Contact Person: Karen Griggs, 410-571-1750, Karen@LPBA.org
SUMMER CONVENTION 2025 – PHILADELPHIA - August 13-17
Hello to all my fellow LPBA members. I hope that your spring is off
to a great start! I want to fill you in on our plans for our Convention
this Summer in my hometown of Philadelphia. First, I am very excited to
let you all know that we have secured a fantastic venue for the Convention -
The Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square. Just last year the
Sofitel in Philly was awarded a Conde Naste Travel Readers’ Choice Award.
As with Louisville, one of my goals as President was to make it as
affordable as possible for members and families to attend, while maintaining
the standards LPBA has grown accustomed to. To that end we have
negotiated an incredibly low room rate of only $189 per night. The
Sofitel is where its name suggests, right off of Rittenhouse Square. For
those of you who are not familiar with Philly Rittenhouse Square, it is a
beautiful park in the center of the city surrounded by upscale shopping, spas,
restaurants and bistros with outdoor dining, overlooking the park. On any
given day the park itself will have businesspeople, families young and mature,
strolling or just sitting on one of the numerous benches enjoying water ice
(Philly’s famous and super refreshing treat) or ice cream. Since the
famous Curtis School of Music borders the park, not a day goes by where a
number of very talented musicians will be playing.
The Sofitel itself has a very French flair and a fantastic bistro style
lobby bar with magnificent rooms! While it will be hard to beat the
hospitality suite in Louisville, Tamson, Karen and I think you will be very
impressed with what we have arranged at the Sofitel. Plus, the guest
rooms themselves are magnificent and well arranged.
Let’s talk about FAMILIES! Yes, I put that in caps because Philly is a GREAT city to bring your kids. As one of Philly’s slogans says, this is literally “Where America Started”. The historic sites are too many to mention. Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Museum of the American Revolution, Independence Historic Park, The U.S. Constitution Center, and so so much more, are just a 10-minute Uber ride from our hotel. Many of Philly’s great museums, including Art, History, Science, Heritage and others, are a mere 15-minute walk or 5-minute Uber ride away. So, if your kids have only seen where our founders signed the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution in textbooks, bring them and let them experience where it all happened! In fact, I’ll personally write a note to their teachers to get them extra credit in history class! If we have enough interest we will try to see if we can arrange some babysitting for a couple of hours one night.
Now, let’s talk Food & Dinning. WOW! Philadelphia is a top tier
food city. The City is host to a number of James Beard Award winning
restaurants. Every section of the city has fantastic, fun and innovative
dining experiences. There is great Italian in South Philly (Think YO
ADRIAN!) as well as Center City (if you’re from Philly you don’t say
Downtown, you say Center City). If Asian, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese
is your thing, there are some spectacular choices in Chinatown. Pubs are
plentiful and there are a few French style open air bistros on the Park. 
Philly boasts two of the best Israeli restaurants in the country, Michael
Solomonav’s Zahav & Laser Wolf. Great steakhouses as well as places
dedicated to seafood and raw bar items. Then of course there is the
Reading Terminal Market, a covered city block which is practically a United
Nations of food. Everything from Cheese Steaks to Oysters to Cajun/Creole
to Jewish Deli, Indian cuisine and more.
Tamson is working on some amazing activities for our Co-Pilots that I hope to reveal in my next NOTAM, along with my take on the Philly favorite Cheese Steaks and how to order them so you sound like a local. Our President-Elect Jim Wade, is hard at work putting on some very informative aviation CLEs, and I am sure it will be another program not to be missed. Be sure to check out the LPBA website www.lpba.org for updates and our hotel information. We will send out another NOTAM as soon as registration goes live.
Until then, the following is a list of just some of the dining options in Philly, as well as information on historic sites and museums. Be sure to provide a copy to your Co-Pilots so they can help make plans.
SEE YOU IN PHILLY!
Adam Zucker, President, LPBA – adam@mudrickzucker.com
Hotel Information and Reservations
LPBA has reserved a block of rooms at The Sofiel at Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Run-of-House rooms are $189.00. Rates are offered, based on availability, 3 days pre, and 3 days post. Cancellation policy is 48-hrs. prior, without penalty. Hotel reservations may be made by using the link on LPBA’s website, or by calling The Sofitel – 215-569-8300.
Airport Information
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is 8 miles (20 minutes) to The Sofitel at Rittenhouse Square. Uber and cabs are available. Rental cars are discouraged, as Rittenhouse Square Philadelphia is very walkable, and Ubers are plenty. If you do decide to rent a car, valet parking is $69.82/night. No self-parking is available.