Fast Facts
• Near Philadelphia Airport, both the 419-room Philadelphia Airport Marriott and 297-room Clarion Hotel Conference Center have undergone multimillion-dollar renovations.
• The Inn at Pocono Manor, a property in the Pocono Mountains with 190 recently renovated guest rooms, unveiled a $700,000 meeting-space renovation this summer.
• The Lady Luck Casino Nemacolin opened in July at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Fayette County, about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh.
• The 776-room Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel is in the midst of redesigning its 58,000 square feet of meeting space.
PHILADELPHIA
The board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center in June selected private operator SMG to manage and operate the facility, a deal that was on the verge of approval by the governor's office at press time. The board also extended labor agreements into 2014, part of an effort to ease labor costs, address complaints about service levels and increase long-term bookings.
The 246-room Hilton Home2 Suites by Hilton Philadelphia-Convention Center opened late this summer, adjacent to the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Arch streets. The property offers more than 2,000 square feet of its own meeting space.
Marriott expects to open the Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard in January, 2014, a 172-room new-build on the Navy Yard business campus in South Center City. The property will include 2,000 square feet of meeting space, an upscale restaurant and lounge with park views, and a fitness center.
In September, the 116-room Rittenhouse Hotel, on Rittenhouse Square in Center City, debuted five new hospitality suites and a new event space as part of a $10 million renovation. The new Park Suites, the largest of which offers 1,330 square feet of space for up to 25 attendees, provide views of the square and offer a living area, dining space and a private kitchen and bar. The event space, the Boathouse, features a 1,414-square-foot area on the second floor that can host up to 130 people. The hotel now has more than 8,470 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels
Properties in Center City, in the heart of Philadelphia, include the 1,408-room Philadelphia Marriott Downtown; 776-room Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel; 581-room Loews Philadelphia Hotel; 445-room Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia; 313-room Westin Philadelphia; 301-room Radisson Blu Warwick Hotel Philadelphia; and 299-room Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia.
To find and compare properties, and send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 679,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 79; (215) 418-4700 or (800) 428-9000; paconvention.com
Taxes
Occupancy tax, 8.2%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 15.2%
Osteria, a local-favorite Italian eatery on North Broad Street, has a number of options for private events. Small groups of 8 to 14 can reserve the Kitchen Table room, while the Wine Room can seat up to 30. A glass-enclosed patio can host 60 seated or 75 for a reception. Buyouts are available for up to 130 seated or 200 for a reception. Pasta-making classes or sommelier-led tastings of wine, beer, bourbon and more are available. (215) 763-0920; osteriaphilly.com
Contact
The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, (215) 636-3300; discoverphl.com
Pews and Brews
The Church Brew Works, a brewpub and award-winning restaurant in Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, is housed in a restored Roman Catholic church. The unique setting is available for private events. (412) 688-8200
Play Here
Twelve casinos are in operation across the state.
bit.ly/TUHTLsPITTSBURGH
Kimpton Hotels is planning a 249-room Hotel Monaco for downtown Pittsburgh, in the converted James Reed Building. The property will have a rooftop hospitality suite, a fitness center, event space and a restaurant, with further details to come.
A 228-room Embassy Suites is set to open in the first quarter of 2015, encompassing the top 11 floors of the 24-story Oliver office building, on Smithfield Street across from Mellon Square. The hotel will offer conference and banquet space, a fitness center and more.
The 136-room Hyatt House Pittsburgh-South Side opened last spring along the Monongahela River. The hotel has more than 1,500 square feet of meeting space.
Meeting Hotels
Downtown properties include the 712-room Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown; 616-room Westin Convention Center, Pittsburgh; 597-room Omni William Penn Hotel; 402-room Pittsburgh Marriott City Center; 399-room Sheraton Station Square Hotel; 333-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Pittsburgh Downtown; 185-room Fairmont Pittsburgh, and 143-room Hampton Inn & Suites Pittsburgh-Downtown.
Convention Center
David L. Lawrence Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 313,400 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 53; (412) 565-6000; pittsburghcc.com
Taxes
Room tax, 7%; sales tax, 7%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14%
Group Venue
Nearly 20 indoor and outdoor dining options line downtown Pittsburgh's Market Square, a neighborhood hub since the late 1700s and the site of outdoor concerts and a farmer's market in the warmer months. The square is available for private events of as many as 12,000 people. (412) 251-6320; marketsquarepgh.com
Contact
VisitPittsburgh, (412) 281-7711 or (800) 359-0758; visitpittsburgh.com