PHILADELPHIA, October 18, 2001 -- Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street was joined by representatives from the hospitality industry today to announce the details of a comprehensive, six- to eight-month plan to bolster Philadelphia’s $1 billion a year tourism industry, which was hard hit by the events and aftermath of September 11, 2001. The Hospitality Industry Support Initiative is expected to generate $71 million in visitor spending through the sale of 225,000 hotel room nights and other visitor spending in restaurants, retail stores and attractions.

"Philadelphia has a $1 billion hospitality industry with 43,000 people whose livelihoods depend on visitor spending," said Mayor John F. Street. "This plan will improve our economy and help Philadelphia successfully compete against neighboring destinations that are increasing their efforts to attract tourists, conventions and meetings."

The Hospitality Industry Support Initiative will focus on six strategies, most bannered under one creative theme, "Philly’s more fun when you sleep over." With potential travelers reporting that they are more likely to vacation close to home or at home (according to an October 2001 Yesawich, Pepperdine & Brown survey), Philadelphia’s new campaign will capitalize on the city’s close proximity to one-quarter of the country’s population.

The Hospitality Industry Support Initiative includes a new advertising campaign targeted towards markets that are within a 300-mile radius of the city and an incredibly affordable overnight hotel package. The initiative also includes a special outreach to drive attendance at 42 major conventions now booked for Philadelphia in 2002. In addition, a "Bring Home One to Philadelphia" sales effort will encourage regionally based corporations to have their meetings in Philadelphia. Other components of the plan include a series of partnerships with area businesses and corporations; several tourism sales initiatives and public relations, promotions and programming activities.

On September 24, 2001, Mayor Street challenged the hospitality industry to create a $3 million program to aid in the region’s recovery resulting from the September 11 terrorist attacks. Philadelphia City Council and the Delaware River Port Authority each responded by pledging one million dollars of support towards this effort.

The signature components of the campaign will be the "Philly Overnight Hotel Package" and the "Philly Overnight Discount Card." More than 30 area hotels have guaranteed rates that are equivalent to a second night free, available from November 1, 2001-March 31, 2002. Parking owners and operators have joined with the hotels to make the package even more dynamic by providing these guests with two nights of parking for free.

The "Philly’s more fun when you sleep over" concept was conceived by Narberth, PA-based Red Tettemer, whose services were donated in conjunction with Comcast, which has also pledged to contribute media, creative expertise and ongoing exposure in support of these efforts. The television, radio, outdoor, transit, newspaper, Internet and business campaign will concentrate on the New York, Harrisburg, Baltimore and Philadelphia markets.

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