Results tagged “nycvisit”

Last year Bloomberg announced the "first-ever global multimedia communications campaign to promote New York City," with efforts to bring in more tourism through television, outdoor advertising, internet and everything in between.

The upside to the weak U.S. dollar? NYC made $28 billion from tourists last year. The Mayor announced that tourism to NYC was at record highs, with 46 million people visiting the Big Apple. Of the 46 million tourists, 8.5 million were from other countries, which is another high. From Mayor Bloomberg's speech:

This incredible surge puts us well on our way to reaching our goal of drawing 50 million annual visitors by the year 2015. And it's helping to bolster our local businesses even as the economy is slowing down nationwide....The impact of those dollars reverberated in every sector of our economy: from our neighborhood shops and restaurants to our hotels - which sold a record 22.8 million rooms, to arts and cultural institutions. In fact, City-owned cultural institutions across the five boroughs saw a combined increase of 855,000 visitors since 2006.

If you're contemplating taking up Restaurant Week's offer of $24.07 lunches and $35 meals, but aren't sure if any restaurants are conveniently located for you, you're in luck. Reader Chad has created this map that shows all the restaurants participating. Now, good luck with trying to make a reservation!

The city's tourist arm, NYC Visit, is trying to make sure tourists don't freak out and cancel their plans, while some travelers are looking at taking the trains instead. Well, "patience" will be the mantra for any airport travelers these days - authorities are asking travelers to pack as little as possible to make things speedy. What we think is nice: The JFK Courtyard Marriott is stocking up on saline solution, toothpaste, and other liquidy beauty aids their guests might need.

As Mayor Bloomberg tries to solidify his plans to really develop the West Side, he and Senator Charles Schumer are proposing that the first two phases of the planned Javits Center expansion would be combined, which in turn would make the expansion $600 million more expensive. The only question is, who will pay that extra $600 million. This is part of the NY Times article is great:

Mayor Bloomberg said yesterday that the city would put up $200 million, or one-third, of its estimate for the second phase. But officials and industry executives said that the city may have underestimated the cost of the project; architects and engineers have not put together any serious drawings or plans.

It's hot. It's sticky. You need a cool, refreshing drink, and a non-alcoholic one because it's the middle of your work day. Gothamist suggests a chocolate egg cream, as its fizz will perk you up and its sweetness (but not too sweet) will satisfy your sweet tooth. Many swear by Brooklyn's Fox's U-Bet syrup, and the Fox's recipe says to spoon in the U-Bet syrup before adding the milk. But this might be blashphemous, as Chowhound's Jim recommends that you put the U-Bet in after the milk (almost freezing) and seltzer (siphon bottles only!) in order to avoid getting "sticky brown head instead of a fluffy white one."

It's Memorial Day in the city, and there are many events, from parades to concerts - a commemoration at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monuments in Riverside Park at 10:30AM, a parade on City Island at 2PM, a concert with Frank Sinatra Jr. at 3PM in Little Italy, and a free concert from the Philharmonic at St. John the Divine at 8PM. For more info, check out NYC Visit and go to their calendar of listings.

And Mayor Bling issued his preliminary Mayor's Management Report. The NY Times says it's pretty positive (311 calls are up, crime dropped, fire fatalities are down), but there are definitely areas to improve (number of people on foodstamps is up, fire response time in Staten Island increased). If only the Mayor could pin his reelection on public art (this MMR icon at left is from the city website). He's totally psyched - and so is most of the city, for that matter - about The Gates; at his press conference, he proclaimed:

"The Gates - the largest artwork in our City's history - will draw thousands of tourists from around the globe and add immeasurably to New York City's rich history of public art. Innovative works of art provoke debate, spark our imaginations, and help us re-define the space we live in, and The Gates will bring that experience to those who come to see it. I would like to thank Christo and Jeanne-Claude for bringing this magnificent project to our City. I invite all New Yorkers and visitors from around the world to come to Central Park over the next sixteen days to experience this once-in-a-lifetime work of art."

The NY Times spoke to the employees of hotels where delegates are staying:

A woman who works in the laundry at the W, who gave her name only as Mrs. Kelly, no relation, reported that the delegates' linens were "very, very clean." At the Park Central on West 56th Street, Martin Benjamin, a building engineer, said the delegates from Idaho, Kansas and Maryland were not putting any undue strain on the plumbing system.