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MEET IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE AND SISTERLY AFFECTION B Y C Y N T H I A M O L U S K No matter the size of your event, Philadelphia is prepared to host. It serves as a perfect destination for the business and leisure traveler alike. With new reno- vations and additions to the city, visitors will have access to the 13,500+ hotel rooms within a 25-minute walk of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, which is fully equipped with 679,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space. The center feature 53 breakout rooms and 151,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space on level one, 528,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space on level two, a 31,512-sq. ft. ballroom on level three, and a 55,408- sq. ft. ballroom, along with 15, 411 sq. ft. of prefunction space on level four. 'The City Of Brotherly Love' remains unstoppable and is always improving and building. By Spring 2021, four new hotels will be added bringing the inventory in Greater Philadelphia to more than 30,000 hotel rooms. Being that there is a pandemic there has been an effort put forth within the city of Philadelphia to implement proper social distancing and Covid awareness man- dates. One thing that helps is that this destination is the 5th most walkable city coupled with restaurants, gardens, muse- ums and art spaces – all perfect event venues, many with outdoor event spaces, making social distancing easy. With the largest city-owned urban park system in the world, Philadelphia is among the greenest cities in the nation and home to seemingly endless trails, riverfronts, parks and outdoor opportunities. Celebrate your family's heritage by bringing your family reunion home — to Philadelphia, a place where African- American heritage is celebrated all year long. With literally hundreds of African- American cultural and historic attractions, world-class theatre and dance companies, renowned jazz and heritage festivals, and award-winning restaurants, its obvious to see Philadelphia is the perfect destination to hold African-American reunions. While in Philadelphia, conference attendees should take full advantage of the rich historical culture and see what the city has to offer. Make sure to add Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church to the list of must see places. Founded by Richard Allen in 1792 this site is the oldest piece of property continuously owned by African-Americans. A small museum is located on the lower level, where the tomb of Richard Allen and 19th-century artifacts also can be found. Make certain to give Greg DeShields a call if you are contemplating bringing your meeting to Philadelphia. DeShields serves as execu- tive director PHL Diversity, a busi- ness development division of the P h i l a d e l p h i a Convention & Visitors Bureau. Located just 4 blocks from the convention center, the African-American Museum in Philadelphia collects and preserves art and artifacts and, through exhibitions and programs, interprets the history and sto- ries of African-Americans and those of the African Diaspora. This museum enriches the lives of all visitors, especially children and youth, using education to empower them through experiences that will enlighten them culturally and intellec- tually. In efforts to social distance travelers might look to alternative methods of get- ting around city while still enjoying the beautiful ambiance Philly has to offer. Check out Wheel Fun Rentals and Philadelphia Segway Tours for more infor- mation, or participate in Philly's bike share program, Indego. With more than 100 stations located throughout the city, go for a ride and explore Philadelphia, then return your rented bike to any station location. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) serves the Philadelphia region with 25 air- lines offering over 450 daily nonstop departures to 138 destinations in the U.S. and around the world. B M & T ••• March/April 2020 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 52 • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS The Crowne Plaza® Philadelphia Downtown 445 Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel 301 Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing 348 Philadelphia 201 Hotel 757 Loews Philadelphia Hotel 581 Philadelphia Marriott Downtown 1,408 DoubleTree By Hilton 481 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Pennsylvania Convention Center Total Exhibit Space: 679,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms: 82 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Philadelphia CVB – (215) 636-3300 www.phialdelphiausa.travel African American Chamber of Commerce – (215) 751-9501 AREA GUIDES P H I L A D E L P H I A Philadelphia Skyline Photo Credit: Philadelphia CVB