They're back. As of Monday, international travelers have begun to arrive, and the headlines have been full of the anticipated positive impact on tourism. The Governor has taken notice. Monday's "Bring Back Tourism, Bring Back Jobs” announcement included nearly half a billion dollars for the sector. There's more money bound for the city, as the infrastructure bill brings billions to our mass transit.
City Guide is back, too. After over a year and a half of a digital-only presence, we are excited to report that yesterday we shipped pages to the printer. Look for the guides to be distributed to key hotels starting November 18th, ahead of the Thanksgiving crowds. A MediaPost article has more details on our return here. Right on cue for the border reopening, we have been fielding a series of requests for additional copies of our City Map; to replenish map supplies or receive the new City Guides, please reach out to our Director of Operations Management, Ray Winn. Other comeback notes include:
- The Okavango Blue Diamond goes on public display for the first time at the Natural History Museum today (the Butterfly Conservatory returns a week from Saturday)
- New food hall The Hugh is now open in the Citigroup Center
- Bar Veloce reopens three locations after long pandemic pause
- Boutique retail space and skincare consultancy Knockout Beauty has opened a new, larger location on the Upper East Side
- A spate of hotels have reopened, including the Moxy NYC Downtown, The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, and The Chatwal,
- The Big Pilot watch exhibition spends five days at Hudson Yards, starting tomorrow
- Miller Theatre returns to in-person concerts, releases 2021-22 season
- New boxing-inspired fitness studio HIIT The Deck opening in the Seaport next Monday
- Luxury Swiss shoe label Le Majordome officially launching in the U.S. this month in Midtown East
- Be warned: SantaCon is returning December 11th
- International fast fashion retailer Primark will be opening a new location at Downtown Brooklyn's City Point in 2022
- Hard Rock Hotel New York now taking reservations ahead of its April, 2022 debut
Covid cases are plunging in NYC. Headlines like "Here Comes the Travel Boom" are everywhere. Delta reports a 450% surge in international bookings. Tourism research firms have shaved a year off the rebound timeline in their latest forecasts—U.S. hotels could be fully recovered by next year. At City Guide we certainly think so, and we're backing that with our newly redesigned magazines hitting the city next week.
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The Rockettes visit the Empire State Building as part of the festivities for the opening of the 2021 show. Noemad Reid/MSG Photos.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- Broadway League updates vaccine guidance, with new requirements for international travelers
- Where population is booming in NYC
- NYC makes the cut of Top Travel Destinations for the Holiday Season
BEYOND NYC
- Thanksgiving travel to be near pre-pandemic levels, and mostly by car
- Brand USA CEO optimistic about international travel’s recovery—for now
- Business travel expected to come back next year
- October meetings volume spikes 30% month over month
- Delta Airlines plans major transatlantic growth—including at JFK—for next year
- Hotels redefine the concierge role
- What U.S. reopening means for the future of travel
- Rethinking the future of luxury travel
- Travel industry looks to an innovative future
- 5 pandemic tech innovations that will change travel forever
- Dearth of hotel workers could dampen holiday season
- Big rebound in leisure and hospitality hirings—and U.S. service sector expands at a record pace
CITY GUIDE INFLUENCER-CONCIERGE NIGHTS ARE BACK!
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Pictured: Marie Nehme, The Sea Fire Grill Marketing Director, Eli Marcus, Executive Director, City Guide, and Dee Lee, Hotel Ambassador.
Last Thursday, City Guide hosted its first post-pandemic concierge event at the highly Zagat-rated The Sea Fire Grill. From there the group attended an exclusive dress rehearsal for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
EVERYTHING TO DO FACEBOOK GROUP POST OF THE WEEK
City Guide's Facebook Group Everything to Do NYC is coming up on 60,000 members, bringing together a mix of tourists making plans and locals giving advice. It's a great barometer of what visitors are thinking. There were nearly 100 comments on this request:
I live in NYC and I’m looking for a new fine dining restaurant for a celebration. I've been to I been to Peter Luger’s, Mastro’s, Peak and Buddakan.
Le Pavillon, Per Se, 11 Madison Park, Le Bernardin, One World Observatory, STK, Avra Estiatorio, River Cafe, Jean Georges, Temple Court, Tratorria Dell'Arte, Le Coucou, La Grenouille, Momofuku Ko, Gramercy Tavern, Strip House, Minetta Tavern, Queensyard, Restaurant Daniel, and 4 Charles Prime Rib were among the suggestions. The group is a great way to reach customers in real time as they're making decisions about where to invest their time and money in NYC. If you're not a member yet, join us!
