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Jul 22 2008

Three-Day Fourth Of July Weekend Filled Philadelphia Hotels

Leisure Visitors, A Dozen Weddings And Sporting Events Sent Hotel Occupancy Past 80%

Wedding bells, the Liberty Bell and a three-day Fourth of July weekend has the hospitality industry still celebrating Independence Day. According to the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) and the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association (GPHA), Philadelphia hotel occupancy soared to 87% on Friday, July 4, and visitors stayed the weekend with occupancy at 81% on Saturday, July 5. This marks the second year in a row for Fourth of July success for Philadelphia hotels. Last year, a city-wide convention propelled Philadelphia hotel occupancy to 82%.

“Our member hotels are crediting this year’s stellar occupancy to a strong mix of hotel business, including high leisure demand, a dozen weddings, chess tournaments and gay bowling, the Phillies game, visiting sports media like ESPN and the fact that the holiday created a three-day weekend,” said Ed Grose, executive director of GPHA. “To ensure future gains, Philadelphia must continue to lure visitors here with special hotel offers, group and convention sales, attractions and events like Sunoco Welcome America!, all along with tourism marketing.”

Historically, Philadelphia hotels do best when the Fourth of July is a three-day weekend compared to a mid-week day. And, for the next three years, that’s just what Americans will have. Here is a look at the historical data for Center City Philadelphia hotels:
On Friday, July 4, 2003, hotel occupancy was 81%
On Sunday, July 4, 2004, hotel occupancy was 82%
On Monday, July 4, 2005, hotel occupancy was 48%
On Wednesday, July 4, 2006, hotel occupancy was 52%

“These upcoming Fourth of July weekends are a great opportunity for Philadelphia hotels,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC. “GPTMC will be working with our hotels, the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Sunoco Welcome America! and all of our partners to continue to bring visitors here to celebrate the Fourth of July, to host their wedding, to meet or to compete.”

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 www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

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