JANUARY 18, 2023: ANNUAL TOURISM SEMINAR
PRESENTERS: Fred Dixon, Pres/CEO, NYC & Company, Delfin Ortiz, Mng Dir, Legends/One World Observatory, Sophie Wright, Exec. Dir, Fotogafiska, David Miller, CEO, Davler Media, Bob Hofmann VP, Broadway Inbound, Vijay Dandapani, Pres/CEO Hotel Association of NYC, Tom Harris, Pres, Times Square Alliance, Andrew Rigie, Exec Dir, NYC Hospitality Alliance, Shanifah Rieara, Acting Chief Communications Officer MTA, Susan Marenoff-Zausner, Pres, Intrepid Museum (missing from photo: Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III)
Last Tuesday, City Guide’s Annual Tourism Seminar brought together an all-star panel of presenters to share market and sales data across most segments of the industry. One hundred industry executives exchanged ideas over breakfast at the Redeye Grill.
Fred Dixon, President and CEO of New York & Company, was very upbeat about 2023 in his introductory remarks. Dixon relayed the strength of the fourth quarter, an expected surge in day trip numbers for 2023, New York's status as the safest big city in the U.S., and that “domestic travel is coming back in a huge, huge way.”
Data highlights:
- NYC welcomed about 56 million tourists in 2022, domestic tourism mostly recovered from pre-pandemic levels, international is still lagging, but improving. The projection is for 61MM tourists in 2023.
- Broadway, hotels, attractions, and museums all reported great holiday sales numbers. Several presenters said they reached or exceeded pre-COVID levels in December.
- The government-affiliated presenters shared the initiatives in place to reduce crime, improve cleanliness, and help individuals experiencing mental health issues. The data they shared indicates real progress has been made on these fronts.
The Annual Tourism Seminar was the subject of a New York Business Journal article, which quoted the "Major NYC Tourism Sectors" panel, dedicated to hotels, restaurants, and Broadway.
NYC TOURISM DATA
|
|
NYC New Year’s Eve Occupancy |
|
Average Daily Rate Increase That Week Over ‘21 |
|
Empire State Building Observatory Attendance Early December Versus Pre-Pandemic |
|
NYC & Company Projection for Potential Chinese Tourists in NYC in 2023 |
|
CRIME/SAFETY NEWS
NYPD
- Overall index crime in NYC was down for the second straight month in December, reduced 11.6% compared with December 2021. Five of the seven major index-crime categories saw decreases, driven by 26% decreases in murder and grand larceny.
- For the fourth quarter, index crime was down by 1.5% against Q4 of 2021; although crime overall was up in 2022, murders were at their lowest level since pre-pandemic.
- Brooklyn saw drops in shootings and homicides, down 31% and 21% respectively since 2020 peaks.
- "Ensuring our city thrives is the business of the NYPD," according to an op-ed by City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell.
MAYOR'S OFFICE
- Mayor Adams talked crime, his performance on 77 WABC's Cats at Night: "2022 was my rookie year, 2023 is my Aaron Judge year."
LINKS OF INTEREST
The Garment District Alliance unveiled Living Lantern yesterday, a kinetic installation serving as a symbol of hope through February 24th on the Broadway plazas. Created by NEON and Frankie Boyle Studio, and powered by WIREFRAME. Photo Credit: PixelMill Studio.
NYC
- NYC Winter Outing (Restaurant Week et al) launches, through February 12th, with more than 700 participating businesses
- 2023 NYC restaurant trends
- Las Vegas Sands to buy Nassau Coliseum in casino bid
- Crowne Plaza Times Square Hotel owners file for bankruptcy
- The lost hotels of Midtown Manhattan
- Shuttered Roosevelt Hotel planning a comeback
- Sulma Arzu-Brown appointed Executive Director of the Bronx Tourism Council
BEYOND NYC
- Holidays boost American and Delta profits, consumer demand remains strong
- Meetings volume surpasses pre-pandemic levels for second month in a row
- Advisers note travelers are booking further out, expect another boom year
- Networking needs drive return of corporate travel
- Blended travel comes of age...
