Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) recently launched phase two of Philly 360°™, a marketing campaign designed to expand the region’s visitor base by attracting a new group of African-American travelers who are young, affluent, technologically savvy and driven to a destination based on its contemporary cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife and overall buzz factor.

The fall phase of the project focuses on Philadelphia-born artist Barkley L. Hendricks’ Birth of the Cool retrospective at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) from October 17 to January 3 and shines a spotlight on the region’s thriving independent boutique scene. In addition to fresh new content on gophila.com/philly360, now complete with shop listings, fashion tips, photo slideshows and videos, the effort includes a Philly Fashion Makeover Contest.

gophila.com/philly360:
Devoted to Philly’s diverse creative scene, nightlife, music, history, food and more, gophila.com/philly360 has expanded to include a special focus on art and fashion. The newly enhanced site gives the scoop on 13 of the city’s best independent boutiques and features a fashion photo slideshow. On sister site uwishunu.com, fashionistas can check out weekly fashion tips from Vibe magazine editor and Philly 360°™ fashion ambassador Rakia Reynolds and watch videos hosted by Reynolds that highlight Philly’s diverse and affordable shops.

Also on the site, Barkley Hendricks’ fans will find a unit page devoted to the artist’s Philadelphia show. The page provides exhibition details, a slideshow of works featured in the retrospective and a video in which Hendricks, his wife and art historians give their perspectives on the show. A second video, “Cool School,” demonstrates how Barkley Hendricks and his PAFA classmates influenced Philly’s contemporary arts scene.

Philly Fashion Makeover Contest:
Beginning on October 15, the fashion challenged or those who simply want to take their look to the next level can visit gophila.com/philly360, where they can register to win a Philly Fashion Makeover. Contest partners include Duafe Holistic Haircare, Topstitch, Nikki London, SA VA, Bus Stop Boutique and Ursula’s About PHace. The lucky winner will receive:

• Round-trip transportation to Philadelphia on Amtrak from any city on the Northeast Corridor
• A two-night hotel stay at the brand new Hotel Palomar Philadelphia
• Dinner for two
• Clothing and accessories from Philly’s hottest boutiques
• Styling consultation from celebrity stylists
• Hair consultation, styling and products
• Make-up consultation

How It All Began:
Development for the newest phase of GPTMC’s multicultural marketing effort began in December 2008 when the tourism organization convened nearly 50 of Philadelphia’s African-American thought leaders, cultural entrepreneurs, marketers and other stakeholders. So enthusiastic about the enormous amount of creativity happening in the region, the group dubbed themselves the Philly 360°™ Coalition—a name that reflects their commitment to giving potential African-American visitors a 360° view of the city’s modern and historic tourism offerings. This summer, the group promoted The Roots Picnic and the city’s diverse music scene in a major way.

Stay Connected:
To stay connected with what’s happening, visitors are encouraged to sign up for the Philly 360°™ e-newsletter. Visitors can also receive updates on events and the creative ambassadors by following @Philly360 on Twitter.

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

Contact(s):

• Jeff Guaracino, (215) 599-2290
• Rachel Ferguson, (215) 599-2291