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Yes, because you know Atlanta is SOOOO interesting. Let me tell you! Woooo! What a blast.
You claim Philly isn't interesting and then name THE LIBERTY BELL and the ROCKY STEPS. HAHAHAHA.
It's so obvious you know NOTHING about Philadelphia.
Largest collection of Colonial homes in the United States? Longest occupied residential street in the United States? Great art collection at the Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation? Mutter Museum? Eastern State Penitentiary? Penn Museum of Archeology? Independence Hall? Constitution House and Constitution Center? Great restaurant and food scene? Reading Terminal Market? Italian Market? Betsy Ross House? The US Mint? Please Touch Museum? Franklin Institute?
And that's cool and all, but clearly, for a city that's revered for it's history, you'd think it would get more tourists, but D.C. gets more, Boston gets way more, let's not even talk about NYC.
I mean, Atlanta gets more domestic and international tourists then Philly and Atlanta's a pretty lame city in comparison especially when it comes to character and history.
And that's cool and all, but clearly, for a city that's revered for it's history, you'd think it would get more tourists, but D.C. gets more, Boston gets way more, let's not even talk about NYC.
I mean, Atlanta gets more domestic and international tourists then Philly and Atlanta's a pretty lame city in comparison especially when it comes to character and history.
Want to know the reason why? Philadelphia has had an image problem for decades. Even to this day it still has an image problem, which is very evident of this thread and many others bashing Philadelphia. Most people think it's still a dirty, run down, abandoned crime zone. And while some sections of the city certainly still are, the core has never been so vibrant. It is an amazing time to be in Philadelphia and see the renaissance take place. As Philadelphia gets it's act together and rebuilds not only itself, but it's image as well, more and more people will visit Philadelphia and see what it has to offer.
I wouldn't visit Philadelphia of the 90s.
But the renaissance of today in Philadelphia has really birthed an entirely new city, and that's evident by the population growth, job growth, growth in the tourism industry, and all of the new construction happening.
As Mayor Nutter says, "if you haven't been to Philadelphia in the past 5 years, you haven't been to Philadelphia." - and it's so true.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, Philadelphia has had more visitors yearly than Boston for the past 3 years.
Philadelphia has an SLS coming in, which is more exclusive and far far far superior to the W hotel brand. If that W never gets off the ground, as long as you get the SLS, I see zero issues.
W's are more in the league of Ritz-Carlton (it's arch-rival), Marriott Marquis, or Renaissance (and a few select others). Being only the fourth city in the country with an SLS, that's more relevant personally than being like the 15th with a W.
Of course its superior to W...SLS is an Los Angeles-based brand. The owner went to Beverly Hills High and USC, and the hotels all have LA-based retail like Fred Segal and LA-based restaurants like Umami, Katsuya, etc.
Want to know the reason why? Philadelphia has had an image problem for decades. Even to this day it still has an image problem, which is very evident of this thread and many others bashing Philadelphia. Most people think it's still a dirty, run down, abandoned crime zone. And while some sections of the city certainly still are, the core has never been so vibrant. It is an amazing time to be in Philadelphia and see the renaissance take place. As Philadelphia gets it's act together and rebuilds not only itself, but it's image as well, more and more people will visit Philadelphia and see what it has to offer.
Exactly. I also can't blame outsiders for having a relatively negative image of Philly. It has only been about 10-15 years since those in political power have really made a concerted effort to improve its reputation to potential visitors nationally and internationally. There has been remarkable progress in that relatively short time, but the city is still only at a fraction of its potential for tourism -- and economic recovery in general.
There are still plenty of challenges for the city, but the trajectory it is on is better than it has been in over half a century.
Why is it that Philly is like the main city on this forum that gets people so butt hurt? Random posters attacking Philly/posters for doing nothing more than contributing to the thread?
Why is it that Philly is like the main city on this forum that gets people so butt hurt? Random posters attacking Philly/posters for doing nothing more than contributing to the thread?
Mostly jealousy and envy. People hate for a city to do well unless it's their own. I don't understand why people wouldn't want every city in America to be great. I don't hate on other cities unless they are personally attacking my own city and even then, I usually just defend my city instead of trying to drag their city through the mud which they seem so keen on doing. Philly posters are some of the worst on here for that too so don't throw stones in a glass house. Infact, you're one of the main ones too.
