Travel Industry Association president to address Philadelphia Hospitality Industry on October 6, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, PA – On Monday, October 6, 2008, Roger Dow, president and CEO of the Travel Industry Association (TIA), will talk to Philadelphia’s hospitality community about the trends and challenges that are impacting the global travel industry in 2008 and beyond. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) has organized Dow’s presentation to coincide with the release of the latest regional tourism data. The event will take place at the Rittenhouse Hotel.

GPTMC’s new 2007 Visitor Volume Report shows that the Greater Philadelphia hospitality industry has continued a 10-year growth trend. In 1997 when GPTMC ran its first advertising campaign, the region welcomed 6.5 million overnight leisure visitors. In 2007, more than 10.6 million visitors came to Philadelphia for an overnight stay. In just a decade, overnight leisure visitation increased by a stunning 63%, and day-trip visitation increased by 32%. Founded in 1996 by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and The Pew Charitable Trusts, GPTMC focuses on promoting the five-county region as a premier destination through marketing and image building.

Dow is the chief spokesperson for the $740 billion United States travel industry. TIA is the national umbrella organization representing all segments of the US travel and tourism industry. The organization provides travel industry professionals with expert information to give them an advantage in the competitive marketplace. Local TIA board members include Meryl Levitz, president and CEO, GPTMC; Tom Muldoon, president, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and J. Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. TIA is headquartered in Washington, DC.

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.