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LAFAYETTE HILL, PA: The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) celebrated Montgomery County, Pennsylvania as a premiere tourism destination during its 9th annual Travel Rally on May 27 which was held at the prestigious Union League Liberty Hill. Themed, “Past, Present & Future”, guests enjoyed local entertainment and were the first to learn of several initiatives coming to the region, capital improvement projects, new marketing efforts, organization sales updates, and more.
Event attendees were treated to an engaging lineup of entertainment, including live music from Soul Samurai; a Montgomery County–themed life-size sandcastle; a hot air balloon experience; and appearances by Gritty, the official mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers, and Monty the Fox, the beloved mascot of the VFTCB.
“Today’s theme of Past, Present, and Future perfectly captures the spirit of Montgomery County,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board. “We’re rooted in the past, and leading the future. Montgomery County is a true tourism powerhouse, supporting more than 40,000 jobs and generating a remarkable $2.4 billion in economic impact.”
During the event, Valley Forge Tourism announced its brand-new, state-of-the-art website and digital kiosks as part of the organization’s capital improvement projects. The newly redesigned website features an interactive map on the homepage, a new blog, and a “choose your own adventure” itinerary builder to cater to users actively searching for things to do in the region.
To be the leader in industry technology, the VFTCB expanded its visitor services presence beyond just Valley Forge National Historical Park, featuring new digital kiosks at Elmwood Park Zoo and the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks to capitalize on two of the other most visited sites in the county. Between the kiosks and the new site, the board is positioning itself to be ready for the anticipated increase in foot-traffic ahead of 2026.
The event noted that Montgomery County enters a record spring and summer as the PGA Truist event teed off at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown earlier this month, anchoring a lineup of major sports tournaments expected to bring positive economic impact to the region. The PGA Truist, one of several premier events in Montco this spring and summer, marked the start of what will be the county’s highest revenue month ever, with hotel revenue for May projected to surpass $30 million—more than 10% above last year, according to Tourism Economics.
Montgomery County will again welcome the US Youth Soccer’s Eastern Presidents Cup this June to the Proving Grounds in Conshohocken, contributing to an economic impact of over $6.5 million and more than 7,000 room nights.
Montgomery County is slated to host even more golf events in the region, including the APGA (Advocates Professional Golf Association) Tour at the 1912 Club in Plymouth Meeting, bringing diversity to the sport as the tournament returns to Montco for the third time. Montco will also see regional impact from the highly anticipated PGA Championship at Aronimink and the US Amateur at Merion Golf Club.
The VFTCB also announced the launch of its new summer marketing campaign inviting families to unplug and explore all that Montgomery County, PA has to offer. With a fresh, humor-driven campaign, the Board has partnered with Maestro Filmworks to produce a dynamic new commercial and with A&G to develop a strategic media plan powered by AI research.
Designed to drive overnight stays, website traffic, and social engagement, the campaign will be featured across major broadcast networks like NBC, FOX, and CBS, as well as popular streaming platforms including Disney+ and Paramount+. And it’s not just on-air—you’ll see the message in the air on the Jersey beaches too, with a branded banner plane flying from Atlantic City to Cape May all summer long.
Additionally, the VFTCB touched on what’s on the horizon this fall with the return of the Montco Jazz Fest featuring a “Community” theme, and the highly-anticipated Netflix House and Eataly, coming to the King of Prussia Mall. A brand-new Crave Montco Dining Guide was announced during the program, as well as the planning of a countywide effort to celebrate America’s 250th.
Rose Fennell, Superintendent of Valley Forge National Historical Park, spoke on how the Park will celebrate its 50th birthday next year during the Semiquincentennial.
Following the successful Rally, the VFTCB hosted its Montco Golf Classic on the Union League Liberty Hill course. This event served as a celebration of Montgomery County’s exceptional golf offerings, highlighting its distinction as the suburban county with the highest number of golf courses, boasting an impressive total of 50.
For more information and upcoming events, visit valleyforge.org.
