Center City Philadelphia

Contact Information:
Jeff Guaracino
(215) 599-2290, (856) 816-1014
jeff@gptmc.com

Caroline Bean
(215) 599-7433
caroline@gptmc.com

MEDIA ADVISORY: DEAR ROCK SALT WARRIORS, IT’S TIME
TO THAW OUT, ON THE TOWN
WITH LOVE, PHILADELPHIA XOXO™
Philly’s Piled High With Love This Long Weekend & Beyond Thanks To Free & Discounted Parking, Special SEPTA Fares, Lovely Hotel Rates & Delish Dining & Shopping Deals

WHAT: Have cabin fever? Most residents of the snow-covered Philadelphia region do, which is exactly why Mayor Michael Nutter and civic leaders are encouraging folks to get out and Spread the Love during this long Valentine’s Day weekend—and extending through Sunday, February 21, 2010—in Philadelphia. Really, there’s no excuse not to!

• Why drive? SEPTA is offering low fares on regional rails, the subway and el and free parking at surface lots. Offers run through Sunday, February 21, but vary from weekends to weekdays depending on your mode of transportation. septa.org

• Why pay to park? Take advantage of free metered parking throughout the city and free parking (for the first four hours) at Philadelphia Parking Authority lots and garages. Again, offers run through February 21 but vary from weekends to weekdays. philapark.org

• Why do the same old thing? There are plenty of ways to Spread the Love in town. Consider phila.gov, the newly redesigned visitphilly.com, uwishunu.com and phillyfunguide.com your Philadelphia love resources. The sites offer suggestions on what to do, where to eat, where to shop and how to impress that special someone. Those not in the mood for love will also find plenty of suggestions for a fun time out of the house.

• Why go home? Spend a night or weekend in town. While some hotels are sold out certain nights, many rooms and packages are still available for lovely rates. visitphilly.com

WHEN: Spread the Love today through Sunday, February 21, 2010 (Details vary from weekends to weekdays; check the Web sites listed above for details.)

WHERE: Philadelphia, baby!

WHY: With two major snowfalls blanketing the region in less than a week, the City of Philadelphia enlisted the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, Philadelphia Parking Authority, SEPTA, Center City District and others to offer residents incentives to get out of their houses and spur the economy by patronizing the many hotels, attractions, restaurants and shops that felt the snow especially hard. Thanks, Mayor Nutter!

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

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to Hear Philly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For high-resolution photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit the photo gallery of visitphilly.com/pressroom.