Visit Philadelphia
Visit Philadelphia (formally known as the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC)) is a private, non-profit organization that promotes leisure travel to the five-county Philadelphia region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties). It was founded in 1996 by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Visit Philadelphia launched its first ad campaign in 1997.[1] As of 2012, Greater Philadelphia welcomes 10 million more leisure travelers annually than it did in 1997.[2]
Visit Philadelphia states its mission as "Visit Philadelphia makes Philadelphia and The Countryside a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.[1]
Campaigns
Current and former marketing campaigns launched by Visit Philadelphia include:
With Love, Philadelphia XOXO
Ads featuring "love letters penned by the city itself" invite people—families, outdoor lovers, culture vultures, couples, sports fans, festival-goers and everyone else—to visit. The ads are placed in many types of locations, including billboards, Facebook, and hotel welcome banners.[1]
Con Cariño, Philadelphia XOXO
"Love-letter" ads aimed at the Hispanic audience are placed in traditional media, social media and partnerships with Hispanic media outlets and attractions.[1]
Philly 360°
Visit Philadelphia's African-American campaign aims to attract young, tech-savvy visitors by featuring the region’s history and creative scene.[1] Its "Creative Ambassadors" for the 2009 campaign include The Roots, King Britt, Ethel Cee, Rah Crawford, Maori Karmael Holmes, Khari Mateen, Rich Medina, Syreeta Scott and Stacey "Flygirrl" Wilson.
Philly Homegrown
This tourism campaign and consumer educational program features the flavors of Philadelphia’s 100-mile (160 km) foodshed—from Amish Country to the Atlantic Ocean.[1]
Historic Philadelphia
America’s most historic square mile is also Philadelphia’s biggest draw. Visit Philadelphia highlights the area’s history, as well as its restaurants, bars, edgy theaters and fashionable boutiques.[1]
Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay
In 2003, Visit Philadelphia launched one of the first tourism campaigns aimed at the gay and lesbian trade, which included the first gay-themed television commercial for a destination.[1]
Board of Directors
As of August 2011:[1]
- Manuel N. Stamatakis, chair (founder and CEO, Capital Management Enterprises)
- Rhonda R. Cohen, vice chair
- Robert Asher (co-chairman, Asher’s Chocolates)
- David G. Benton (vice president and general manager, The Rittenhouse Hotel)
- Robert W. Bogle (president and CEO, The Philadelphia Tribune)
- Craig R. Carnaroli (executive vice president, University of Pennsylvania)
- Nicholas DeBenedictis (chairman and CEO, Aqua America, Inc.)
- John H. Estey (partner, Ballard Spahr LLP)
- William Fitzgerald (general manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City)
- Melanie Johnson (city representative, City of Philadelphia)
- James F. Kenney (councilman-at-large, Philadelphia City Council)
- Jonathan Newman (CEO and chairman, Newman Wine and Spirits)
- Agnes M. Ogletree (COO, Transitional Work Corporation)
- Marsha R. Perelman (chair, board of trustees, The Franklin Institute)
- William R. Sasso, (chairman, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP)
- Tom Corbett (Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
- Michael Nutter (Mayor, City of Philadelphia)
- Fred A. Shabel, chairman emeritus (vice chairman, Comcast Spectacor)
- Meryl Levitz (president and CEO, GPTMC)