Letters: Convention Center critic boosted the competition

Our board of directors, 1,000 members, and staff were incredibly disappointed to read Paul Davies' opinion that set out to sabotage Philadelphia's convention industry ("Big white elephant?," March 6). Unfortunately, as a result of that column, a major convention customer whose business is worth $54 million in spending for the city is now questioning our ability as a convention destination. You can bet that our national competition is just eating up the fact that our hometown newspaper is providing the ammunition to steal this business.

Now, our sales team needs to go back and resell a convention that is already booked when we should be out selling this spectacular new space, its services, and our thriving city to new customers. The sad part is that the people whom this will impact the most are the frontline hotel, restaurant, attraction, and retail workers who rely on the convention industry to put food on their tables. Will the speculative and unfair negativism of The Inquirer cost the city, state, and 56,000 workers the $2.7 billion in expansion business booked to date?

Are things perfect? No. Are there changes needed to make us even more competitive and cost-effective? Yes. But major progress has been made. National, savvy customers demanded the tough decisions that executive director Ahmeenah Young and her team are embarking on. General manager Jim Lewis is doing an outstanding job. The rebooking rate has doubled in the last three years, which means something's being done right. Who's reporting on that? We should all be rooting for the home team, and encouraging customers to choose Philadelphia.

Nick DeBenedictis

Chairman

Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau