Valley Forge tourism officials forecast uptick in lodging revenue as 'America 2 50' events approach

Valley Forge Tourism and Convention representatives briefed the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners on May 7 about marketing and event plans tied to the county’s America 2 50 programming.

Presenters (including interns Carly Schleklag and Jamie) highlighted a strong March performance — RevPAR of $82 and 5.5% growth in room demand for March — and described an anticipated year of elevated visitation driven by major events (PGA championship, World Cup, youth sports tournaments) and a calendar of festivals and park programming. The tourism team said the county saw record lodging demand and projected room‑revenue growth of roughly 4.6–5% year over year, with a multi‑year goal of roughly $2.75–2.8 billion in economic impact and more than 8 million annual visitors when counting trips from outside a 50‑mile radius.

Marketing staff outlined tactics to capture demand, including targeted digital ads, broadcast partnerships, sports and hospitality sales, partnerships with rideshare providers and multi‑language web content to serve international visitors. They also flagged the need to convert short‑term event interest into longer‑term bookings through aggressive business development and trade outreach.

Commissioners asked about the post‑event 'hangover' risk after 2026’s crowded calendar; presenters said they’re already pursuing new business, working international leads and planning follow‑through around Valley Forge National Historical Park’s upcoming anniversaries to sustain 2027–28 visitation.

No county vote was taken on tourism programming; the briefing was informational and commissioners thanked the presenters for outreach and planning.