Philly Gives Travelers "Love" This Winter
PHILADELPHIA, PA, Janaury 12, 2009 - Robert Indiana's iconic Love statue takes center stage in the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation's (GPTMC) 10-week, love-themed tourism promotion set to debut on January 15, 2009. The new Love campaign promotes the popular Philly Overnight(R) Hotel Package, which this month reaches an incredible milestone: 100,000 packages sold and $20 million in hotel revenue. According to Tourism Economics, this revenue has generated $68 million in economic impact and $7.5 million in state and local taxes. To celebrate, GPTMC is introducing the "Philly Guest of the Day" component, adding a bit of unexpected fun to a regional visit for lucky guests.
Over the next two months, 100 travelers who redeem a Philly Overnight(R) Hotel Package before March 16 will be named "Philly Guest of the Day." These randomly chosen visitors will receive valuable prizes, including tickets to attractions and museums, hotel upgrades and gift certificates for restaurants, nightlife venues and shops.
The Philly Overnight(R) Hotel Package, which debuted in 2001, is a two-night offer available any night of the week at more than 30 hotels throughout the region. The package includes free hotel parking (up to a $75 value), a new Philadelphia Privileges coupon book and a Philly's More Fun(R) teddy bear. The package is bookable online at gophila.com/love.
"Love is a time-tested and effective message that travelers respond to," said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC. "Visitors embraced the region's first tourism campaign, Philadelphia. The Place That Loves You Back(R), in 1997. Since then we have helped bring four million more overnight leisure visitors to the region-for a total of 10.6 million visitors in 2007. We're confident that potential travelers will love our new Love campaign."
GPTMC's new campaign, developed by New Jersey-based agency Masterminds, includes online advertising that runs everywhere, along with outdoor, print and radio that runs in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. A public relations push; social media; special events; and gophila.com/love, packed with extra value offers and fun things to do day and night, will help further spread the Love message.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside(R) 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.
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