Philly Provides A Broad Choice Of Mtg., Transient Options

<B> Philly Provides A Broad Choice Of Mtg., Transient Options</B>

By Cheryl Rosen

The City of Brotherly Love has come a long way since William Penn brought the nation's very first meeting here.

Modern-day Philadelphia has everything, including a convention center that's conveniently located downtown and linked to both the Philadelphia Marriott and to direct train transportation from the airport.

Hotels abound: for large groups, there's the Marriott, the Wyndham Franklin Plaza and the Adam's Mark. There's the historic Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue Hotel or the boutique-style Penns View Inn. Upscale, there's the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton and the Rittenhouse. For locations, choose the convenience of the airport or the bustle of midtown, or the more cost-efficient environs like King of Prussia, Valley Forge and Malvern.

Meeting and incentive groups can hold events at the Franklin Institute, the Museum of Art (immortalized as Rocky's training ground), or the DownTown Club. They can dine at some of the nation's finest restaurants, or cruise down the Delaware on The Spirit of Philadelphia in a style far better than George Washington could have dreamed possible 200 years ago.

Thanks in part to the four-year-old convention center, occupancies continue to be high this year--and so are prices. But for the savvy traveler, value is still in style. A BTN scouting party of travel and meeting managers particularly likes the Embassy Suites--both the airport and midtown locations--for delivering value for the travel dollar.

The airport location has the advantage of easy access; the midtown location on Benjamin Franklin Parkway offers "not only its own meeting space, but also the conference center in the Bell Atlantic tower right across the courtyard," one travel planner said.

With low corporate rates on weekdays and weekends--and lower rates for groups--comes an atrium for safe late-night walking, a made-to-order breakfast and two hours of free cocktails.

The Radisson at the airport also "offers very good meeting rooms, "is well-structured and the food is well-delivered," according to meeting planners and travel managers queried. And since the relocation of the Scott Paper headquarters--a major customer that used to be located up the street--the property is "particularly value-oriented at this point," the said.

At the higher end of the scale, the Ritz-Carlton is a favorite for high-level travelers and meetings. "It's a great property, period," said one travel manager, "and worth every penny of the $215 corporate rate. You walk in there and they call you by name, and whatever you ask, no matter how ridiculous, they say 'certainly' and they do it."

For on-site entertainment, the Ritz also offers "a little secret door that connects right into the Liberty Place Mall."

Also high on the value list is the Philadelphia Marriott.

"I sent a group there recently, and they were in awe of such a beautiful place being so accessible," said a travel manager. "They said the staff was terrific, the food was good--and best of all was that they didn't have to leave the airport. They got off the plane and walked right down the walkway to the train. And the company didn't have to pay for ground transportation."

Other favorites mentioned were the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue Hotel, because "they know how to work with corporate travel and meeting managers and they offer good value," and the Sheraton Society Hill for its "competitive rates and fabulous location, within walking distance of all the historic sites, the South Street shops, and the nightclubs and restaurants on the Delaware River at Penn's Landing."

With the airport in reasonably close proximity to downtown, getting around in Philadelphia isn't much of a problem.

For ground transportation, our meeting planners and travel managers recommended Carey Limousines of Effington, Pa., and the Sky Shuttle van for trips into the city or to neighboring towns in New Jersey. ("They take no more than four passengers, they're very accommodating, and they have good rates, new vans and experienced drivers.")

Those with light baggage might try taking a ride from the airport on the regional railroad, SEPTA, a 20-minute route with stops at every airport terminal, the University of Pennsylvania and Amtrak's 30th Street Station. The cars are clean and safe. "It runs on time all the time--even in the January blizzard--and is the best $5 anybody ever spent," one planner said.

For sightseeing excursions, consider the Philly Phlash, which runs a limited route around the historic district and Center City (downtown) hotels. Tickets are $1.50 a trip or $3 for an all-day pass.

At mealtime, Philadelphia offers everything from hoagies to fine dining.

For the lighter budget, travel buyers suggested the Marabellas Restaurants, "a mini-chain of eateries with an Italian bent that offers good, quick service in a nice atmosphere. They're a touch of South Philly in Center City, but you can also get a good steak."

Entrees run about $8 at lunch, $15 at dinner. Also on the restaurant list is the Dock Street Brewing Co. at 18th and Cherry, a block from the Four Seasons, "a microbrewery where you can see the vats where the beer is being brewed," Downey's, at Front and South, "a fun Irish pub," and Zanzibar Blue for those who like jazz with their dinner.

Philadelphia also boasts two of the top-rated restaurants in the country: The Fountain at the Four Seasons and Le Bec-Fin.

The Fountain has a private room for up to 12; meals, including tax, tip and wine, are a "good value" at $80 to $90. Le Bec Fin offers a prix-fixe, three-course lunch for $36 per person, "a wonderful deal at a beautiful place," or a six-course dinner for $102.

Corporate meeting planners can arrange in advance for a $45 luncheon package, which includes a choice of three appetizers and three entrees and a dessert sampler plate. For 15 or more, the restaurant also will arrange a guided tour of the Museum of Modern Art before or after lunch, for which attendees pay the regular costs of lunch and museum admission fees, which vary with the exhibit being offered.