Tourism News Articles
Broadway Drops Mask Mandate and Other NYC Tourism News
The Biden administration has lifted the Covid testing requirement for international travelers, which was a drag on tourism—a recent U.S. Travel survey found 54% of international travelers were less likely to visit the U.S. due to the mandate. Nationally, an additional 5.4 million visitors and $9 billion in spending are expected over and above current numbers in just the next six months thanks to the ruling.
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NYC Tourism Back at 90% of Pre-COVID Levels
The Times recently looked at Times Square as a linchpin of NYC's recovery. Some days last month saw foot traffic volume higher than the same day in 2019. The April numbers show average daily foot traffic up 113% over last year and 758% over 2020. It's not just midtown. The latest from the Meatpacking District notes over 325,000 weekly visitors since April, versus just 100,000 visitors for the same period last year. Eight 2022 weeks have already surpassed 2021's busiest week, with the summer yet to come.
NYC Tourism Latest
The latest data suggests summer travel will not be impacted by the BA.2 variant. A new Longwoods International tracking study shows high gas and flight prices are influencing planning much more than Covid concerns. Demand remains high, with 90% of respondents reporting travel plans for the next six months, back to pre-pandemic levels. Covid's influence is at its lowest since it arrived as the shift from pandemic to endemic continues. NYC may even take some advantage from pressures like inflation, declines in the markets, and rebounding demand, as they may make overseas travel more difficult to realize.
From Chops to Chopsticks at Brooklyn Chop House in Times Square
For pre-Broadway dining with a sense of occasion, you'll find steaks, cocktails, and Chinese favorites at Brooklyn Chop House.
2022 Women In Tourism Award Honorees Celebrated
Over 200 tourism industry professionals came together to celebrate 17 honorees at Davler Media’s City Guide and American Airlines's 2022 Women In Tourism Awards luncheon. The event was held at Sony Hall with Brittney Johnson, currently starring as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked, as the emcee. The honorees were selected by a panel of 10 distinguished tourism industry professionals who reviewed 200 submissions of highly qualified and accomplished nominees. All of these individuals have contributed to creating outstanding visitor experiences.
Times Square Tourism Bounces Back
Group bookings are stronger than expected and retail has bounced back as tourists return to Times Square. Canadians will be returning as visitors as well, as they're demonstrating an extraordinary pent-up demand" for NYC.
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Business Travel Bounce Back for NYC
You can see tourism's return in the streets of NYC and data supports it, particularly on the business travel front.
2022 NYC Tourism Forecast
Tourists are returning in big numbers. There is real optimism about tourist spending levels growing and eventually returning to pre-pandemic levels. The Times notes that bars and clubs are reporting huge lines now that mask requirements have been lifted. Confidence in events at NYC venues is rising faster than expected.
Hotel Occupancy Up: NYC Tourism Latest
City Guide's distribution team has spent the past few days fielding a higher volume of "more maps, more magazine copies" requests from hotel desks than since before the pandemic. The news from the Hotel Association of New York City is excellent, with the week of March 6th-12th reflecting the highest occupancy numbers since the holidays, with Saturday spiking up to 80% full.
Spring Break Bookings Soaring and Other NYC Tourism Notes
Spring break bookings are soaring, with air travel up, and New York City in the top 10 of most-desired destinations.
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NYC Relaxes Vaccination Proof Requirements and Other Tourism Notes
The relaxation of city mask and vax rules on Monday will continue to lift tourism's already rising tides. City Guide monitors the distribution of our print magazines every day and reports from the ground have been very promising—occupancy rates at 81%, 91%, and 97% at three higher end midtown hotels that distribute a large number of our guides. For the week that ended on Saturday, NYC occupancy rates were 61% overall, the highest since Omicron showed up. (The subway just recorded its highest number of riders since Omicron as well.)
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NYC Tourism Latest 2022
We are reminded again this week that the world can change in a moment. Deplorable Russian aggression is rattling global stability, but Ukrainian courage is also providing inspiration. Closer to home, the announcement of the relaxation of mask requirements and other Covid mitigation policies will result in an accelerated reopening of the city, already visible at the Broadway box office, where both grosses and capacity (92%!) continue to trend upward.
NYC Tourism Update
"Barring some new setback, the much-awaited shift in mindset among American travelers from 'pandemic' to 'endemic' travel finally may be underway,” says Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International, on the release of the latest survey data showing rising traveler confidence. “We are moving beyond the pandemic,” echoes Roger Dow, CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. All the data we're seeing at City Guide reinforces 2022's major potential.
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NYC Tourism Leaders Share Spring Outlook for City
On February 3rd, industry leaders gathered for a Tourism Marketing Forum hosted by City Guide to share market data and projections.
