Looking ahead: 2025 shapes up to be Valley Forge Sports’ fourth record-breaking year in a row

OAKS, PA – The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) shared an optimistic outlook for tourism in Montgomery County, PA to 650 attendees at the organization’s Annual Luncheon event at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks.

With a theme of “Possible”, the VFTCB released its 2024 Annual Report highlighting the positive economic impact of the hospitality industry in Montco. Tourism continues to be a key driver of the economy, contributing to 41,000 jobs in the third largest county in Pennsylvania. In 2023, visitor spending generated $1.7 billion, an almost 7% increase from the previous year, according to Tourism Economics. This led to an overall $2.4 billion economic impact in Montco.

“As we look ahead to 2026, I’m incredibly proud of the team for making what once seemed impossible a reality,” said VFTCB President & CEO, Mike Bowman. “This record-breaking year is a testament to our dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the tourism industry in Montco!”

Montgomery County hotels are leading the suburban market with an average daily rate of $133, and producing over $208 million in hotel room revenue, a 3% year-over-year increase, according to Lisa Karl, VFTCB Vice President of Sales & Strategic Partnerships.

2025 will be Valley Forge Sports’ fourth record-breaking year in a row, with a 3% year-over-year increase. For the first time ever, they have exceeded 100,000 room nights in a single year. Over 80 events returned to the region this year, with an additional 20 brand-new events choosing to host in Montgomery County.

Also this year, the Valley Forge Sports team refocused their efforts on social media and digital advertising. This year alone, they’ve gained 2,860 followers, with a daily reach of 1,530 and 434,000 impressions per month.

The Valley Forge Sports team had a record-breaking summer, with a total of 18 different sports and 13 events new to the area. Events this summer contributed an estimated 47,000 room nights sold, and an estimated $50 million in economic impact. Most notably, the team welcomed The YMCA National Gymnastics Championship & Invitational to Montgomery County this past June. The event was the largest indoor event ever held in Montgomery County, PA with over 1,900 gymnasts having attended from over 80 YMCAs across the U.S.  Over 10,000 spectators attended, generating $450,000 in state and local taxes. This new-to-the-area event brought in more than 8,000 room nights and had an economic impact of more than $7 million.

Chris Branscome, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, announced the return of the US Youth Soccer Eastern Presidents Cup Championship to Montco in 2025. This is one of the most prestigious youth tournaments with 15 state champions competing for a spot in the national finals. When the event was last hosted here in 2023 it saw record-breaking attendance and was the largest outdoor sporting event ever hosted entirely in Montgomery County.

Guests celebrated with networking, entertainment by EBE Ibiza, hors d’oeuvres from Italian food and dining emporium coming soon to the King of Prussia Mall – Eataly, and other vendors, and photo opportunities including an interactive activation that invited attendees to share personal things they believed were once impossible, turned possible, to kick off the event. An after party at nearby amusement center, Arnold’s, also took place.

Named by Fortune Magazine as a Top 50 World’s Greatest Leaders, a recipient of the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award and listed as one of the world’s most influential creative people by The Creativity 50’s, event guest speaker and Founder of Not Impossible labs, Mick Ebeling, spoke to the event’s theme, and how everything as we know it was once impossible, until it became possible.

Meg Kane, Host City Executive for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, touched on what the region can expect during FIFA World Cup 2026 Philadelphia.

Eric Chaves, Director of Business Operations, PGA Tour, provided an update ahead of the Truist Championship, a PGA TOUR Signature Event, that will take place at the Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course in May 2025. An anticipated almost 40,000 visitors will stay in local hotels, dine at area restaurants, and explore what this great community has to offer, driving economic growth.

The VFTCB’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Rachel Riley, reported on several marketing campaigns promoting everything from date nights and affordability, family-friendly fun to dining, America250 and beer, that garnered more than 33 million impressions, and almost 210,000 clicks. The VFTCB’s website, valleyforge.org, saw over 1.4 million pageviews this year, with 600,000 new users, and record email subscribers.

Visit Valley Forge’s social following has grown to more than 240,000 with millions of video views and the VFTCB has seen more than 1,300 editorial mentions – no. 1 in the region – with a reach of more than 2.1 billion to date.

The first-ever recipient of the Paul Decker and Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board Scholarship, Montco resident and United States Marine Corps veteran, Christopher MacWilliams, was awarded the scholarship to Montgomery County Community College and honored at the event as well.

Contact:          

Samantha Cole
Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
215-704-4162
cole@valleyforge.org

Annual Report: http://www.valleyforge.org/about-us/annual-report