2010 sets new record for Philadelphia hotels

2010 was a record breaking year for hotel stays in Philadelphia.  With the expanded convention center opening in two weeks, this year could be even better.

About four million hotel nights were sold in Philadelphia in 2010 compared to 3.74 million a year earlier.  Meryl Levitz is head of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing corporation.  She says the leisure segment of tourism is improving.

“For the 7th straight year Saturday night was the busiest night of the week with downtown occupancy at 80 percent,” said Levitz.  “This is a strong indicator that leisure is doing very well in Philadelphia but we know that people come every day of the week.”

Jack Ferguson of the Convention and Visitors Bureau says with the expanded Convention Center opening in two weeks, there is plenty of optimism that this year will set another record.

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“We anticipate and know that 2011 will outshine that and 2012 will outshine 2011 by the way we have 2.7 billion dollars worth of business booked in the new convention center,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson is hoping new hotels will be needed to keep up with demand.

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