Healthy Center City = more visitor spending

A great deal has been written, in this space and everywhere, about what the recession is doing to the tourism business, and hotels in the region certainly are suffering as a result. But I was encouraged today to read an excellent story in The Inquirer business section by Diane Mastrull and Melissa Dribben about the relative health of Center City.

A hefty portion of the city's economy depends on spending by visitors, everyone from day-trippers from the 'burbs coming to Independence Park and museums, to conventioneers and other business travelers meeting in hotels, and foreign and domestic travelers alike who can get here easily because of US Airways'  hub at PHL. Much of Philadelphia's appeal to those visitors is because Center City is thriving, becoming more attractive and a better place to live, work and play. Visitors not only feel safe here, they may sense that people who live and work in the city like it and want to share it.