- ...and behold the rise of the flexcation
- Early thoughts on the return of the Chinese outbound traveler
JANUARY 4, 2023: NYC TOURISM UPDATE
Despite economic headwinds, the outlook for New York tourism remains strong. Some data for the year ahead:
- NYC remains on pace to attract 61.7 million visitors in 2023 (marking 8.6% growth against 2022's 56.4 million visitors) according to NYC & Company
- International visitors to NYC more than tripled in 2022 against 2021, giving the city the third highest increase globally (international travel is expected to grow worldwide by 40% in 2023)
- 78% of Americans will spend disposable income on leisure travel in 2023—blowing away home improvement (33%) and dining out (29%) expenditures
- China is resuming issuing passports for tourism after three years of Covid lockdown—massive pent-up demand could manifest as early as next month's Lunar New Year
NYC topped 1 billion subway riders for the year on December 27th, the highest ridership since 2019. As Mayor Adams put it in a recent roundup of the city's tourism prospects, “New York City is not coming back—we are back.”
A landmark on the Brooklyn skyline for over a century has returned to the Domino Refinery building. Photo by Wes Tarca.
NYC TOURISM DATA
|
|
Increase in NYC Airport International Travelers, |
|
December 2022 Statue of Liberty Visitation Increase Over 2019 Benchmark |
|
|
|
Harry Potter Gross That Week to Set All-Time Broadway Play Record |
|
The Lion King Gross That Week to Set All-Time Broadway Musical Record |
|
CRIME/SAFETY NEWS
- The Adams administration is touting big improvements in public safety in its first year. Shootings are down 17% and homicides 13%; the NYPD has removed more than 7,000 illegal guns and made over 4,500 gun arrests—a 27-year high. November 2022 saw major crimes drop from where they were in November 2021, and subway crime that same month dropped by 12.8% over the previous November—even more impressive given the big lift in ridership. Pedestrian fatalities are down as well.
- In just the first nine months of the Adams administration pedestrian pedestrian stops increased 22% over the entirety of 2021.
- In another boost for tourism, the city is prioritizing getting cleaner. More than one-thousand neglected areas have been targeted and waste basket service has been increased 50,000 times each week.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- Governor Hochul and Mayor Adams release action plan from the “New” New York Panel with 40 proposals for improving NYC
- NYC’s first legal recreational weed dispensary now open in the East Village
- The New York Boat Show returns to the Javits, January 25th-29th
- Hispanic Society Museum & Library to relaunch
BEYOND NYC
- U.S. to finally have a secretary-level position for tourism
- Travel in 2022 explained in 11 charts
- U.S. consumer confidence bounces back in December
CLOSING TIME
- After more than half a century, last call for Twins Irish Pub
- The 13th Step vacates the East Village after 12 years
DECEMBER 21, 2022: NYC TOURISM UPDATE
Looking back to the beginning of the year it's amazing to see how much ground we've recovered. A year ago the Omicron variant was putting a damper on activity and it seemed like the crowds would never return. The bounce back since then has been incredible, even if we are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels. We are still missing foreign visitors, although at last there has been a loosening of Chinese restrictions, giving hope that they'll return soon—bringing three years of pent-up demand with them. Data supports the case for cautious optimism:
- The Independent Budget Office predicts no recession for NYC and a $2 billion budget surplus.
- A ridership record has been set on the subways, with 3.93 million riders on December 8th, the highest total since pre-pandemic times.
- New York City ranks #1 in the latest Allianz Partners USA survey of Top 10 Holiday Destinations (worth noting: 89% of itineraries were for domestic travel).
- NYC had the highest hotel occupancy level of the Top 25 U.S. Markets for November.
- Retail leasing is picking up on Madison Avenue and "consumer spending has been incredibly resilient."
Tourism Economics reports Travel Industry Poised to Grow in a Recession, noting U.S. households are in a position of strength, there are no signs of weakness, and pent-up demand remains strong. In fact, the latest forecast from the U.S. Travel Association anticipates an 8.8% increase in leisure travel next year (and business travel spending expected up 19.1%). AAA estimates the next couple of weeks will be the third-largest for holiday travel since tracking began, with 3.6 million more people than last year—just off pre-pandemic volumes.
NYC TOURISM STAT PACK
|
|
Broadway Capacity |
|
Broadway Capacity Increase Over Previous Week |
|
Gross for Funny Girl Over 8 Performances to Set August Wilson Theatre Record |
|
Grand Central Area Increase in Pedestrians May-November |
|
Times Square Pedestrian Count Increase for November |
|
CRIME/SAFETY NEWS
MTA
- "In the month of November, we had a couple of weeks where we had the lowest rate of crimes per million riders that we've had since before COVID. This is by no means time to declare victory, but we're in the right direction," MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber explained in a recent ABC7 interview.