Omicron Down 95% in NYC: Latest Tourism Update
Omicron cases in NYC are down 95% from their peak just a few weeks ago. Mayor Adams highlighted the progress, including NYC staying 11% ahead of the national vaccination rate. The major credit card companies have weighed in on travel's recovery. AmEx reported “tremendous momentum” for travel at the turn of the year; Mastercard expects cross-border travel to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2022. At City Guide, we are recording a 35% increase in UK visitors to our website, January compared to December.
Tourism Update NYC
The World Health Organization on Monday announced an expectation for the end of the "emergency phase" of the pandemic. Omicron will be leaving behind high levels of immunity as it ebbs. In addition, WHO called for all Covid-related travel restrictions to be lifted. This weekend, Dr. Anthony Fauci said he expects most states to reach peak Omicron by mid-February. NYC is already ahead of that timetable. The positivity rate in New York is barely one-third what it was just a couple of weeks ago.
Omicron Decline in NYC to Boost Tourism
The massive drop in the city's Omicron cases is as welcome as it is expected, conforming to other nations' experiences—and strongly suggesting that the worst is behind us. In just one week we've seen NYC positive tests dive from 20% down to 12.9%. After nearly a month, the MTA is resuming full subway service. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian is banking on steep drops in Covid and anticipating a return to profits in March. Tellingly, Delta sees no adverse effects past the Presidents' Day weekend for U.S. bookings.
Omicron Update for NYC Tourism
Data from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene suggests that Omicron has peaked in NYC. Positive tests and emergency room visits are both diving down, with the Bronx seeing a drop of 35% in cases requiring hospitalization. Governor Hochul notes the decrease and is considering letting the statewide mask mandate lapse February 2nd. Washington Post charts show Omicron's dramatically lower severity. Given the strong parallels to South Africa's experience with Omicron, we join the Governor in optimism that February will bring vastly improved conditions for city activities.
NYC Latest Tourism News
As we wrap up 2021, we look back at a year full of challenges, but also a time with many green shoots of growth—the return of Broadway, the return of international travelers, the return of New York City tourism. Even in the context of the Omicron variant, there remains plenty of supporting data indicating an ongoing return for New York City. Despite the high-profile Broadway cancellations of the last few days, and the early end of the Rockettes's run, a look at the Broadway League's new resource for schedules shows the majority of shows going forward as planned. (And grosses have been up, while capacity holds steady.)
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Holiday Tourism News for NYC
The major question for tourism right now is whether Omicron is another Delta—suppressing travel and spending—or whether this variant will prove to be a milder version with less effect on New York City. Early reports are favorable from a tourism perspective.
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NYC Is the #1 U.S. Holiday Tourism Destination and Other News
It's been another roller coaster news cycle for New York tourism. Omicron looks to be more contagious, but also more mild, so there's reason it think it won't be as disruptive as Delta. Travel restrictions were placed on parts of Africa, but it looks like they'll be lifted soon. The CDC has tightened Covid testing requirements for international travelers, but polls show Omicron fears won't significantly affect travel.
Omicron and the Latest for NYC Tourism
The city was hopping for Thanksgiving, with 8,000 participants in the parade and hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the streets to take in the action. Although the markets (and many others) have been spooked by Omicron, real data is still two weeks away and there's nothing to indicate the variant will be a game changer. In the meantime, the CDC will likely tighten up testing requirements for foreign travelers—hopefully there won't be the need to add the self-isolation period that the U.K. has just adopted. New York is taking precautions but the general guidance to get vaccinated and boosted synchs up with the city's approach—our numbers remain much stronger than the state and the nation (as the Post notes, 97% percent of Queens adults and 94% of Manhattan adults are vaccinated, followed by the Bronx, Staten Island, and Brooklyn with vaccination rates of 86.4%, 84.4%, and 82.9% respectively).
NYC Tourism News Ahead of the Holidays
As we come down the homestretch on 2021 we are feeling thankful at City Guide. Thankful for the return of international tourists. Thankful for vaccines and the new treatments that will allow us to come together again. Thankful for governmental support and its promotion of our city. Most of all we are thankful for our colleagues and all our loyal partners. As we reflect with friends and family this weekend, we will feel grateful we have such a strong, vibrant community in New York City tourism, one that has better times ahead on the near horizon.
International Travelers Return to NYC and Other Tourism News
It's been a little over a week since international tourists were allowed back in and already we're starting to see the impacts. One promising note in an article on big bets by midtown restaurateurs is a report of a sushi counter already fully booked through Christmas—and that's at a place that just opened! It's all thanks to international travelers.
International Travelers Return to NYC and Other City Tourism News
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.