This season’s special event hotel deals revolve around family entertainment (Sesame Place and the International Children’s Festival), gay and lesbian travel (International Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, PrideFest) and niche interests (Philadelphia Open House tours, Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, Philadelphia Antiques Show and the literary holiday, Bloomsday.)

The dates listed are package availability dates and may differ slightly from festival dates. For more details on any package, please contact Cara Schneider at (215) 599-0789, cara@gptmc.com.

Sesame Place "Declaration of Fun," May 11 – September 2, 2002
The nation’s only Sesame Street^TM theme park and the nation’s first children’s museum have buddied up for a Center City hotel package, which includes two nights accommodations, two one-day passes to Sesame Place, two tickets to Please Touch Museum^® and the Stars & Stripes historic district value book. Participating hotels:

Embassy Suites Hotel Center City 
1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
(215) 561-1776 or (800) EMBASSY
Package begins at $342 for two nights. 

Doubletree Center City
Broad & Locust Streets
(215) 893-1600 or (800) 222-8733
Package begins at $339 for two nights.

Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing
201 S. Columbus Boulevard 
(215) 928-1234 or (800) 233-1234
Package begins at $401 for two nights.

Sheraton Society Hill 
One Dock Street
(215) 238-6000 or (800) 325-3535
Package begins at $399 for two nights.

Comfort Inn Philadelphia
100 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard
(215) 627-7900 or (800) 228-5150
Package begins at $268 for two nights.

International Children’s Festival "Funtastical Family Weekend in Philly!," May 4-5, 2002
Children star in this colorful, mind-broadening festival that features performers from around the globe. Each "Funtastical" package includes tickets to two Children’s Festival Shows on May 4 and 5, vouchers good for $1 off admission to the Philadelphia Zoo and two-for-one admission to Please Touch Museum^® and the New Jersey State Aquarium. Participating hotels:

Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia 
Ten Avenue of the Arts
(215) 735-7700
Package costs $347 and includes tickets listed above, overnight deluxe room accommodations, valet parking and club level accommodations; continental breakfast, afternoon snack, high tea, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, desserts and cordials. 15% Amtrak discount available. 

The Inn at Penn
3600 Sansom Street
(800) 809-7001
Package costs $242 and includes tickets listed above, deluxe room accommodations and breakfast for two adults and up to two children. 15% Amtrak discount available.

Embassy Suites Hotel Center City 
1776 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
(215) 561-1776 
Package costs $177 and includes tickets listed above, overnight suite accommodations, breakfast buffet and an evening reception for two adults and two children.

PrideFest America 2002, April 29-May 5, 2002
PrideFest is the nation’s largest annual gay and lesbian symposium and festival. For information, visit www.pridefest.com. Participating hotels:

Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel 
1701 Locust Street
(800) 333-3333
Package costs $99 (ask for PrideFest rate). 

Westin Philadelphia
17th & Chestnut Streets at Liberty Place
(800) 937-8461
Package starts at $139 on weekends. 

Hilton Garden Inn 
1100 Arch Street 
(800) HILTONS
Package begins at $99.

Loews Philadelphia Hotel
1234 Market Street
(215) 627-1200 or (800) 235-6397
Package begins at $139. 

Weekend (Gay) Pride Rate, until December 31, 2002

Westin Philadelphia
17th & Chestnut Streets at Liberty Place
(215) 563-1600
Package costs $139, weekends only.

Bloomsday Weekend, June 14-16, 2002
Blooomsday is the Rosenbach Museum & Library’s annual holiday celebrating James Joyce’s Ulysses, a manuscript that holds a treasured place in the museum’s collection. The central event is a June 16 public reading of the book, in honor of the day the novel’s hero walked through Dublin. The event is free. For Bloomsday information, visit www.rosenbach.org. Participating hotels:

Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast
1715 Rittenhouse Square
(215) 546-6500 or (877) 791-6500
Package begins at $167. (Bloomsday rate is 20% off rack rate.) 

Sheraton Rittenhouse Square
227 S. 18th Street
(215) 546-9400 or (800) 325-3535
Bloomsday package costs $149.95.

Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema "Room, Reel and Rail," April 3-17, 2002
Film culture is thriving in Philadelphia thanks to a dozen different film series and festivals throughout the year – culminating with the Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema. Information is available at www.phillyfests.com. Participating hotel:

Westin Philadelphia
17th & Chestnut Streets at Liberty Place
Book through Amtrak at (877) YES-RAIL
Package is per night based on double occupancy and includes full breakfast for two, one-day cinema pass for two and discount savings on Amtrak.

Philadelphia Antiques Show, April 6-9, 2002
In its 41^st year, this show, at the 33^rd Street Armory, includes behind-the-scenes gallery tours, local house tours and visits to historical homes. Information is available at www.philaantiques.com. Participating hotels:

Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel
1701 Locust Street
(215) 790-7781
Four-day package includes Antiques Show special access, meals, tours, lunch in a private home and other museum visits and costs $890/person, double occupancy. (Add $220/single supplement.) This tour is run by Philadelphia Hospitality, Inc.

Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia
Ten Avenue of the Arts
(215) 735-7700
Four-day package includes Antiques Show special access, meals, tours, lunch in a private home and other museum visits and costs $1,070/person, double occupancy. (Add $335/single supplement.) This tour is run by Philadelphia Hospitality, Inc.

Philadelphia Open House Tours, April 24 – June 2, 2002
Explore Philadelphia’s most impressive private homes, magnificent gardens and historic icons with behind-the-scenes access and private tours. Information is available at www.friendsofindependence.org. Participating hotels:

Independence Park Inn
235 Chestnut Street
(800) 624-2899
Package costs $129 weekday, $139 weekend and includes breakfast.

Omni Hotel 
4th& Chestnut Streets 
(215) 925-0000
Package costs $169 weekday, $129 weekend and includes breakfast. 

Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel 
1701 Locust Street
(215) 790-7781
Package costs $149 weekday, $129 weekend and includes breakfast. 

Sheraton Society Hill
2nd & Walnut Streets
(215) 238-6000
Package costs $179 weekday, $139 weekend and includes breakfast.

"Room, Reel and Rail" for The International Gay and Lesbian Film Fest, July 10-22, 2002
Parties, screenings and talks with filmmakers highlight the 8^th annual, international festival. Information is available at www.phillyfests.com. Participating hotel:

Westin Philadelphia
17th & Chestnut Streets at Liberty Place
Book through Amtrak at (877) YES-RAIL
Package costs $139 per night based on double occupancy and includes full breakfast for two, one-day cinema pass for two and discount savings on Amtrak.

Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast
1715 Rittenhouse Square
(215) 546-6500 or (877) 791-6500
Begins at $299 and includes fresh flower arrangements, champagne, bottled water and chocolates, bath salts and bath amenities and breakfast for two.

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