As we look ahead to future travel plans, here are six reasons why the city of Philadelphia, recently placed on Condé Nast Traveller’s Gold List, honouring the editors’ most coveted Destinations in the World, should be on every traveller’s wish list.
1. Major New Hotel Openings
With four new hotels opening in Philadelphia during 2021, tourists will be offered even more choice of luxury accommodation when visiting the city. The new 51-story W Hotel Philadelphia opening in March 2021 will offer an original and vibrant spin on traditional luxury and expansive views of the city from its 295 rooms and suites and will be accompanied by its dual-brand property, the new Element Philadelphia Hotel, opening right next door. The Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia is also scheduled to open in South Philadelphia featuring 200 upscale rooms and 1.5 million square feet of gaming, dining and entertainment space. Mainstay/Ascend Hotel will also open in 2021 in Philadelphia’s Chinatown with 118 rooms, located walking distance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For further details on new hotel openings in Philadelphia during 2021, visit Discoverphl.com.
2. History-Making Events at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show from 5 – 13 June
The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the USA’s very first public flower show and is still today the largest and longest-running indoor horticultural show, however, it will make history during 2021 by moving its show outdoors for the first time in its 192-year history. Next year’s show theme will be titled ‘HABITAT: Nature’s Masterpiece’, exploring the beauty of life through nature’s kaleidoscopic lens and incorporating the beautiful, expansive landscapes of FDR Park in Philadelphia. For further details on the show, visit https://phsonline.org/the-flower-show.
3. Jasper John: Mind/Mirror Exhibition at Philadelphia Museum of Art in September
Travellers to Philadelphia in 2021 can marvel at the comprehensive retrospective from the American abstract expressionism artist, Jasper Johns, at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The most comprehensive retrospective to date of the work of Jasper Johns, organised by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, will be presented simultaneously in New York and Philadelphia during the autumn. A single exhibition in two venues, this unprecedented collaboration, Jasper Johns: Mind/Mirror, will be the artist’s first major museum retrospective on the East Coast in a quarter-century. It opens concurrently in Philadelphia and in New York on 29 September 2021. Tickets to the exhibition are free with admission to the museum. For further details on the exhibition, visit https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/jasper-johns-mindmirror.
4. Explore Philadelphia’s Reinvigorated Outdoor Spaces All Year Round
Home to the largest city-owned urban park system in the world, visitors to Philadelphia can surround themselves in the great outdoors all year round thanks to the city’s “Greene Country Towne” legacy dating back to its founding. Whether it’s discovering the cities’ historic sites along the easily-walkable streets and urban parks on foot, hiking or biking around Philadelphia’s 270 miles of scenic trails or marvelling at the mosaics and murals whilst wandering through the city’s open-air art gallery, there’s something for all outdoor enthusiasts no matter the time of year. For further details on Philadelphia’s outdoor spaces, visit Discoverphl.com.
5. Eat your way through Philadelphia’s Ever-Growing Food Scene in 2021
Philadelphia has a booming food scene, from nationally recognised restaurants with award-winning chefs to local favourites, there’s something to excite every palate. A number of local restaurants, beer gardens, breweries, and bars offer outdoor and al fresco dining. For a complete list of restaurants offering outdoor dining in Philadelphia, visit Discoverphl.com.
6. Explore the Frank Gehry-Designed Core Project at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
With over 240,000 world-renowned works of art, the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in the USA and a must-see for any visitor. The museum has undergone a physical transformation and renovation of its main building led by visionary architect Frank Gehry, creating over 67,000 square feet of new gallery space which will be unveiled in 2021. Be one of the first to experience the expansion and enhancement of Philadelphia’s Art Museum in 2021. For further details on the Philadelphia Museum of Art Core Project, visit https://philamuseum.org/.
For more information on Philadelphia, visit the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau’s website, www.discoverPHL.com
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Photo Captions (From Left to Right):
Image 1: Rendering of the exterior of W Hotel Philadelphia.
Image 2: Flag, 1954-55, by Jasper Johns. Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric mounted on wood (3 panels), 41.25 X 60.75 in. (104.8 x 154.3 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY; Gift of Philip Johnson in honour of Alfred H. Barr, Jr. © Jasper Johns / Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York, NY.
Image 3: Philadelphia is home to urban oases of nature which come alive all year round. Photo by M. Smith for Friends of The Rail Park.
For Further Press Information, please contact:
Greg Evans – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07768 341790 / 01633 480 754
Email: greg@gregevansconsultancy.com
Sarah Salord and Eliza Barrett-Holman – GEC PR
Tel: 020 3907 6824
Email: philadelphia@gecpr.co.uk
About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.