2016 DNC Coming To Philadelphia And Chester County

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When the DNC announced Philadelphia would be the host city for its 2016 national convention, beating out Brooklyn, NY and Columbus, OH, Susan Hamley of Chester County’s Convention & Visitors Bureau was already calculating the impact the convention would have on Chester County.

2.13.2015 susan hamley
Susan Hamley (Photo courtesy of the Unionville Times)

DNC officials said they considered transportation infrastructure, lodging capacity, security and financial factors in selection Philadelphia.

While not as large as a Republican Party national convention, according to the Wall Street Journal, hosting a Democratic Party Convention can provide an economic boon nearing $100 million for a city and its suburbs.

“Charlotte, N.C., where the DNC held its convention in 2012, had $91 million in direct spending injected to its local economy from the three-day convention, according to a report commissioned by the city.”

Hamley expressed confidence local hotels, restaurants and tourism venues will benefit from 35,000 to 40,000 candidates, media, delegates, sponsors, attendees, and merchants expected to participate in the convention.

“With the announcement of the Democratic National Convention selecting Philadelphia as the host city for 2016, there’s tremendous reason for the Countryside of Philly to celebrate.

“Chester County stands to benefit greatly from this occasion if for no other reason the extraordinary number of visitors in Philadelphia for an entire week can simply not all be housed in city hotels.  These overnight visitors and their money that will flow into our local businesses. The result should be a significant economic boost for the County.

According to Hamley, hosting the convention in Philadelphia will have long term positive ramifications on the regions beyond the four day event.

“Additionally, as with any large event of significance, the benefits go far beyond the time participants are in town.  Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the rich assets this area has to offer which may or may not have been known to them before, ideally influencing a desire to return.

Longwood Gardens (Photo courtesy of Chester County Planning Commission)
Longwood Gardens (Photo courtesy of Chester County Planning Commission)

“This Convention will shine a light on Philadelphia and the region through national and international media as an attractive destination to fulfill their leisure and business needs in the future, with residual possibilities for Chester County.

Hamley and her team are already coordinating their activity with other tourism and convention bureaus to make sure Chester County plays an pivotal role in the planning leading up to the July 2016 event.

“We will be working with our counterparts in Philadelphia and the surrounding region to leverage the DNC’s presence and maximize the valuable economic potential for Chester County and the entire Delaware Valley.”

For more information about Susan Hamley and the Chester County Convention and Visitors Bureau check out their new website here.

For more background on why the DNC selected Philadelphia check out the Wall Street Journal video below.

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Top photo credit: Philadelphia Skyline via photopin (license)

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