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PRINTER'S NO. 1077
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
213
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY C. PARKER, KIRKLAND, READSHAW, DONATUCCI,
LONGIETTI, J. HARRIS, ROZZI, CALTAGIRONE, TAYLOR, HENNESSEY,
SAINATO, KINSEY, MILLARD, V. BROWN, FARINA, DiGIROLAMO,
COHEN, SCHREIBER, BROWNLEE, McNEILL, KILLION, THOMAS,
D. COSTA, GRELL, ROEBUCK, GROVE, MAHONEY, McCARTER, DeLUCA
AND GINGRICH, APRIL 6, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 6, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Honoring VISIT PHILADELPHIA for its innovation, acclaim and
success in promoting leisure tourism in the Greater
Philadelphia region.
WHEREAS, The tourism industry plays an important role in the
economic vitality of this Commonwealth and its communities as
well as the quality of life for its residents; and
WHEREAS, VISIT PHILADELPHIA is a private, nonprofit
organization that was established to promote tourism in the
southeastern portion of this Commonwealth, specifically in
Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties;
and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1996 by the City of Philadelphia, the
Commonwealth and The Pew Charitable Trusts, VISIT PHILADELPHIA
has worked tirelessly for nearly two decades to promote the
Greater Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, Steered by a dedicated board of directors
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representing public and private sector interests and staffed by
a group of professionals led by Ms. Meryl Levitz, president and
chief executive officer, VISIT PHILADELPHIA has spurred the
growth of the hospitality and tourism sector into the sixth
largest industry in the Greater Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, This industry has an estimated $10 billion annual
impact on the region, supporting 90,000 full-time jobs and
providing State and local governments with approximately $636
million in annual tax revenue; and
WHEREAS, VISIT PHILADELPHIA has consistently implemented
original and innovative marketing campaigns designed to attract
tourists from throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico;
and
WHEREAS, The organization's advertising campaigns, such as
"With Love, Philadelphia XOXO," "Get Your History Straight and
Your Night Life Gay" and "With Art, Philadelphia," have created
a recognizable and dynamic branding of the region; and
WHEREAS, VISIT PHILADELPHIA's Internet, social media and
traditional marketing campaigns target art lovers, urban
adventurers and millennials, beckoning them to participate in
the excitement and energy that are part of the Greater
Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, VISIT PHILADELPHIA's innovative use of digital
advertising and social media attracts more than 15 million
visitors annually to its websites and has garnered numerous
accolades from respected travel and news organizations; and
WHEREAS, Travel and Leisure magazine named VISIT PHILADELPHIA
one of "Social Media's Most Innovative Travel Companies"; and
WHEREAS, The New York Times included the Philadelphia region
as "One of the 52 Places to Visit in 2015"; and
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WHEREAS, Conde Nast Traveler magazine named the Philadelphia
region as the "2nd Best Place to Shop in the World"; and
WHEREAS, While VISIT PHILADELPHIA's branding has helped
increase tourism in general, its efforts targeted specifically
to leisure tourists have increased leisure tourism exponentially
in the region; and
WHEREAS, Once dominated by business travelers, leisure
tourism now represents 88% of the domestic visitors to the
Greater Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, In calendar year 2013 alone, 12 million more leisure
travelers came to the Greater Philadelphia region than in 1997,
when VISIT PHILADELPHIA first began its marketing efforts; and
WHEREAS, This leisure travel increase equates to an overall
273% increase in leisure hotel demand and an additional 5.4
million occupied hotel rooms since 1997; and
WHEREAS, The synergy created by VISIT PHILADELPHIA's
marketing efforts and the growing vitality of the region
increased leisure tourism so significantly that the region is
now widely recognized as a national leisure travel destination;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor VISIT
PHILADELPHIA for its innovation, acclaim and success in
promoting leisure tourism in the Greater Philadelphia region.
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