Entertainment, Featured, NY Environment, NY News, Restaurants, Shimmie Horn, Tourism, Transportation, Triumph Hotels

How to Help NYC’s Tourism Rebound This Holiday Season

2020 presented many paths to virtue and kindness; simple acts, once considered frivolous, took on added aspects of virtue. Staying home was how we helped ease the burden for healthcare workers and frontline responders. Social distancing kept our family and loved ones safe. Ordering dinner was a way to support a struggling local eatery.  And as the year winds down, New York City’s tourism industry is encouraging residents to plan a “staycation,” including overnight accommodations at hotels, and safe visits to museums and venues.

Places like the Empire State Building, the September 11 Memorial Museum, and the Met are open with modified visitation regulations. In the past, New Yorkers tended to avoid these places, particularly during the holiday season, because of the long lines and overload of tourists. But now, city dwellers have the chance to explore the best of New York, learn about local attractions, and support city-run businesses.

Another good way to take in the Big Apple this season is on Big Bus Tour New York’s double-decker buses. The open-top transportation is both COVID-safe and an effective way to see over 40 famous locations.

The buses have been equipped with plexiglass dividers to protect employees and passengers; capacity is limited to 30 passengers. All riders are required to wear face masks and seating is designed to adhere to social-distancing regulations.

Entertainment, Shimmie Horn, Tourism, Transportation

New Bookings for NYC Hotels

For over six months, New York City’s hotels have seen business slow and cease almost entirely. Since the initiation of mandatory lockdown, only 90 of New York’s 650 hotels remained open, primarily as lodgings for emergency workers and service providers. The city’s tourism bureau, NYC & Company, though is also tracking a change as people begin emerging from their protective pods. Through the All In NYC: Staycation campaign, the company is targeting locals and nearby residents looking for a change of scenery.

It seems, for now, that the campaign is working. The individuals and families booking the rooms are not typical tourists and business travelers; they are suburban dwellers who are bored, need a break from the home they have been stuck in since March, and those looking to celebrate something special. Some couples, who have chosen to elope instead of postponing their wedding to a post-pandemic date, are making reservations as part of a pseudo-honeymoon.

Environment, Fundraising, NY Environment, NY News, Tourism, Transportation, Tribeca

Koalas Invade NYC

Koalas are not just in New York’s zoos anymore. More than a few plush koalas have been affixed to landmarks across the borough as part of a cute campaign encouraging locals and tourists to donate to WIRES, the Australian wildlife rescue effort.

stuffed koalas across NYC and London

These fuzzy, flat-nosed creatures were placed by the New York office of Melbourne media outfit Cummins & Partners (as KoalasofNYC) in places like the Brooklyn Bridge, Tribeca, Central Park fences and benches, Soho, subway platforms, light poles, and fire stations. Each koala has a QR code printed on a tag that directs people to the fundraising page and reminds curious bypassers about the environmental and wildlife crisis in the wake of the 2019-20 brushfires. Koalas were also placed around London for the same purpose.

Entertainment, Environment, Fitness, NY News, Restaurants, Technology, Tourism

Latte & Laundry

Vacationing in New York City is always fun. But sometimes the real-life chores like laundry and groceries can confound even the most seasoned traveler.

The Celsious laundromat in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, is changing all of that. Sisters Corinna and Theresa Williams opened the new laundromat-café combination, It is a warm, friendly, environmentally-aware space where New Yorkers and tourists can relax, enjoy a coffee, and grab some food.

The laundry is customer and community focused, with regular open-to-the-public events held in the bright, airy, well decorated venue. Upstairs, in the mezzanine, the Clean Café offers an enticing café menu. With an outdoor sitting area in the garden, customers can catch some quiet outdoor time while waiting for the rinse cycle to end. The food is prepared by a nutritionist- chef and the coffee is roasted by Caffe Vita, a roaster committed to working with farmers practicing sustainable agriculture. Celsious washers and dryers feature energy-efficient technology.

grab a latte while your laundry gets done
Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Tourism

New York is No Joke(r)

The blockbuster movie “Joker” hit theaters in October. And while the Oscar buzz about the film continues to circulate, the stairs in the movie are emerging as a new New York City tourist attraction.

The stairs connect Shakespeare and Anderson avenues at West 167th Street in the Bronx.

Be like Joker in New York City

Just like no trip to Philadelphia would be complete without a visit to the “Rocky” stairs, your next visit to New York should include at least a few instagrammable shots at Joker’s steps. While in the Bronx you can also visit the famous Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden.

Chandler Hotel, Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Tourism, Transportation, Triumph Hotels

New York Through Instagram’s Lense

New York City is full of noteworthy places to take fun and beautiful pictures. With so many quaint corners and iconic buildings, it is no wonder that Big Apple has so many Instagram-worthy spots for any visitor. Try these top picks:

#1: #GrandCentral—  Not all train stations are created equal. Grand Central Terminal is an international architectural beauty known for its glorious façade and remarkable main lobby.

#2: #FlatIronBuilding—the building, shaped like a common household appliance, was designed in 1902 by architect Daniel Burnham and remains one of Manhattan’s most memorable landmarks to this day.

#3: #DUMBO—an acronym for the Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass (DUMBO), this history-filled ex-warehouse neighborhood is now home to art galleries and artisanal coffee shops.

#4: #TheOculus—standing where the 9/11 attacks occurred, The Oculus is a transport hub and the new World Trade Center. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the building is an impressive and significant site for Insta stories.

#5: #WallStreet – get up close and personal with the legendary Charging Bull or just walk around the cobblestone streets.

#6: #NYPublicLibrary—continuing on the animal-sightings, come snap a picture with the celebrated Library Lions standing guard outside the third largest library in the world.

Between photo shoots, whether you are looking for a place to sleep or a place to eat, you should check out any of the Triumph Hotels or Hotel Chandler in Manhattan. Luxurious amenities alongside personalized service make them the perfect option on an instagramable tour of New York. Chic, trendy, and tasteful, these hotels are great for tourists or veteran New Yorkers.

Entertainment, Featured, Frederick Hotel, Iroquois Hotel, NY News, Shimmie Horn, The Edison Hotel, The Evelyn, Tourism, Washington Jefferson Hotel

Summer of 2019: Record Tourism in NYC

Times Square, New York City

Nearly 67 million people came to New York City in the summer months of 2019. That is close to two million more visitors than in 2018. It is also the 10th consecutive year of rising tourism according to Fred Dixon, the chief executive of NYC & Company, the city’s tourism marketing agency.

The surge in New York tourism is likely due to several high profile events, including the NYC Film Festival, WorldPride celebration, City Farm Summer, and others. The reopening of the Museum of Modern Art this month will also draw visitors to the city, Mr. Dixon said.

Those visiting the city are looking to have a good time. They want top-tier accommodations, prime experiences, and reasonable prices. As New York continues to offer a wide range of exciting opportunities, from the culinary to the cultural, the fashion to the fun, hotels like the Edison in Times Square, or the Washington Jefferson Hotel in the theater district and the Iroquois in Midtown offer ideal hospitality close to all the action. Hotel owner Shimmie Horn works hard to ensure that all guests enjoy all that New York City has to offer.