Prevue January/February 2012 - (Page 70)

Philadelphia NEW CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION LETS PHILLY PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS [ON LOCATION] MONICA VILLAR During a recent visit in October to the City of Brotherly Love, the Philadelphia CVB showcased its best and brightest culinary options and cultural pursuits, along with a shiny new convention center addition. In an effort to compete with its big brother bookends, New York and Washington, DC, the city has gone to great lengths in recent years to build a strong infrastructure catering to large groups among all budget ranges. Over five years in the making, the $787 million expansion of Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC) in Center City now offers over one million square feet of sellable space. In 2016, the LEED Gold facility will host MPI’s World Education Congress. The building is now the 14th largest convention center in the country with the largest ballroom and contiguous exhibit space on the East Coast. The historic Reading Terminal Station serves as the main entrance to the Center, and the train shed—which became the Center’s Grand Hall and ballroom in the 1990s—is the only such structure left in the United States. The elegant old railway station combined with the striking modernist lines of the expansion space is one of the venue’s most dazzling attributes. “Expansion space was necessary for groups requiring exhibition space,” says PCC spokesman, Raymond L. McCullough. “We wanted to be able to hold two conventions at the same time, and the terrace ballroom is the size of a football field.” There are more than 11,000 rooms within walking distance of the Convention Center. New hotels include a second Kimpton Hotel, following the success of the 230-room Hotel Palomar Philadelphia. During our tour of the massive center, McCullough emphasizes how similar the original and expanded sections are. “It’s designed to be seamless, so once you’re in here you can’t tell the difference,” he says. “We don’t try to sell the existing against the expansion. Instead we offer it as a whole, taking into consideration where a group fits best.” Philly Food Our trip started off with a bang at the stylish R2L Restaurant & Lounge with a view of the city stretching for more than 40 miles. Located on the 37th floor in the Two Liberty Place tower downtown, the upscale space offers a wide variety of semi-private and private dining rooms, the largest hosting up to 150 pax. Chef Daniel Stern whipped up his 6-course tasting flight option, paired with a stellar array of international wines, like a San Huberto Malbec Rose complementing our pork in lentil miso sauce. Our favorite dish was the truffle flatbread with fontina/aged cheddar. For dessert, pastry chef Peter Scarola brought us a plate filled with chocolate ganache, french toast sticks and doughnut ice cream! 70 | prevue magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue January/February 2012

Fiesta Americana Hotels
Bermuda
Fort Worth/San Diego/Montreal
Corporate Responsibility
Royal Caribbean International
The Value of Collaboration
Leathership Summit, Panama
The Ritz-Carlton/JW Marriott L.A.
Florida Means Business
W Austin
No Wallet, No Worries
Intercontinental Argentina
Site/MGM Resorts Las Vegas
Philadelphia
River Terrace Inn, Napa

Prevue January/February 2012