y JimmyStyle. Presentamos aquí seis tiendas donde residentes y visitantes encuentran estilos de fábula, regalos sorprendentes, flores fragantes y artículos irresistibles para el hogar.

Estilos De Fábula:

• Barneys CO-OP – Los filadelfianos conocedores de la moda se regocijan por la llegada de esta adorada fuente de vestidos Vena Cava, de prendas abotonadas Rag & Bone y de mezclillas mil (Seven For All Mankind, Citizens

Nombre: Joan Shepp
Afiliación: Joan Shepp
Historial: En 1971, la decana de la moda en Filadelfia fundó su establecimiento epónimo con $100 y el credo: «la moda debe ser divertida». En 1999, Shepp, que ahora trabaja con su hija Ellen Shepp, trasladó el negocio de los barrios de Philly a un formidable salón-galería de proporciones industriales con un techo de 22 pies a solo una calle de Rittenhouse Square. Hoy en día, el establecimiento Joan Shepp propone los frutos de la moda conceptual de relaciones exclusivas con diseñadores internacionales de gran talla (Balenciaga, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester), el

Some of the country’s most cutting-edge, indie boutiques operate within the historic neighborhoods of Philadelphia, and many of them maintain in-town exclusivity of their favorite local, national and international lines. Here’s where to go for fab frocks, must-have make-up, sky-high stilettos and luxurious lotions and potions within the city limits:

Hipster Labels:

• Vagabond – After nearly a decade, this Old City pioneer still scores top-level labels exclusively. It’s the only place in town that offers the shop owners’ own lines—knits by Stella pop and avant garde pieces by City of Brotherly Love—along with Scout, Ashley Watson, Slow and Steady

Weekends were made for brunching—chatting with friends, digging into a stack of syrupy pancakes, lingering over a cup of a coffee and a few refills. No one knows this better than Philadelphians, who have a wide array of fantastic brunch restaurants to choose from every Saturday and Sunday. Whether the craving is for a five-star buffet with caviar, a Latin feast of plantains and agua fresca cocktails or fresh granola and locally grown blueberries, Philadelphia foodies have plenty of options for a late morning or early afternoon meal in this town. The following are some of the region’s best brunch

This is an AIGA press release.

AIGA Philadelphia will honor thirty-four local winners at the inaugural Philadelphia Design Awards (PDA) showcase. The winners' designs will be on display from May 1 to May 30, 2009 at Always by Design (AXD) Gallery, 265 South 10th Street in Philadelphia's Washington Square West neighborhood. Artists whose work is featured in PDA will be formally recognized at a First Friday awards ceremony and reception on May 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The regional artists being recognized were selected by a panel of internationally recognized judges, which includes Sean Adams of Adams Morioka, Rick

MAY 2009

May 3, 2009
BLUE CROSS 30TH ANNUAL BROAD STREET RUN. The largest and one of the fastest 10-milers in the nation goes from North Philadelphia down the length of Broad Street to The Navy Yard to raise money for the American Cancer Society. (215) 683-3594, broadstreetrun.com

May 8-9, 2009
DAD VAIL REGATTA. Championship rowers from more than 100 colleges and universities compete at the world’s largest collegiate regatta, which celebrates its 71^st anniversary this year. (610) 623-8590, dadvail.org

May 9, 2009
QUAD COUNTY METRIC BIKE RIDE. Cyclists pedal at their own pace and ride up to 76

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

Visitors in search of nighttime fun will fall in el amor with Philadelphia’s Hispanic dining and dancing scene. Well known for its bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) spots, steakhouses and hometown flavors, Philadelphia’s Center City and surrounding neighborhoods boast authentic flavors that add spice to any night. And those looking to don their dancing shoes and groove to authentic Latin sounds can head to many of the fun nightclubs and lounges around the city.

Fitting in all of Philly’s best day and evening activities means spending a couple of nights. That’s easily done thanks to the two-night Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, which includes

Los visitantes en busca de diversión nocturna acabarán enamorados del panorama hispánico de cena y baile de Filadelfia. Famosa por sus restoranes especializados en carnes, por sus sabores locales y por sus establecimientos tipo «traiga su propia botella» (BYOB), el centro de la ciudad (Center City) y las zonas aledañas se enorgullecen de sus sabores auténticos, que añaden vivacidad a cualquier noche. Y quienes desean calzarse los zapatos de baile y mover la cadera al ritmo latino pueden dirigirse a una multitud de clubes nocturnos y salones-bar por toda la ciudad.

Se necesita un par de noches para