Standing before hundreds of hospitality and tourism industry partners and stakeholders at the 2024 Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and Visit Philadelphia joint Tourism Outlook at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Feb. 21, PHLCVB President and CEO Gregg Caren shared insights on the events Philadelphia is welcoming in 2024.  

Significant conventions and events ahead include WrestleMania 40. The week-long celebration of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) will take over Philadelphia, with the main event held over two nights at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7. WrestleMania 40 broke the WWE’s all-time gate record in one day, selling more than 90,000 tickets when it went on sale on the first day. Total attendance at all WrestleMania week events over the course of five days is expected to top 200,000.  

Another notable convention coming to Philadelphia is the AnitaB Grace Hopper Celebration, the largest gathering of women and non-binary technologists. This fall, the convention is anticipated to bring more than 20,000 attendees to Philadelphia, utilizing tens of thousands of room nights at dozens of hotels, from Center City to the airport and suburbs. Caren noted that the organizers chose Philadelphia for its welcoming and inclusive policies. 

The PHLCVB is charged with promoting the city internationally in order to drive visitation and book meetings, conventions and big events at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and other venues throughout Philadelphia. So far, the bureau has secured 180 meetings, conventions, and events in Philadelphia for this year, with a total projected attendance exceeding 500,000. Among these events are 20 citywide conventions, which book more than 2,000 hotel rooms on a peak night.  

“Our theme has been: Go Big — ensuring we stand out against the competition,” said Caren.

He stated that the PHLCVB sales team is very proactive, currently booking events well into the 2030s, submitting competitive bids for the most impactful events that would fill the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the sports complex, and hotels.

“We are on the go around the world showcasing and selling Philadelphia for the next opportunity whether we’re targeting a global convention or tour operators and travel media to feature Philadelphia in their products and pieces to ensure a steady pipeline of international visitors,” said Caren.

In 2024, the PHLCVB anticipates Philadelphia will welcome 1.3 million overnight visits from international travelers, generating nearly $800 million in spending in the Philadelphia region, according to Tourism Economics. These overnight visits are supported by the PHLCVB’s continued promotional efforts in 18 international markets, including Canada, the U.K., India, China, and Germany, the top feeder markets for Philadelphia’s international visitation.  

Building on the momentum of 2024, Caren said, “We are getting ready to welcome the world in 2026,” referencing when the 2026 FIFA World Cup comes to Philadelphia. “There is no such thing as too soon. We’re not losing sight of 2024, 2025, and 2027. It’s all about collaboration, and we have the proven history hosting big events together.” 

Caren said when you see people walking on the street in Center City with a convention name badge to “welcome them. When we host big events, that business directly supports our city’s hospitality workers, including hotel and restaurant staff, among others.”