What I Learned at Philly’s Phambassador Training And Why It Will Make Your Visit Even Better
Philadelphia has always been a city that runs on heart, on stories, on pride, and the people who show up for one another.
Last year, the Philadelphia Visitor Center launched a new initiative called Phambassadors, inviting locals to help visitors experience the city with warmth and insider insight.
A Phambassador is a Philly local who wants to make your time here to feel welcoming and connected.
Yesterday, I spent a full day at Pham Camp, the training that prepares us to be the best Phambassadors we can be. A huge thank you to Kathryn Ott Lovell and her team for a great day at Pham Camp!
I walked into a room of about 100 people, all of them obsessed with Philadelphia, all of them eager to learn how to help visitors like you love it even more.
What I walked away from Pham Camp wasn’t just information. It was a renewed sense of pride, a deeper understanding of our history, and a clearer picture of what makes Philadelphia unlike anywhere else in the country. And honestly? I believe it will make me an even better curator for your next trip. Here’s what I learned.
1. Philadelphia Is Built on Welcome — Literally
Before the founding fathers, before the Constitution, before the Liberty Bell ever cracked, this land was home to the Lenni-Lenape, who lived here for more than 11,000 years. When William Penn arrived, the Lenape welcomed him and for as long as Penn lived, the two communities coexisted peacefully.
Penn’s vision for Philadelphia was radical for its time: a walkable, green, religiously tolerant city. You can still see his influence everywhere:
The streets that are a simple, intuitive grid
The five original squares: Franklin, Washington, Logan, Rittenhouse, and City Hall
The diversity of people who call this city home
Philadelphia has always been a place where people from all over the world could belong. That spirit is still alive. You feel it in our neighborhoods, our food, our festivals, our small businesses, and the way people talk to you on the street like you’ve known them forever.
2. Philly Visitors Don’t Just Visit - They Return!
Most first‑time visitors come to Philadelphia to see friends and family. But here’s the statistic that stopped me in my tracks:
82% of people who visit Philadelphia return. The national average is 52%.
Why? Because when people come here, they can see, feel, and taste the excitement that is Philadelphia. They feel connected. They feel welcomed. They feel like they’re part of the story.
And that’s exactly what Phambassadors are trained to create — moments that matter.
3. The Food Scene Is a Love Story
One of the highlights of Pham Camp was hearing from Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook, the duo behind so many great Philadelphia restaurants including Zahav, Laser Wolf (you know, my current obsession!), Goldie, K’Far, Federal Donuts, and more.
Listening to them talk about their 20‑year partnership felt like listening to two brothers describe a shared dream. Their philosophy is simple:
Make people feel good.
Bring heart and soul to the table.
Stay rooted in the community.
No hype — just hospitality.
Their story mirrors the story of so many Philly food entrepreneurs, from the immigrant‑run bakeries of South Philly to the restaurants where employees and customers share the same ZIP code.
This is a city where food is culture, connection, and identity.
Oh and they brought Federal Donuts. Bonus.
4. The Semiquincentennial Will Be a Once‑in‑a‑ Lifetime Moment
At Pham Camp, we spent a lot of time talking about what’s coming for the 250th anniversary of the United States, and I can’t begin to describe the excitement this city is about to experience. If you’re thinking about visiting Philadelphia in 2026, do it!
Here’s just a taste of what’s planned:
FIFA World Cup Fan Fest at Lemon Hill — a 39‑day celebration with food trucks, stages, and jumbotrons
Art Philly installations across the city
The First Bank (yes, Alexander Hamilton fans) opening for the first time in decades
New exhibits at the National Constitution Center, Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and more
The Mann Center’s 50th anniversary
New visitor centers staffed by locals
52 Weeks of Firsts
Rocky’s 50th Anniversary — including Rocky Fest
Neighborhood “Jawnts” on giant buses
Block Party Bonanza across 250 commercial corridors
And of course. the big one:
June 19 – July 10 will be filled with the most joyful, energetic, unforgettable Philadelphia celebration we’ve ever seen.
Philadelphia is about to shine in a way we’ve never seen before.
5. My Biggest Takeaway
Philadelphia is a city of firsts but it’s also a city of forever. People come here for the history, the food, the art, the sports, the neighborhoods. And they come back because of the people and the stories that stay with you long after you’ve gone home.
Pham Camp reminded me that being a Philadelphian isn’t just about living here. It’s about sharing the city with others — generously, proudly, and with a little bit of that signature Philly spark.
And then something interesting happened on the way home.
A Perfect Philly Moment
As I was walking home from Pham Camp through Old City, I passed two couples looking at their phones, clearly trying to figure out where they were going. I walked right by…and then stopped, turned around, and said:
“Can I help you find something?”
They looked cautious as people often do when a stranger approaches until I held up my new swag bag that said, “I’m a Phambassador. Ask me anything about Philly.” I told them that I had just come from Phambassador training and this is exactly what I was trained to do. Their faces softened.
They were from Reading, just 90 minutes away, but in town for a stroll on this beautiful day. They wanted to find “the old houses on the cobblestone street,” so I pulled up Elfreth’s Alley on my phone, gave them the address, and pointed them in the right direction to start their walk.
A perfect ending to my first day as a Phambassador.
Philadelphia is ready for you. And now, I’m even more ready to help you experience it.
