Philadelphia flower show touts its economic impact

Philadelphia’s Flower Show is just around the corner.  A new study says the event brings more into the economy than expected.

“Springtime in Paris” is the theme for the Flower Show which runs March sixth to the 13th at the Convention Center.  Philadelphia Horticulture Society President Drew Becher says the group hired the auditing firm KPMG to measure the show’s financial footprint.

“A $61 million economic impact, the equivalent of 637 full-time jobs,” said Becher.  “Eight million in tax revenue for the city state and federal governments, it creates about 25,000 hotel room nights over the region.”

About 250,000 people are expected for this year’s event, and typically about 10 percent need a room, helping out hotels in a traditionally slow time of the year.