About GPTMC

Dear Why Should I Visit Philly in 2010?

GPTMC Profile

Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) is a private, non-profit organization founded and funded in 1996 by the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Pew Charitable Trusts. In 1997, GPTMC launched the first consumer campaign to promote to potential tourists the diverse historical, cultural and entertainment/leisure aspects of the five-county region (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia).

After September 11, 2001, GPTMC produced the Philly’s More Fun When You Sleep Over® campaign, recognized as the number one tourism recovery generator in the country; the campaign has continued into 2005. GPTMC continues running an integrated marketing program using research; advertising in television, print, radio, outdoor and the Internet; and public relations in all media categories.

Mission

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

What We Mean by Philadelphia

We mean Philadelphia and Its Countryside: Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

What We Mean by Tourism Marketing

Making the region a star destination through the following:

• Advertising in print, television, radio, outdoors and online
• Brand development
• Consumer collateral materials
• Consumer and media relations
• Cooperative advertising
• Cultural tourism marketing
• Event-based marketing
• visitphilly.com, visitphilly.com/pressroom and uwishunu.com
• Hotel packaging
• Image building
• Partnerships, promotions and marketing alliances
• Stakeholder relations
• Tourism development
• Visitor and marketing research

GPTMC Leadership

Board of Directors

• Manuel N. Stamatakis, Chairman of GPTMC Board and Founder and CEO, Capital Management Enterprises
• Rhonda R. Cohen, Esquire, Vice Chairwoman of GPTMC Board
• Robert Asher, Co-Chairman of GPTMC Board, Asher’s Chocolates
• David G. Benton, Vice President and General Manager, The Rittenhouse Hotel and Condominium Residences
• Robert W. Bogle, President and CEO, The Philadelphia Tribune
• Julie Coker, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
• Nicholas DeBenedictis, Chairman and CEO, Aqua America, Inc.
• Honorable Nelson A. Diaz, Cozen O’Connor
• John H. Estey, Esquire, Ballard Spahr
• Melanie Johnson, City Representative, City of Philadelphia
• James F. Kenney, Philadelphia City Councilman-at-Large
• Jonathan Newman, CEO and Chairman, Newman Wine and Spirits
• Honorable Michael Nutter, Mayor, City of Philadelphia
• Agnes M. Ogletree, COO, Transitional Work Corporation
• Marsha R. Perelman, President, Woodforde Energy Inc.
• Honorable Edward G. Rendell, Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Fred A. Shabel, GPTMC Chairman Emeritus, Comcast Spectacor
• Meryl Levitz, President and CEO, GPTMC

Meryl Levitz
President & Chief Executive Officer
Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

As president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), Meryl Levitz is responsible for expanding Philadelphia’s regional tourism, worth $9.3 billion in economic impact and accounting for more than 87,000 regional jobs annually. Since GPTMC began advertising, overnight leisure tourism to Greater Philadelphia has increased by 59%, from 6.5 million visitors in 1997 to 10.4 million in 2008.

For Levitz, the key to building the economic engine of tourism is partnership—increasing visitor spending by bringing together groups with similar interests to develop promotional programs that reach high-yield markets. Partnerships with the hospitality community, arts and cultural institutions, restaurants and county visitor bureaus have proven to be vital to the success of the regional tourism industry.

GPTMC implements integrated marketing strategies to build image and visitation, using research; advertising in television, print, radio, outdoor and the Internet; and public relations in all media.

Most recently, Levitz was inducted into the Keystone Society for Tourism by Governor Edward Rendell. She was also awarded the Philadelphia Select award by the Philadelphia chapter of the American Marketing Association and was named Direct Marketer of the Year by the Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association.

Levitz is active on the U.S. Travel Association’s Board of Directors and Policy Council. She also serves on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Independence Visitor Center, Governor’s Pennsylvania Travel and Tourism Partnership and Historic Philadelphia, Inc.

After receiving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Illinois, Levitz began her career as an educator but soon began promoting Philadelphia, first as co-founder of the Center City Proprietors Association in 1978 and later at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she rose to vice president of tourism. There, she presided over new celebrations to draw crowds to the city and oversaw the opening of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

GPTMC Funding Sources

• City of Philadelphia
• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
  • Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
• Delaware River Port Authority
• The Pew Charitable Trusts

Research and Publications

Find GPTMC Research FAQs, Research Reports and other general GPTMC publications here.

About This Site

Find general info about visitphilly.com and Philadelphia, including how to get a events or attractions on the site, here.

Contact Us

This section provides contact information for reaching GPTMC, including our mailing address, telephone number and an inquiry form. Job openings are also posted here when available.