- MTA initiatives will improve tourist experiences even beyond lowering crime. Comprehensive Customer Service Centers will provide direct support in high-traffic subway stations. Six will open early next year, followed by nine more in 2023. Station Agents will be moving out of the booth and into more direct customer support roles.
MAYOR'S OFFICE
- Mayor Eric Adams has announced a "major new visioning process" for Fifth Avenue, looking to make it safer by adding more pedestrian space between Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park.
- Worth noting: New York media coverage of crime has vastly outpaced crime itself, with a 42% spike in stories against 2021.
LINKS OF INTEREST
The Bronx Children's Museum opens a permanent space on the Harlem River. Welcome area photo credit: Matthew Lapiska.
NYC
- Based on evolving subway riding patterns, MTA to expand weekend service, cut back Mondays and Fridays
- MSC Cruises will homeport from New York year-round
- Air Canada will begin flights to JFK in March
- City Winery's new high-end farm to table restaurant Cornelius now open in Grand Central
- Stylish Mexican spot Casa TuLuM now open in The Seaport
- New NoMad/Chelsea cocktail bar The Ivory Peacock now serving, with a focus on gin
- Century-old Naples pizzeria L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele opening in the West Village
- Bronx Brewery expands to Hudson Yards
- P.F. Chang’s now open in Union Square
- New bistro Steak Frites now open in Hell's Kitchen
- New super-sized Mermaid Oyster Bar opens in Times Square
- Gordon Ramsay's Fish & Chips now open in Times Square
BEYOND NYC
- Travel-related costs continue to decline
- Short-term booking window is ongoing, among expected 2023 hotelier trends
- November meetings volume surpasses pre-pandemic levels
- Trip.com reports spike in Chinese outbound travel searches as Covid restrictions loosen
- Urban destinations are back as Kayak forecasts 2023 trends
- Delta Air Lines expects profits to nearly double next year
CLOSING TIME
- Legendary East Village Dallas BBQ closing up after nearly four decades
- Almost Famous to end its brief Broadway run on January 8th
DECEMBER 7, 2022: NYC TOURISM DATA
It's worth remembering that a downturn in 2023 is far from a done deal. In fact, Goldman Sachs projects a 65% chance the U.S. avoids recession. November's employment report was unexpectedly strong, led by leisure + hospitality jobs. STR and Tourism Economics have only pared their 2023 projections down by a hair, with revenue per available room anticipated to be up 11.6% versus 2019.
- The city is at 85% of pre-pandemic visitation according to NYC & Company. Shoulder season discounts for January and February will be aggressively promoted to keep winter visitation attractive.
- Despite inflation, American leisure travel intent has stayed consistent at 3.7 trips over the next 12 months, with expected spend spiking up to almost $4,000, according to travel marketing firm MMGY Global. Older demographics are more likely to travel and have higher spends.
- New data from the World Travel & Tourism Council indicates urban destinations are "roaring back" and will drive the next decade of travel recovery.
- October was strong for air travel. “Traditionally, by October we are into the slower autumn travel season in the Northern Hemisphere, so it is highly reassuring to see demand and forward bookings continuing to be so strong,” IATA Director General Willie Walsh tells TravelPulse. “It bodes well for the coming winter season and the ongoing recovery.”
Recession concerns are real, but spending is holding strong, especially when it comes to travel. “There's no question that restaurants and bars and things are really packed and everybody's out,” Peter Schubert, managing director of commercial leasing at TerraCRG, tells Bisnow about NYC. “And you sense that there's a little bit of euphoria. We're all very, very bullish. I mean… even with the talk of, ‘Oh, we have a recession,’ [retailers] don't see it; it just hasn't materialized.”
Thanksgiving Week Broadway Grosses |
|
Broadway Capacity |
|
NYC Hotel Occupancy Over the Last 4 Weeks |
85% |
Last 4 Weeks Increase in Times Square Pedestrian Count |
|
October Jobs Gained in NYC |
|
NYC CRIME/SAFETY NEWS
NYPD
- Overall index crime in NYC decreased in November against a year ago. Shooting incidents were down by 32.8% and the 2022 murder rate is 11.1% below last year's.
- Gun arrests are at a 27-year high; arrests for major felony crimes are up 19% against November '21.
- The NYPD has launches its Holiday Safety Initiative, with increased police presence and patrols tailored for places of worship, retail centers, tourist attractions, and other holiday gathering locations.
MTA
- Felony crime on transit is not outpacing the surge in ridership on the MTA—travel is up 38% over 2021, which is about the level of reported crime increase.
- “The NYPD is now putting more officers on subway cars and on platforms, and so far this month it has resulted in a drop in crime,” MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan told the Post. In fact, transit crime fell 13.1% comparing November '22 with '21.
MAYOR'S OFFICE
- Mayor Adams is opening 11 city blocks to pedestrians in December, the city’s largest-ever holiday Open Streets. Fifth Avenue from 48th to 57th Street will be traffic-free for three Sundays in December, on top of the pedestrianized areas around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. The plan will ease crowding and enhance public safety.
- The Mayor has also announced an initiative for connecting severely mentally ill people with treatment.
Hotel Barrière Fouquet's New York now open in Tribeca, the first U.S. location of the luxury French brand.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- New York City Economic Development Corporation November report notes high water marks for tourism
- Global tours and experiences provider Walks will be the new operator of the Official Grand Central Terminal Tour, returning for the first time since Covid
- Brooklyn retail booms even as Manhattan vacancies persist
- More than 10,000 Airbnb listings in NYC will get bounced next year when new housing rules take effect
- Carbone team opens Torrisi Bar and Restaurant in the Puck Building
- Le Figaro Café resuscitated in the Village
- Renovated JFK Terminal 8 now open
- Chez Napoleon reopens after 11-month shutdown
- Industry City upscales: Porsche Brooklyn opening tonight
- Acclaimed chef Greg Baxtrom opens Five Acres at Rockefeller Plaza tomorrow
- Golden Girls pop up coming to the Seaport
- Zero Irving food hall coming to Union Square
BEYOND NYC
- Hyatt acquiring Dream Hotel Group
- The high demand for luxury travel continues unabated
- Royal Caribbean breaks booking records for the third time this year (cruise lines everywhere are shattering records)
CLOSING TIME
- After four decades, Carolines on Broadway is done after New Year's Eve
- Hudson Yards loses another as Hudson Yards Grill set to close after three years
- Oaxaca Taqueria closes up on the UWS; the rest of the chain as well
- KPOP, we hardly knew ye—musical to close December 11th after a 3-week run
- After 11,472 performances, Stomp drops the curtain in January
NOVEMBER 22, 2022: HOLIDAY TOURISM OUTLOOK NYC
Tourism Recession or Surge: Here's the Data
There's a lot of chatter about a recession in travel. Of course rising costs and economic instability are impactful, but the data we're seeing points to ongoing recovery:
- Despite shortages and inflation, Skift notes that this year's Thanksgiving travel will be as busy as it's ever been; AAA reports Thanksgiving travel will be at 98% of pre-pandemic numbers.
- Travelers are still prioritizing travel over other consumer spending. “We haven’t seen any signs of demand declining in our search or booking data,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, tells Bloomberg.
- The AHLA Hotel Booking Index for the next three months is 7.1, or very good, based on factors of travel likelihood, financial sentiment, and preference for hotel stays.
- Hilton reports pent-up demand—especially among group and business travel—and consumer savings contributing to ongoing hotel recovery.
- International traveler spending increased 110% for September over a year ago.
- ...and that's with a backlog of U.S. visas; clearing that will open the gates to a spike in international travel.
- Timothy Hughes, vice president of corporate development at Agoda, tells Phocuswire that Asia still has a further 6-12 months of pent-up demand, with Japan and Korea recently opening and causing an “explosion” and China expected to reopen in 2023.
- For the first time in the pandemic era, the American travelers unconcerned about Covid outnumber those still cautious.
“More than half of Americans report that travel is now a priority and see their holiday as a sacred, worthwhile investment,” James Thornton, CEO of Intrepid Travel, tells TravelPulse. “Having a period without travel has made people appreciate their holidays even more.”
NYC TOURISM DATA
NOW OPEN!
Congrats all around (from top), as the Museum of Broadway opens (photo by Taylor Hill); Hells Kitchen welcomes Chi Restaurant; the new location of the Brooklyn Deli opens in Times Square (photo by Tricia Baron); and City Guide hosts a concierge night at the new Beyond King Tut: The Immersive Experience.
CRIME/SAFETY NEWS
When it come to keeping NYC safe, there is much going on beneath the surface. This week we learned MTA Police officers apprehended two men at Penn Station and averted an attack on NYC's Jewish community.
According to New York Magazine, election results in New York state suggest that "doom and gloom about crime" was more of a media narrative than a central concern of people.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- WalletHub ranks NYC #1 for U.S. winter holiday destinations
- City Winery opens in Grand Central
- Marcus Samuelsson opens new Hav & Mar in West Chelsea
- Mediterranean brasserie Harta opens, to be followed by rooftop mezcaleria Bar Cima, as new Grayson Hotel launches near Bryant Park
- Jewish luncheonette S&P opens in the Flatiron
- Newark-Liberty International Airport opens new terminal
- Primark to open in Brooklyn in December
- Brighton Beach’s Tashkent Supermarket coming to West Village
- New York City Football Club to get own stadium near Citi Field
- Reservations open for New York Hotel Week
- Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel among major U.S. 2023 hotel openings
- The race to finish new Rock Center restaurants
- First licenses for NYC recreational marijuana dispensaries issued
BEYOND NYC
- Domestic box office for movies doubles over a year ago
- Cruise lines seeing continuing momentum for bookings
- U.S. meetings and events eclipse 80% recovery for fifth month in a row
- Shorter booking window trend growing stronger
CLOSING TIME
- Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s Mercer Kitchen to close after nearly 25 years
- Refined vegan Blossom closes downtown outpost
- Jane Hotel Ballroom to close, become members-only club
FALL TOURISM OUTLOOK NYC
We are into quarter 4, NYC tourism's busiest season, and the outlook for the upcoming weeks is very strong. NYC & Company projects 6.5 million visitors between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The latest hotel data shows NYC is still #1 among the nation's major hotel markets, with Average Daily Rates reflecting tourist willingness to spend significantly.
National headlines support the positive local trends. Some key findings:
- Brand USA forecasts 2023 tourism numbers exceeding 2019.
- Travelers aren't being deterred by inflation.
- Cities are back, and Airbnb is reporting record profits.
- The meetings industry is expected to surpass 2019 volume next year.
- Hotels are reporting very strong results, with Hilton surpassing expectations (and expecting the boom to continue into 2023), Marriott beating 2019 numbers, and IHG Hotels & Resorts also back to pre-Covid numbers.
- Bookings Holdings (with sites like Priceline and Kayak) set revenue records, up 117% over last year; Viator is up as well, and Tripadvisor surpassed 2019 revenue.
Expedia also set records in Q3. “Overall we are pleased to see strong demand expand into the fourth quarter as consumers continue to prioritize travel spend over other discretionary spend,” according to CFO Julie Whalen.
All of the data points to a busy stretch of tourism ahead.
Ginna Claire Mason (of Glinda fame) and Arielle Jacobs (known for playing Jasmine in Aladdin) welcome back the Times Square Alliance's "Show Globes," a big hit with tourists that will be on display in Times Square through December 26th. Photo by Michael Hull.
NYC TOURISM DATA
Average Broadway Capacity Last Week |
|
Hotel Occupancy |
86% |
Hotel ADR |
$333 |
Hotel RevPAR |
$286 |
New NYC Hotels |
|
September Times Square Pedestrian Increase Over ’21 |
|
Empire State Building Observatory 3rd Quarter Traffic Increase Over ’21 |
|
SOME GOOD NEWS TO SHARE ABOUT NYC SAFETY
Media reports on crime in the lead up to the midterm elections has led to misperceptions about the safety of New York City. Here is some good news data:
MTA
- 1,200 additional police officers are now on patrol in the MTA, on top of personnel increases earlier in the year.
- As a result of the new staffing, fare evasion summons are up more than 80% compared to last year, and quality of life summonses are up 118%.
- Major felony crimes on the subways are down 4% compared to pre-pandemic stats.
- Officers will be present at over 300 stations during peak hours.
- New dedicated units at psychiatric centers will address street and subway mental illness issues.
- The subway has set pandemic-era ridership records the last three weeks in a row.
NYPD
- Per the latest crime report, shooting incidents and killings are both down by one-third, October 2022 against October 2021.
- Despite 2021's rise in homicides in NYC, the murder rates remain less than 20% of 1990's levels.
