“Discover Philadelphia has been a wonderful partner. They were so proud that we chose Philadelphia to host our Centennial Celebration, and they worked with us from the beginning in making it the best it could be.” —Frank Gainer, Director of Conferences, American Occupational Therapy Association to Philadelphia and our customers is unmatched,” says Coker Graham, adding that Yazovskikh’s “expertise will be critical in growing Philadelphia’s presence on the world stage.” As part of her responsibilities, she will direct the activity of seven representation offices the PHLCVB contracts in China, Denmark, India, Italy, France, Germany and the UK.
A CENTENNIAL TO REMEMBER
One domestic meeting group that recently enjoyed the PHLCVB’s customer service is the American Occupational Therapy Association, which held its 2017 Annual Conference & Centennial Celebration from March 30 through April 2 at the SMG-managed Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC). Frank Gainer, AOTA’s Director of Conferences, says that “Discover Philadelphia has been a wonderful partner. They were so proud that we chose Philadelphia to host our Centennial Celebration, and they worked with us from the beginning in making it the best it could be.” Assistance included everything from an airport greeting, to a welcome banner on the PECO Building, to the organization of AOTA’s “fun run,” to venue booking advice for the convention’s Friday night celebration. At the PCC, AOTA found the ideal venue for that celebration: the Grand Hall. The 34,960-sq.-ft. hall is built into the historic Victorian building that was once the Reading Railroad Train Shed. With an impressive arched ceiling, the venue has a grandeur appropriate for a centennial event, with just one tweak: “The staff worked with us on the lighting because it was raining and it can get dark in there,” Gainer notes. In addition, “our CSM and catering staff made sure we had the appropriate amount of security and setup. They were truly partners, and we relied on them for a lot.” In addition to the Grand Hall, the PCC houses 528,000 sq. ft. of continuous exhibit space across five halls, a 55,408-sq.-ft. ballroom, a 31,512-sq.-ft. ballroom and a second 125,120-sq.-ft. exhibit hall. Planners have a total of 82 meeting rooms to work with, apart from the exhibit halls. “We knew the Centennial would have record-breaking crowds, so we wanted to make sure we had enough space,” says Gainer in explaining AOTA’s motivation for returning to the city after its 2011 annual meeting in Philadelphia. “Also, Philadelphia is a great draw for our attendees because it’s in the mid-Atlantic; our membership is spread across the country, but we have a nice density in the midAtlantic and Northeast. Philadelphia has good access to Amtrak and the airport is a hub, so all of that played into our decision.” The convention drew over 14,000 attendees, including 470 exhibitors occupying 520 booths — AOTA’s largest exhibit hall ever.
AOTA’s Centennial Celebration was held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s Grand Hall rules and a renewed spirit of cooperation among SMG, the PCCA and the labor unions working in the building,” says McNichol. The ASCRS/ASOA (booked for 2022) and LIGHTFAIR International (held this May) are examples of clients that had become dissatisfied with the work rules and decided against meeting in Philadelphia — until the operational change. The organizers of LIGHTFAIR, a citywide that means 25,000-plus room nights, had said that working in the PCC was “too expensive, too complicated, and we’re not going to come back,” McNichol relates. “But since their last visit was in 2013 — in that very short period of time in the convention booking world — we were able to turn their attention back to Philadelphia and say, ‘We’ve made changes, what do you think now?’ And we really applaud them and appreciate they came back this year.” The new rules provide show organizers and exhibitors more independence and flexibility. According to the PCC, exhibitors have the freedom to: Set up and tear down within their 600-sq.-ft. booth area or show space; Unload their personally owned vehicles using their own equipment, including dollies, luggage carriers, non-hydraulic carts and two-to-four wheel hand trucks; Use power tools and ladders (up to six feet) to set up and tear down exhibits;
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AOTA’s 2017 Annual Conference featured the event’s largest exhibit hall ever
SIMPLIFIED WORK RULES
Exhibitors at the PCC have had greater logistical ease in recent years with the new work rules established in 2013. “The Center has undergone a dramatic transformation that includes simplified work Facilities & destinations 2017 Superbook
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