Dear Friends and Partners,
After nearly 20 months, the United States officially reopened its borders on November 8 to fully vaccinated travelers from 33 countries including China, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom and much of Europe. International travelers can now enter the US without needing to quarantine, provided they have proof of vaccination and a negative viral test. Please continue to refer to the CDC website for the most current and comprehensive air travel requirements.
To commemorate this historic moment for the global travel and tourism industry, NYC & Company held a celebratory event at the Empire State Building welcoming top media back into the City. Joining NYC & Company to honor the occasion were Empire State Building Observatory President Jean-Yves Ghazi, British Airways Chairman and CEO Sean Doyle, British Consulate General Emma Wade-Smith, as well as special guest, actress-entrepreneur Blake Lively.
In keeping with global activities, earlier this month, our Convention Sales team and members attended IMEX America in Las Vegas, where they held one-on-one appointments, in-booth group presentations and an NYC & Company client event. We are excited to see the quick return of group activity and to be with our partners in the trade.
We also continue to celebrate the fall season with exciting programs and events. On November 7, the TCS New York City Marathon returned for the first time since 2019. Around 30,000 people participated in the 50th running of the race. And for those visiting during the Thanksgiving break, the lineup for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was just announced ahead of the November 25 festivities. The holiday season is a great time for delegates to enjoy these events before or after their meetings.
The full return of international visitation and face-to-face meetings and live events are major milestones in New York City’s tourism recovery. We thank you again for your continued support and resilience as we come out of this crisis together.
As always, our team is ready to assist with all of your planning questions and can walk you through NYC’s latest reopening information. Here is the latest out of NYC:
As part of its $1.5 billion expansion, the Javits Center’s new 200,000-square-foot rooftop event space is now complete. It includes a glass-enclosed pavilion, outdoor terrace and a one-acre working farm, which is expected to generate up to 40,000 pounds of produce each year. This builds on the success of the convention center’s robust sustainability program, which includes an existing 6.75-acre green roof that serves as a habitat for area wildlife. The expansion project has added 1.2 million square feet of total event-related space, which will help draw new events to NYC and generate economic activity. The SALT conference, which recently took place, was the first event to utilize the expansion and its rooftop.
It’s Time to Make It NYC: New York City has always been happening, but this is a moment you don’t want to miss. As the world’s most versatile destination for meetings, the City offers more options than ever to bring your event to life—like in-person and hybrid options, new and revamped venues, myriad exciting experiences for attendees and rigorous health and safety protocols. Start planning your next meeting now.
Spotlighting the wide variety of Latino businesses and cultural offerings in NYC, our Latino Experience content hub presents guides to neighborhoods and cultures around the five boroughs. A recently released three-minute video lives on the main page. Through interviews with local business owners in Mott Haven, Ridgewood, East Harlem, Washington Heights, Sunset Park and more, the video celebrates the City’s Latino community.
We recently launched a content package that highlights seven new shows on Broadway written by Black playwrights. In a historic moment for Black voices and stories, we take a look at some of the plays and playwrights, which you can explore at the link below.
New York City continues to be an ideal host destination for your clients. Our webinars discuss the reasons and ways to Make It NYC. In our most recent webinar, It’s Time for Business – Fall 2021 Hotel Refresh, we discuss what’s new in NYC and the significance of it to the travel and tourism industry. Click the link below to view the full video, originally broadcast October 21.
Keep your NYC product current with our What’s Open in NYC hub, which features the latest resource on business hours and services. Events are ready to be hosted now by NYC’s venues.
Recently Reopened
- Distrikt Hotel New York City, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
- Hilton Garden Inn New York/West 35th Street
- Kixby
- Hotel Belleclaire
- Hyatt Grand Central New York
- Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Times Square
- Royalton Park Avenue
New Hotels
- November 10–13: National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners (Cincinnati, OH)
- November 14–17: FICP Annual Conference (Phoenix, AZ)
- November 30–December 2: IBTM Barcelona
- December 2: Radio City FAM (NYC)
- December 7–9: IAEE Expo Expo (Philadelphia, PA)
- December 13–15: Holiday Showcase (Chicago, IL)
- December 14–16: AMEX InterAction (Atlantic City, NJ)
Stay Plugged In to All Things Meetings in NYC
- Find planning inspiration, venue updates and more at nycgo.com/makeitnyc.
- Want a speedy response for your RFP? Remember to check the “copy supplier” box and choose NYC & Company when sending an RFP on CVENT. With expertise and the ability to ensure timely replies from our hotel and venue partners, the team is ready to help you.
- Tell your colleagues about this newsletter! Encourage them to sign up.
- Follow us on LinkedIn.
Our Convention Sales team welcomes its newest team member, Martha Palacios, as Senior Director, International MICE, covering Canada, Latin America and Europe. Martha has been a sales leader in the NYC hospitality community for over 20 years and looks forward to working with you to bring your next meeting to the City.
The NYC & Company team is here to assist you plan your future successful meeting or event. Start the process today by contacting a member of our team or email conventionsales@nycgo.com.