PHL Life Sciences Video and Upcoming Conventions Highlight Philadelphia as a Leading Life Sciences Destination

July 25, 2017

PHL Life Sciences, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), has successfully positioned Philadelphia as a leading life sciences meeting destination, to the tune of $295 million in economic impact in 2016 alone.

To highlight this achievement, PHL Life Sciences’ latest promo video recently was released.

Notable locations like The Franklin Institute, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Reading Terminal Market and the Pennsylvania Convention Center serve as the backdrop,  as PHL Life Sciences executive director, Bonnie Grant; Margaret Foti, CEO of the American Association for Cancer Research; Dr. Stephen Tang, president and CEO of the University City Science Center; Madeline Bell, president and CEO of CHOP, and other area leaders get creative with sciences puns to highlight how Philadelphia is a leading destination for life science meetings and conventions, and that science is truly in Philadelphia’s DNA.

"We wanted a brief, fun teaser in the form of testimonials from selected industry leaders,” said Bonnie Grant, executive director of PHL Life Sciences.

She added, “Half of the meetings and conventions held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Center City hotels are life science-related and the economic impact generated with these types of booked meetings going forward is $3.2 billion. That says something about our city!"

"There is no city that better represents life sciences than Philadelphia," said American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) CEO Dr. Margaret Foti, who also serves as co-chair of PHL Life Sciences.

She added, "We are proud to be headquartered here and nearly 80% of the world's largest biomedical and pharmaceutical companies have a presence in the Greater Philadelphia region. With this new video, we show how our city has all the necessary ingredients for successfully hosting major life science meetings – from our international status as a life science knowledge hub to our LEED certified Pennsylvania Convention Center and hospitality infrastructure – a vibrant destination for a life science related meeting of any size."

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Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact