Reasons to host your next corporate event in Philadelphia
Hometown of the Fresh Prince, Rocky’s legendary steps, subject of Bruce Springsteen and Elton John hit songs and famous for its cheese and steak sandwich, Philadelphia’s numerous appearances in popular culture have led it to become a personification of urban America. Yet, as the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and residence of the Liberty Bell, it is also steeped in revolutionary-era history.
In many ways, Philadelphia is similar to New York. Both cities are known for their iconic sports teams and green spaces, as well as their influence on art, fashion, and culture. Philly, though, also has a uniquely continental feel, making it a magnet for international business and an appealing destination for global corporate events.
Hence, Olivia Davis, event manager at Dynamic Events, headed stateside to Pennsylvania’s most populous city to explore, research, and scope out the sites and experiences that will make our upcoming client conference in Philadelphia, unforgettable -
First impressions of Philly
Olivia bounced back into the office after her Philadelphia site visit an absolute bundle of glee, which isn’t unlike Liv, to be fair. After all, she has been known to don an inflatable unicorn costume on Dynamic team-building days, just to make us all laugh.
Still, Olivia was so enthusiastic about her experience in Philly that we couldn’t wait for the debrief!
“I absolutely love Philadelphia!” she reiterated. “The people were phenomenal. I’ve never felt so completely welcomed in such a genuine way. Everyone was so friendly and they loved the English accent, of course.”
Known as the ‘city of firsts’, Philly has been the location of some influential moments in history, as well as the birthplace of America’s first car, advertising agency, school of business, and museum of science and museum of art. It’s little wonder that this city serves as a top destination for learning and innovation for businesses worldwide.
“Perhaps, an ideal place to host a global conference?” We asked Olivia.
“Oh yes. I'm really excited to do a conference in Philadelphia,” she told us. “It’s full of history, has a great energy and there’s going to be so much to do - so many activities, so many places to visit - my only issue is being totally spoiled for choice.”
Getting around in Philadelphia
“Philadelphia is a great alternative to New York for a business event because, like New York, it has a grid street plan so it’s very easy to get around by foot,” Liv explained. “Public transport is also frequent, fairly reliable and good value, and from Philadelphia International Airport it’s just a train ride to downtown and the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Plus it’s a really clean city.”
Visitors will likely arrive by train to 30th Street, situated in the centre of the city, where hotels and the most popular venues are just a short walk away.
Apart from being fairly straightforward to reach internationally, it’s also a well-connected city in the US. Just an hour and a half by train from New York and two hours from Washington. Delegates at events in Philadelphia may even opt to extend their trip to visit another of America’s most well-known states and cities.
The famous food of Philadelphia
We wanted to be able to tell you a lot about the local cuisine, but we could hardly get Olivia off the subject of the city’s notorious sandwich. So, what exactly is a Philly cheesesteak?
“It’s a sub sandwich with cholesterol! Basically meat, carbs and cheese - all my favourites. I got mine from a family-owned business that opened in 1942 in Old Town and has a reputation as making the best cheesesteaks. I enjoyed it immensely.”
Aside from the infamous sandwich though, Philadelphia has plenty of other good food options. As a multicultural city, it boasts not only classic American cuisine but also Italian-American, Pennsylvania Dutch and a good amount of high-quality Asian food also. Being a modern and diverse city, venues are well used to catering for special dietary requirements and hosting events involving food in this city offers plenty of options.
“Another must-go place for amazing food is Reading Terminal Market. It’s culinary heaven - so many different options and a really bustling place that’s very Philly. We’ll definitely be taking delegates to explore and dine there.”
Event venues and accommodation in Philadelphia
Site visits are essential for a number of reasons. We need to understand how to get around the city and really interrogate our options. This can be a tiring endeavour where trainers or walking boots come highly recommended but it also provides the opportunity to fully explore all venue and accommodation options and ensure we place only the most impressive and most suitable choices to our clients.
An event dinner venue worth considering in Philadelphia is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With over 240,000 works including paintings of Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso, a sculpture garden, a Buddhist temple and a wide variety of other collections, the museum is world-famous and the building is visually stunning.
In terms of accommodation (and possibly a venue also), there is the Logan, which is a cosmopolitan potential conference venue and Olivia was impressed by their approach to sustainability.
“The Logan’s on-site restaurant is centred on local produce as much as physically possible. They even have their own butchery and are making sustainable movements across the board. The other thing that I really liked about it is that they have this lovely outdoor green courtyard space and all of the bedrooms either look out towards the fountain or the courtyard. So no matter which room you're in, you have a splendid view. Inside there are beautiful art installations and it’s all very well looked after. Another big benefit is that all the meeting spaces are on one floor so it’s easy for delegates to navigate and accessible.”
If seeking a five-star venue then this is the one within walking distance from the central town. However, there are plenty of four-star venues, including the Notary just outside of City Hall.
“The Notary is an incredible converted bank,” Olivia described, “with plaques throughout the hotel that tell you of its history. Lots of lovely old-world touches and an open spacious lobby. Several ballrooms and other smaller breakout rooms make it quite dynamic and offer plenty of possibilities logistically.”
Activities and tours
Conferences can be intense and there’s little point in planning a global conference in such an amazing place if there aren’t opportunities to explore. One of the best things about international events is planning activities and tours that enable attendees to experience local culture and socialise within a relaxed environment. Philadelphia offers plenty of options for this.
The Barnes Foundation is an educational art institute with an incredible collection of artworks. They offer group tours which may be followed by lunch in a private garden-view room.
One option Olivia was particularly enthusiastic about though, was a unique experience at the decor boutique, Wax and Wine.
“So this is a wine and candle shop in Old City Philadelphia where guests can enjoy a candle-making workshop using all these gorgeous seasonal scents made in-house. They can also learn about the wine and food can be provided via a catering partner and the shop can then arrange wine pairings. This would make it an all-encompassing sensory experience and something a little different.”
Yet, there’s one more major attraction in Philadelphia and that’s baseball.
“There are stadium tours of course and that would be fun but what I’d really love is to take delegates to a Phillies baseball game. Whether or not you’re into baseball or even sport in general, it just feels like something you need to experience when coming to Philadelphia.”
Corporate events in Philadelphia
Having hosted corporate events worldwide, we’ve seen certain cities repeatedly chosen for their business-hub reputation and attractions. While these destinations are popular, they often come with high costs and a sense of over-familiarity. On the other hand, opting for less traditional cities can feel risky due to concerns about accessibility or local offerings. But Philadelphia breaks that mould.
While it may not be the obvious first choice, Philly offers everything needed for an impressive corporate event. As an iconic American city with a European feel, it boasts strong sustainability credentials and a blend of history and modernity. It’s a city poised to be the next great destination for bringing people together to connect, learn, and thrive.