Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1250928
B M & T ••• January/February 2020 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29 TODAY , meet- ing destinations need to deliver experiences that spark curiosity and inspire attendees to think creative- ly. Attendees demand more than a climate-controlled atmosphere and a "swag bag" at the door. In this new era of meet- ings, Philadelphia excels. The city's cultural diver- sity fuels a progressive dia- logue, not only promoting inclusivity, but practicing it. Time spent in Philadelphia is purposeful and produc- tive, inspired by the nearly 100 colleges and research-based universities in the region lending "knowledge capital" to atten- dees. It's the physical structures and stories that will inspire, too. From the U.S.' First UNESCO World Heritage site, Independence Hall, to Mother Bethel AME Church, the oldest church property in the United States to be continuously owned by African Americans. The congregation was founded in 1794, and the current structure was completed in 1890. Located in the heart of the city is the Pennsylvania Convention Center, with 1 million sq. ft. of saleable space, 82 meeting rooms, and one of the largest ballrooms on the East Coast. It is adjacent to Reading Terminal Market, Chinatown, and a brand new 800-square foot shopping and entertainment destination called Fashion District. The city knows what it's like to play host to hundreds for an intimate meeting, thousands for an important annual meeting like Kappa Alpha Psi's 84th Grand Chapter Meeting and Conclave, or even hundreds of thousands for the NFL Draft in 2017. Philadelphia brings together the resources meeting planners need to be successful, like PHL Diversity, a business devel- opment division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). It's the first multi-cultural division of a CVB in the nation. With a rich history and a thriving hospitality indus- try, Philadelphia exceeds expectations for meetings, conventions and events. EXCEED EXPECTATIONS: MEET IN PHILADELPHIA