At the helm of VISIT PHILADELPHIA since its inception in 1996, President and CEO Meryl Levitz has excelled in building the region’s image, driving visitation and boosting the economy. In fulfilling the mission of the region’s official tourism marketing organization, she has helped change perceptions about Philadelphia as a fun place to visit, built lasting and impactful partnerships and put Philly on people’s must-visit lists.

Recognized nationally for their tourism marketing work, Levitz and her team have worked hard to entice visitors—a record 42 million of them in 2016—to stay over night during the week, weekend and all year long. They do this through advertising, public relations, web and social media tactics, hotel marketing and research.

These efforts have grown the regional economy by creating jobs, boosting local businesses and generating tax revenue. In 2016, tourism generated $11 billion in economic impact and supported 96,600 jobs for Greater Philadelphia residents.

Read more: http://www.visitphilly.com/about/

May 23, 2018 marks the 33rd annual Arts + Business Council Awards Celebration, a major moment for milestones. Together with you, our “Partners in Imagination,” we’ll be honoring the exceptional leaders, innovators, partnerships and volunteers below, who work to make our region culturally vibrant and economically strong. To purchase ticket packages and individual tickets, please click here.

The 2018 Anne D’Harnoncourt Award for Artistic Excellence is generously supported by: