Long gone are the days when Philadelphia had to endure the criticism and denigration of pundits around the country. With a restaurant and cultural renaissance in the Quaker City over the past decade, the building of the Jewish History Museum and the nearly-finished American History Museum, as well as the historic visit of Pope Francis this past September, Philadelphia is making its mark on the global map.

The home to Independence Hall, Constitution Hall, the Liberty Bell and the first U.S. flag, The City of Brotherly Love has been hailed for centuries as the birthplace of American democracy. Philadelphia has now gained another important title: the first UNESCO World Heritage City in the United States.

Recently, Mayor Michael Nutter announced that the Organization of World Heritage Cities had added Philadelphia to the list of 266 other world cities including Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cairo, Florence, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Marrakesh, Mexico City, Paris, Quebec and Saint Petersburg. The Organization of World Heritage Cities explains that the city was "considered for membership thanks to the global influence of the rights expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, both signed in Philadelphia's Independence Hall."

World Heritage Cities have all made notable impacts on the world and are home to a UNESCO World Heritage site. Independence Hall became a UNESCO heritage site in 1979, thanks to the signing of the two aforementioned documents that have had a profound impact on lawmakers around the world.

"As a World Heritage City, Philadelphia is being officially recognized on the global stage for its wealth of contributions to the world as the epicenter of American democracy and for its enduring commitment to preserving the unique historical and cultural assets in our diverse community," said Nutter, who has lobbied for this designation for over two years following submitting an application in early 2015.

"As we celebrate this milestone, the next step is to focus on the future and how we can optimize this World Heritage City recognition to attract more people to visit, invest, work, study and live in Philadelphia," Nutter said in a statement. He further called the designation "the start of a new and exciting chapter" in the city's history.

While the recognition and status this brings Philadelphia is immeasurable, city officials are hoping that the boost to tourism is calculable.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that this honor has "the potential to draw hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue" citing a study that indicates the World Heritage City designation "has the potential to increase foreign visitation by 10 percent to 15 percent meaning an additional $150 million of tourism revenue per year." The title brings with it the ability to strengthen Philadelphia's international image, and open business connections with the 266 other World Heritage cities around the globe.

"We have an opportunity to really look over the menu and decide what kind of relationship we'd like to foster," said John F. Smith III, chair of the Global Philadelphia Association, which worked on securing the designation for the city. "We would like nothing better than to connect people, to achieve commercial marriages, to let people start talking directly to each other ... and see where it goes."

Alan Greenberger, the city's deputy mayor for economic development, said the goal is to build bonds with selected World Heritage cities similar to those that exist with Philadelphia's sister cities. That could result in university exchanges, shared research, or business-to-business partnerships, he said.

"In a very competitive global world, with so much information and so many possibilities at your doorstep, you start to say, 'I can't deal with all of that,'" Greenberger said. "So, who do we know? Who do we trust? Who do we have a relationship with?"

According to Denis Ricard, secretary-general of the Organization of World Heritage Cities, Philadelphia will be eligible to programs that help cities maintain and promote their heritage. "It opens up a full network of cities around the world," said Ricard, who toured Philadelphia in 2014 after the city petitioned for full membership.

Philadelphia Mayor-elect Jim Kenney will assume responsibility in 2016 to maximize the designation to benefit Philadelphia both socially and economically. Lauren Hitt, Kenney's spokeswoman, reinforces that Kenney is excited and supportive about the opportunities this brings.

"Between the pope's visit, the DNC [Democratic convention] in summer 2016, and now this new international honor, Philadelphia is clearly making great strides," Kenney said in a statement. "My mission as mayor will be to ensure that all our neighborhoods are included in this progress."