City Guide will continue to report on the good news about city crime, as it is important to communicate to tourists the realities of visiting New York City.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- Broadway stars announced for Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- The Hilton New York Times Square has reopened, with 478 rooms across 44 floors
- Moxy East Village is now open, with 286 rooms
- Marc Forgione resuscitates One Fifth
- Tatiana opens at Lincoln Center
- Naro opens at Rockefeller Center
- Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to arrive November 12th
- Massive new Starbucks Reserve opening in the Empire State Building on November 16th
- David Burke makes plans for new brasserie Park Ave Kitchen
- NYC has nation's second-highest hotel rate increase (up 226% since 2019)
- Vornado delays Penn Station development plans
- NYC named one of the world's top 10 most accessible cities
- NYC's dynamism ensures it will not fail
BEYOND NYC
- Return of group travel lifts global hotel demand to pandemic-era highs
- September air travel up 57% over previous year
- Hotels pivoting to leisure travel
CLOSING TIME
- After a quarter century, Pearl Oyster Bar closes up
- After more than four decades, East Village legend Pyramid Club is done
NYC TOURISM 2022 SUMMER UPDATE
The long-awaited return of international travelers has begun. Inbound bookings jumped 93% during the past six weeks compared with 2021; and they're not looking for beaches—NYC and other cities are the main destinations. Canada, Germany, France, and Brazil are the top source markets; Japan and China have also joined, increasing by 8% and 28% respectively in just the past four weeks. Search engine Jetcost has some additional data:
- 250% search increase for flights year to date
- 330% search increase for hotels year to date
- Searches for August 2022 holidays are 30% above pre-pandemic levels
- NYC is the #1 search for US vacations, across Germans, French, Spaniards, Italians, Dutch, Portuguese, and British
- For US tourist searches, New York is also #1, beating out every other destination in the world
SPENDING
- The McKinsey US Summer Travel 2022 Report shows leisure travel is booming. 68% of respondents say they're traveling this summer "no matter what" (lots of good data here, including travel's near top spot on what people would do with a big lottery win).
- AmEx has raised its revenue forecast on surging travel spending; pent-up tourism demand has been a major driver, augmented by a recovery in international and corporate travel.
- The world's largest travel agency reports 2022 sales have already hit an all-time high; that reflects an 88% increase over pre-pandemic numbers.
- Americans are prioritizing travel and using more vacation days.
- Inflation isn't stopping travelers—airline ticket intentions show mid-sized price increases don't change plans.
- Covid isn't stopping travelers either, 57% of respondents said that they are “not concerned” or “not very concerned” about the disease as they make plans.
NYC
- Foot traffic data shows NYC's domestic tourism recovery is at 87% of 2019 levels.
- Times Square foot traffic for June was also at 87% of 2019, the highest recovery point of the Covid era (and a big step up from the 48% recorded in January).
- The latest projections from city tourism officials anticipate a 207% increase in international tourists year over year, and a 70% overall increase when domestic visitors are added in.
Even the "new normal" of travel can be turned to a positive, as tourists are seeking out exciting experiences to counteract the frustrations of their journeys. NYC can definitely help with that.
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt celebrated its One Millionth guest last Friday. Open just nine months, the milestone shows the brisk pace of NYC's tourism recovery. The lucky One Millionth Guest at SUMMIT received a $5,000 cash prize, in partnership with TD Bank, a private guided tour, and a memorable journey in Ascent, the world’s largest external glass elevator—soaring 1,200 feet above Midtown Manhattan.
LINKS OF INTEREST
NYC
- Jackie Robinson Museum finally opens
- Wait, LaGuardia is nice now?
- Russ & Daughters, Maialino, Mermaid Inn reopening
- Popular Japanese store Daiso opens first Manhattan location
HOTELS
- Ritz-Carlton's second New York hotel new open
- RIU Hotel now open In Times Square
- Radio Hotel now open in Washington Heights
- Historic Hudson Hotel to be converted to apartments
- Hotel Carter to be reborn
- Hourly hotel Liberty Inn to end its run
- Hilton has raised its 2022 profit forecast on strong travel demand
- Marriott reports big rebound for group travel along with continued leisure boom
- Overall hotel recovery continues
BEYOND NYC
- Will inflation stunt travel spending rush?
- Experiential travel and revisits top list of US travel priorities
- Micro-cation trend emerging this summer
- No evidence monkeypox will inhibit travel
CLOSING TIME
- Central Park Boathouse shutting down after brief reopening
- Danny Meyer passes the torch at Union Square Hospitality Group
CITY GUIDE CONCIERGE NIGHTS
City Guide concierge nights are back in full force, including a recent outing to Amateur Night at The Apollo. City Guide's Eli Marcus, hotel friends, and Billy “Apollo” Mitchell, historian and tour director of The Apollo for many decades, are pictured here.