I don't think we could say most people on this website try not to hate unless provoked though. Probably about 99.999999999999999999% of the posters on this message board will hate on another city when they see projects moving in that city or when nice things are happening in that city. That's what jealousy and envy will do.
This article has a pic of a really nice view of what appears to be an entirely new part of the SF skyline as you drive in on the bay bridge from Oakland and 101 North from the Peninsula.
Yes, but those are landmarks and very symbolic of the country. No offence, but the landmarks in Philly aren't that interesting...I mean, the Liberty Bell I guess and the steps Rocky was on from the Philly Museum of Art...but I mean...that's it. Philly isn't scenic either like say...SF is. It's not an iconic city. It's no wonder it doesn't get many tourists, not to mention being wedged between the country's capitol and the country's largest city.
Just saying...if I was from Paris or Florence or Barcelona, Philly's architecture isn't going to impress me.
Sure it will. It's foreign and completely different, so it's absolutely interesting to foreign tourists from "older" countries for that reason alone. Beyond that, it's about the history behind the architecture. You mentioned Paris; given their role in our Revolution, Philadelphia's history is going to be of interest and the architecture is part that history. It may be 200 years old or 2,000, but it doesn't look like Paris, Florence or Barcelona which is part of the reason why it's interesting. Just think of being a tourist in your own country. Do you really not think a beaux-arts building in New York is interesting because Boston and Philadelphia have Federalist buildings that are older?
Beyond that, certain American architectural styles harken back to different eras which are interesting to foreign (and American) tourists. Art Deco is a perfect example. There's a reason why buildings like the Empire State and Chrysler Building (GE building to a degree, although NBC is part of that draw) are among the most visited in New York. There's a reason why the Art Deco buildings in South Beach are among that city's top draws.
American architecture is part of American history and it's interesting to foreign tourists regardless of whether or not they have older buildings in their home country.
Want to know the reason why? Philadelphia has had an image problem for decades. Even to this day it still has an image problem, which is very evident of this thread and many others bashing Philadelphia. Most people think it's still a dirty, run down, abandoned crime zone. And while some sections of the city certainly still are, the core has never been so vibrant.
I live here. I own a home in town. Spend a saturday afternoon walking down Market Street from 12th down to 10th. You think that is vibrant? People from surrounding poor areas just handing around on Market Street playing this stupid dice games, etc. Feels very seedy.
The problem here is that the really poor rundown areas are way too close to the city center. Sorry for not being PC, but tourists do not want to rub elbows with those people that come into the city and roam around all day long cause their terrible neighborhoods have nothing but crime and poverty going on. I never saw that in Chicago or Boston or NYC or DC. What does Philadelphia have to match Newbury Street in Boston? Walnut St is no comparison.
Philly boosters turn a blind eye to the real problem. Philly is too blue collar and too poor. And there is nothing on the horizon to change that, short of PA cutting off all assitance until those poeple up sticks and move somewhere else where there are jobs for them. And we all know that will never happen.
Philadelphia has an SLS coming in, which is more exclusive and far far far superior to the W hotel brand. If that W never gets off the ground, as long as you get the SLS, I see zero issues.
W's are more in the league of Ritz-Carlton (it's arch-rival), Marriott Marquis, or Renaissance (and a few select others). Being only the fourth city in the country with an SLS, that's more relevant personally than being like the 15th with a W.
I worked for Starwood for 5 years. The W in Philadelphia is not only going to happen, but it's a priority project.
I'm not sure I'd even put W Hotels in the league of Ritz-Carlton. The St. Regis Brand (and some of the Luxury Collection boutique properties) is Starwood's more direct competition with Ritz-Carlton. W hotels try to offer more of a trendier, boutique feel than super luxury. Marriott Marquis and Renaissance are closer in terms of being in the same tier, but still a very different experience.
SLS Hotels are in line with Mandarin Oriental and are definitely on a higher tier than those mentioned above.
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The owner went to Beverly Hills High and USC, and the hotels all have LA-based retail like Fred Segal and LA-based restaurants like Umami, Katsuya, etc.
