Offering a budget-friendly, metropolitan experience paired with a prime-central location on the Northeast corridor of the U.S., Philadelphia is a true value for the international traveller. The new message promoted by Philadelphia to the global marketplace is one of a city synonym of culture, cuisine, historic streets going green, walking-friendly, tax-free for shopping, wallet-friendly, chic and trendy.
“We have worked hard in the international arena to tell the story of Philadelphia as a modern renaissance city offering world-class culture, dining and attractions. But what we also need to remind global travellers is that we are incredibly easy to get to through Philadelphia International Airport, Amtrak and a great value compared to many other large cities” said Jack Ferguson, president & CEOof thePhiladelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB)”.
As a region, America’s East Coast is home to eclectic cosmopolitan cities, including Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. With an average travel time of less than three hours between each destination, global travellers can easily immerse themselves in the diversity of experiences the region offers. Philadelphia is ideally situated in the centre of this region and the perfect hub for fly-drive-rail adventures.
Philadelphia: Make it Accessible
Philadelphia International Airport connects with more than 124 cities, including over 30 international destinations. According to statistics, the airport served more than 30.5 million passengers in 2013, 4.3 million of which were international. Non-stop flights from global hubs such as Amsterdam, London, Rome, Frankfurt, Edinburgh, Paris and Doha (the first flight connecting the Gulf Region to Philadelphia via Qatar Airways launched on April 2, 2014), make Philadelphia easily accessible from anywhere in the world. With the merger of U.S. Airways and American Airlines and the designation of Philadelphia International Airport as a One World Alliance Hub, Philadelphia is truly a gateway to the U.S. for global travellers.
Once visitors arrive, exploring other U.S. destinations is easy via rail services like Amtrak rail service. Philadelphia is located less than a two-hour train ride from both New York and Washington, D.C., while Boston can be reached in roughly six hours. Megabus and Bolt Bus also offer budget-friendly options to Philadelphia from surrounding cities.
While staying there, visitors will find a walkable downtown area with parks, outdoor cafes and cobblestone streets, alongside modern skyscrapers, a thriving business district as well as charming and friendly neighbourhoods.
Philadelphia: Making it a Great Deal
Visitors staying overnight in Philadelphia have plenty to choose from. Nearly 40 hotels are located in the downtown area offering more than 9,000 hotel rooms. World-class hotel brands representing the luxury, boutique and economy markets provide quality relaxation for visitors to the City. Over the past year, many hotels have spent millions of dollars renovating and upgrading their properties, including the Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, the Rittenhouse Hotel and the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District. Over the next few years, the area will see a slew of new hotel openings including an SLS International Hotel, due to open in 2016, a W/Element Hotel and new Four Seasons Hotel, as well as a third Kimpton property (all scheduled to open in 2017).
Once travellers have selected their hotel accommodations, the city offers a plethora of shopping options to fill them once again. A shopper’s paradise, Philadelphia offers tax-free shopping on all clothes and shoes, and more than 2,000 shops and boutiques in the downtown area to choose from. A short drive will also find the King of Prussia Mall, the U.S.A.’s largest retail shopping complex and Philadelphia Premium Outlets featuring more than 150 brand outlet stores.
