Pennsylvania Convention Center
Multicultural conventions are taking center stage at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC).
- National Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
- Greater Allen Cathedral AME
- Tuskegee Airmen
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- National Pan Hellenic Council
- National Association of Black Journalists
The Asian culture welcomed groups to Philadelphia, ranging from the Asian Film Festival to the Jesus Awakening Movement in America-this year's highest attended multicultural convention overall, with more than 7,000 attendees.
Meetings and conventions representing the Hispanic, Caribbean and Latin American cultures consisted of the following:
- National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials
- Philadelphia Salsa Congress
- National Puerto Rican Coalition
- Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition
Through the PCVB and MAC, Philadelphia's reach into the multicultural meetings and convention market continues to increase and include more diverse cultural customers. Throughout MAC's 24 years, the reach of multicultural groups has expanded beyond its primary market of Afican Americans, representing approximately 32% of visitor spending in the region, to include more diverse sub-cultures within the African Diaspora, Latin American and Caribbean, Asian, and Native American cultures. The meetings and conventions booked in 2011 represent a snapspot of the expanding reach of the MAC and PCVB efforts, and serves as a stepping stone for years to come.
Consistently in active pursuit of the multicultural convention dollar, the PCC hosts many multicultural groups each year and executes a range of programs targeting the market. The center's website, www.paconvention.com, regularly spotlights Chinatown, the building's immediate neighbor, and promotes the variety of ethnically diverse organizations holding events at the center. And the convention center's ongoing collaboration with MAC, has enabled it to tap into a wide variety of multicultural convention business.
The convention center has invested more than $10 million to ensure that the region’s multicultural community participates in that windfall. The PCC provides financial resources to Philadelphia OIC, the Philadelphia Academies, Inc. and Mercy Vocational High School to train students and the underemployed to take advantage of jobs at many levels in the hospitality field. And with expansion, this program will continue to grow.
Where Bigger Meets Better
Today, the PCC is a first-class convention facility. And it's only getting better.
In the coming years, our now-underway expansion will yield even more flexible meeting options for planners. Currently, the PCC already boasts 440,000 square feet of exhibit hall space, 32,000 square feet of ballroom space and 90,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.
By 2011, the PCC will be enhanced with 260,000 square feet of additional exhibit hall space, and nearly triple the amount of existing ballroom space to bring the facility to a total of one million square feet.
The center's versatile meeting space will continue to be complemented by a highly trained, diverse workforce and the Customer Satisfaction Agreement that guarantees a streamlined load-in, an efficient set-up and breakdown and overall efficiency for customers.
Easy to Reach, Easy to Load
The PCC is truly the center in the center of it all.
With its prime location in the heart of Philadelphia's vibrant Center City, the PCC is within a two-minute walk of 3,683 hotel rooms and a 15-minute walk of 7,927 hotel rooms.
Plus, we have connections. Lots of them. The airport rail link, subway, regional trains, buses and the Center City loop all stop at our front door. And there's plenty of parking as well.
Here's what else the PCC boasts:
- 2 subway lines within 2 blocks
- 7 Regional Rail Lines that connect directly to the Center
- 8 SEPTA bus routes providing direct service to the Center
- 15 SEPTA bus and subway-surface routes within several blocks walking distance
- Direct train service to Amtrak's 30th Street Train Station as well as Philadelphia International Airport.
Lightning-Fast Technology
With fiber-optic cabling infrastructure and Category 6 data cabling throughout the entire center, the PCC is one of the most technologically advanced meeting centers in the Northeast.
We can connect your show's network anywhere, anytime for access to the Internet, e-mail or even your own private data networks.
The PCC offers high-speed (up to 100MPS) private networks connecting directly to our internet infrastructure. Furthermore, your exhibitors are provided with private, high-speed DSL networks for connectivity. There is no sharing of networks between exhibitors, ensuring total security and privacy.
