New York City sets tourism records in 2017

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New York City welcomed 13.1 million international visitors in 2017, an all-time high. In total, 62.8 million tourists arrived in the city last year, a growth of nearly four percent and a record-breaking number for the eighth consecutive year.

“We’re keeping our door to the world open,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement. “Even with all the headwinds from the White House, we attracted a record number of visitors to our city. That’s a testament to the strength of our tourism sector and the values of our city.”

Delivering a welcoming message to the world

Facing geopolitical challenges, NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organisation, launched two campaigns in 2017 which helped position NYC as a must-visit destination. NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon said the campaigns reaffirmed the city’s ‘commitment to being an open and welcoming global capital.’

“The strength from our Asia and South American markets helped offset drops in our traditional European core markets,” Dixon explained. “At the same time, the City continued its constant trend of reinvention, always offering countless reasons to visit and discover all that our five boroughs only can offer, both iconic and new.”

 

Tourism development strengthens into 2018

NYC also sold record 36.4 million hotel room nights in 2017. The city has the most active hotel development pipeline in the United States. Even with the 4,000 new rooms added to the city’s hotel inventory last year, demand remained strong. Robust development in the tourism sector is important for the city. In 2018, NYC & Company says it anticipates a 3.7 percent increase to 65.1 million visitors.

Freehand Hotels, a WYSE Travel Confederation member, is helping to support the anticipated growth. The 395-room Freehand NYC hotel opened in the Flat Iron district near Gramercy Park at the beginning of this year.

“We’re delighted to be contributing additional inventory to support the continued growth in tourism to NYC,” said Martyn Milford, Global

Director of Sales & Marketing for Freehand. “Freehand NYC has opened with great support from the city of Manhattan and to immense interest from groups looking to experience all that NYC has to offer.”

Freehand NYC delivers a range of room sizes and setups offering five categories of accommodation. Guests can choose from Queen rooms to private bunk bedded rooms to share with friends and colleagues that can accommodate three or four guests. Milford explained that all the Freehand NYC room types include ensuite facilities and guests benefit from the unrivalled property location in central Manhattan.

“We’re very proud to have the ability to accommodate all manner of groups on all budgets, thanks to our room configuration which makes staying in central NYC much more accessible to every type of traveller and budget,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to continuing to support the city and to continued growth in tourism to NYC in 2018 and beyond. We believe everybody should have the opportunity to experience all that this wonderful city that never sleeps has to offer.”