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

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) will debut PHILLY 360°™, The Book—the newest component of its African-American tourism marketing campaign—at The Roots Picnic on June 6, 2009. The limited-edition, hard-bound book features interviews with some of Philadelphia’s most prominent African-American tastemakers and trendsetters, including The Roots, King Britt and Ethel Cee, and details what these creative ambassadors love most about the city. All of the people featured in the book are part of GPTMC’s Philly 360°™ Coalition, a group of 50 of the city’s African-American thought leaders, cultural entrepreneurs, marketers and other stakeholders committed to promoting a 360°

In summer 2009, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) debuted a new twist on its African-American tourism marketing campaign. The initiative focuses on expanding the destination’s current visitor base by attracting a new group of African-American travelers who are younger, technologically savvy and driven to an urban destination based on its contemporary cultural offerings, vibrant nightlife scene and overall buzz factor.

Helping to shape the campaign is the Philly 360˚™ Coalition—a name that reflects the group’s commitment to giving potential visitors a 360˚ view of the city’s modern and historic tourism offerings. Here is a look at the African-American

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today announced a new marketing strategy designed to promote the region’s strong African-American cultural heritage and contemporary creative scene. The integrated campaign—set to debut in summer 2009—will focus on expanding the destination’s current visitor base by attracting a new core group of travelers who are younger, technologically savvy and driven to an urban destination based on its history, mainstream attractions and underground culture.

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

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today announced new partnerships for Black History Month with four Philadelphia media outlets: CBS 3, The CW Philly 57, KYW Newsradio 1060 and The Philadelphia Tribune. The partnerships involve content sharing through Web, print and broadcast mediums in an effort to extend marketing messages geared specifically toward African-American travelers.

“With new tourism initiatives under way, it is important for GPTMC to remind our hometown audiences that Philadelphia has a rich African-American history with a contemporary relevance,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC. “These partnerships help us showcase and celebrate our region’s strong

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, CW Philly won a 2008 Mid-Atlantic Emmy® Award in the Community/Public Service category for a series of public service announcements produced in partnership with GPTMC and The African American Museum in Philadelphia. More than 1.5 million people watched the segments, which aired throughout Black History Month in February 2008. This is the first time GPTMC has received an Emmy® award.

“GPTMC and its partners are thrilled by this honor,” said Patricia Washington, vice president of cultural tourism, GPTMC. “The Emmy® win further promotes the series of six 30-second spots that raised awareness for Quest

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) received a 2008 Mid-Atlantic Emmy® nomination in the Community/Public Service category for a series of public service announcements produced with CBS3, CW Philly and The African American Museum in Philadelphia. More than 1.5 million people watched the segments, which aired throughout Black History Month in February 2008. This is the first time GPTMC has received an Emmy® nomination. The winners will be announced this Saturday, September 13, 2008 at the Philadelphia Marriott.

“Thanks to the work of our partners, this series of six 30-second spots raised awareness for Quest for Freedom, part of

Video podcasts—also known as vodcasts—are the newest tool visitors can use to plan their trip to Philadelphia, and they’re now available on the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation’s (GPTMC) gophila.com and uwishunu.com. The series of free three- to five-minute themed video tours guide visitors through some of the city’s most colorful neighborhoods and complement seven dynamically mapped and customizable podcast tours already available on gophila.com/soundabout. One of the new vodcasts highlights significant African-American heritage sites, while the other three showcase the local shops, watering holes and cultural spots of Chinatown, Fishtown/Kensington and University City.

As more travelers use