The big story is the announcement that land borders between Mexico and Canada will reopen to the vaccinated November 8th (international air borders will also reopen November 8th). Canadians historically send more travelers to NYC than any other place save the U.K., and land borders will be easier to cross as no negative Covid test will be required. The Delta variant appears to be waning, with global rates of infection falling. Recovery is not overnight, but the U.S. economy is emerging with consumer sentiment, spending, and employment more resilient than it has been following previous surges. United Airlines's domestic capacity in December will be 91% of what it was in 2019. Their data suggests pent-up demand will be manifesting ahead of the holidays. Other recovery news includes:
- Bloomingdale's—The Outlet Store now open at The Mills at Jersey Gardens
- Dowling’s at the Carlyle now open on the Upper East Side
- Boutique hotel The Moore now open in Chelsea
- New York City Wine & Food Festival is back at Pier 86, October 14th-17th
- Food hall and fine dining destination Citizens NY to open at 5 Manhattan West in Hudson Yards on October 21st
- Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park is returning for its 20th season on October 29th
- The Rink at Rockefeller Center will open for the 2021-22 season on November 6th
- Levain Bakery will re-open their UWS flagship on November 6th
- Urbanspace Union Square Holiday Market returns November 18th
- Williamsburg is gaining a new music venue, The Opera House at the Emmaus Center
- The Wall Street Hotel now taking guest reservations
Forbes has a look at NYC hotel recovery and notes that nearly 10,000 new rooms are expected to come online in the city, compensating for hotels lost to the pandemic. With a little push from international travel, we're optimistic there will be travelers soon to fill those spaces.
Rendering: Shaun Leonardo, Between Four Freedoms, 2021. Courtesy of the artist and Four Freedoms Park Conservancy.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- Latest dates and info for Broadway and Off Broadway
- The Broadway League announces vaccine requirements extended through end of the year
- Coney Island's Luna Park to expand with new rides, more space
- Madison Avenue catching up in retail's recovery
- Outdoor dining a "game-changer" for NYC residents, even as opposition grows
- A plan to revive SoHo: remove cars
- The World's 50 Best Restaurant 2021 ranking is out, with Atomix, Le Bernardin, and Cosme representing NYC
- Chelsea named one of the world's coolest neighborhoods
BEYOND NYC
- CDC reiterates fully vaccinated Americans can travel safely within the U.S.
- Holiday travel outlook shows mixed feelings among travelers
- No competition from Down Under: Australia won't welcome foreign tourists until at least 2022
- Full recovery of air traffic may be further off than previously anticipated
READ A NEW MAGAZINE FOR INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS—PARTY PICTURES, BROADWAY NEWS AND MORE
City Guide’s Tourism Happenings, an industry magazine, is hot off the ether. See your friends at the NYC Tourism Is Back celebration. Find a calendar of fall city events and a guide to Broadway re-openings. Get informed on the latest local activities from sponsors of the Tourism Is Back cocktail reception, including news from NYC's leading organizations. Reconnect with everything that's going on in the city now—check it out! Share it with colleagues who want to stay in the loop.
EVERYTHING TO DO FACEBOOK GROUP POST OF THE WEEK
City Guide's Everything To Do NYC Facebook Group brings together more than 55,000 tourists and NYC superfans to share notes on what's happening right now in the city. You can get a clear picture of traveler interests, and what locals are recommending. This recent post shows why the group provides a service to visitors:
Among the suggestions: walk The High Line, eat a Levain Bakery cookie, subway to Central Park and stroll back to the show, explore Grand Central, or enjoy a lobster feast, Intrepid, Little Island, Citrovia, or Edge. The group is a great way to reach customers in real time when they're making their plans for the city. If you're not a member yet, join us!
