PHILADELPHIA
- In November 2012, the Philadelphia CVB announced the launch of a new initiative to better position Philadelphia as a global destination for meetings, conventions, international visitors and business opportunities. As of February, the bureau will lead under a new acronym PHLCVB, with a new Web address, www.discoverphl.com. The initiative will also refer to Philadelphia as “PHL: Modern Renaissance City.”
- Following an $89 million transformation, Old City Philadelphia’s Lafayette Building, built in 1907, reopened in October 2012 as Hotel Monaco Philadelphia (215.925.2111; www.monaco-philadelphia.com). Located opposite the Liberty Bell and Independence National Historical Park, the four-star property features 268 guest rooms, including 17 suites and 27 King Spa rooms, and 13,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 3,300-square-foot ballroom.
- Construction is under way on a Hilton Home2 Suites (www.home2suites3.hilton.com) hotel adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Slated to open this summer, the property will feature 248 guest rooms, 750 square feet of meeting space and 10,000 square feet of space for ground-floor retail and restaurants.
- Courtyard by Marriott (www.marriott.com) broke ground on a new $34 million hotel at The Navy Yard in South Center City Philadelphia. Expected to open in late 2013, the five-story property—the first hotel in the mixed-use development of the historic site—will offer 172 rooms, executive suites, 2,000 square feet of meeting space, an upscale restaurant and lounge featuring park views, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.
VALLEY FORGE
- Opened in October 2012 following a $30 million renovation of the former Clarion Hotel, the stylish Sheraton Valley Forge (484.238.1800; www.starwoodhotels.com) in King of Prussia offers 180 spacious guest rooms, including 58 deluxe suites, and nearly 25,000 square feet of flexible function space.
- The 135-room Hilton Garden Inn Valley Forge (610.650.0880; www.hgivalleyforge.com) opened in October 2012 in Oaks, Pa., with eight meeting rooms and 4,000 square feet of function space. It is within walking distance of the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and convenient to Valley Forge National Historical Park.
- Offering 486 guest rooms among its two hotels, 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, seven dining options, a nightclub and a nearly 40,000-square-foot gaming floor, Valley Forge Casino Resort (610.354.8118; www.vfcasino.com) opened in spring 2012.
- Available to groups of 15 or more, American Treasure Tour (610.666.0363; www.americantreasuretour.com) in Oaks, Pa., is the area’s newest draw, offering a 90-minute guided tram tour of more than 100,000 pieces of Americana spanning every decade in the 20th century, including a collection of nickelodeons.