Suburban businesses gear up for World Meeting of Families

More than 400 people from across the region were invited to learn how their businesses can benefit most when the World Meeting of Families takes place in September in Philadelphia.

But only about 35 came out Friday for the session at SS. Simon and Jude Parish in Westtown, Chester County.

The low turnout underscored why the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry organized the event.

It wants local businesses and groups to know they, too, can capitalize on the meeting and Pope Francis' visit, which are expected to draw up to 2 million people and generate nearly $418 million in economic impact.

"We really couldn't even buy this kind of global promotion" for the region, said Andi Coyle of Visit Philadelphia.

Some companies already have plans in the works.

The King of Prussia Mall will offer free "Style Pass" coupon books and a personal shopping service for those who text ADVICE99 to 74666.

Representatives from Tague Lumber, a Philadelphia company with several locations, said they wanted to provide materials for stages and barricades.

Krapf Coaches Inc., based in West Chester, has already booked groups coming from Western Pennsylvania who are staying in Exton and Morgantown.

Kathy Baumer, a senior meeting manager for the World Meeting of Families, said restaurants and family entertainment businesses had special opportunities during this "one-week commercial" for the area. Some visitors, she said, will arrive the week before the meeting and stay until the week after. Extended stays could mean extended business.

Baumer noted that local companies were also competing with those in Wilmington, Atlantic City, Allentown, and the Poconos for business. So county tourism bureaus have created new website pages, and the Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board in Montgomery County is encouraging people to tweet using the hashtag #PopeInMontco.

On Monday, Go Philadelphia!, a committee of about 30 people from local visitors bureaus, cultural groups, and other organizations, plans to meet for the first time and review an app that allows users to find out about performances, exhibitions, museums, and other attractions in the Philadelphia region.

Kelly Benedict of People's Light and Theatre Company in Malvern said Friday's get-together got her attention.

"All of this is making me think we do need to get something together," she said.