Record Setting Times in NYC
It’s been a good year for tourism in New York City (NYC) – record setting, in fact – as the The Big Apple will welcome an all-time record 60.3 million visitors by year’s end, surpassing the 60 million visitor milestone for the first time ever.
It is seventh consecutive year of travel and tourism growth for NYC. The new figure is 600,000 visitors higher than the original forecast of 59.7 million announced earlier this year, and 1.8 million more visitors than last year’s revised year-end figure of 58.5 million. Travel and tourism now sustains more than 375,000 jobs in New York City, representing a gain of 15,000 jobs over the last year.
“Not only has 2016 brought the largest number of visitors in New York City history, but it also caps off seven years of strong tourism growth and 15,000 more jobs for New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “More tourism means we have more people investing in New York City and are able to create more sustainable jobs for more people. New York is a culturally rich and diverse city, with so much to offer those who visit. I look forward to continue promoting this beautiful city and welcoming all those who visit in the future.”
Fred Dixon, NYC & Company’s president and CEO, added “The appeal of the ‘New’ New York alongside our classic attractions continue to draw travellers from every corner of the globe. We invite visitors and locals to take advantage of all the nonstop and affordable NYC experiences on offer this winter as well as the opportunities to discover our City’s multicultural neighbourhoods in all five boroughs.”
To continue welcoming record visitation and boost winter travel in 2017, NYC & Company unveiled a new “Nonstop NYC” program comprising its popular vibrancy programs NYC Restaurant Week, NYC Broadway Week, NYC Off-Broadway Week and an all-new NYC Attractions Week. The organization is also expanding its “See Your City,” “See it for Yourself” and Official NYC Family Ambassador campaigns to further encourage travel during the first quarter and beyond.
Hotel demand in the five boroughs has grown this year by 1.2 million, generating 34.9 million hotel room nights sold by year’s end, an all-time record. Home to more than 111,000 hotel rooms, NYC is also expected to add 24,000 new hotel rooms by the end of 2019, reflecting the nation’s most robust hotel development pipeline. A significant contribution to the city’s economy, hotel and sales taxes are estimated to contribute over US$1 billion in revenues this year.
Just in time for winter visitor arrivals, NYC & Company’s celebrated consumer programs will return in early 2017 with NYC Restaurant Week (Jan. 23-Feb. 10), NYC Broadway Week (Jan. 17-Feb. 5) and NYC Off-Broadway Week (Feb. 27-March 12). On the heels of the success of these programs, NYC & Company has also announced the first-ever NYC Attractions Week. From Jan. 17-Feb. 5, visitors and locals can receive two-for-one admission for tours, culture and performing arts at more than 70 participants, including Big Bus Tours, Brooklyn Museum, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises, Gray Line City Sightseeing New York Bus Tours, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Madame Tussauds New York, Museum of Modern Art – MoMA, New York Water Taxi, On Location Tours, One World Observatory and more.
