"Accelerating NYC's Tourism Recovery"
A Center for an Urban Future Policy Symposium

Replay of the event
Event materials

Reviving New York’s tourism sector is one of the city’s top economic challenges, given that so many of the industries still suffering major job losses since the start of the pandemic are those most affected by the decline in tourists. While there are encouraging signs that New York’s vital tourism sector is on the road to recovery, the city is still short millions of visitors compared to its pre-pandemic peak—including a significant share of higher-spending international tourists—and experts project that visitation won’t return to 2019 levels until 2024. 

This forum offered an ideas-focused discussion about what more city and state leaders can do to accelerate New York City's tourism recovery. Although several important initiatives have been launched by NYC & Company and others to promote New York and spur a tourism rebound, the forum explored other specific actions that city and state leaders, tourism agencies, and economic development officials could take to supercharge New York’s tourism recovery, ensure the economic benefits are widely shared, and lay the groundwork for a stronger tourism economy in the future.

Speakers included:

• Fred Dixon, President & CEO, NYC & Company
• Nikoa Evans, Executive Director, Harlem Park to Park; Co-Founder, Harlem Festival of Culture
• Peter Madonia, Chairman, Belmont Business Improvement District; Former Chief of Staff, Mayor Michael Bloomberg 
• Anthony Ramirez II, Co-owner, Bronx Beer Hall & From The Bronx
• Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, New York City Hospitality Alliance
• Tim Tompkins, Principal, SharedCitySharedSpace; Former President, Times Square Alliance

A video of the full discussion is available here.

This symposium was made possible through generous support from United and Airbnb. We are also grateful for general support from The Clark Foundation, the Bernard F. and Alva B. Gimbel Foundation, the Altman Foundation, and ongoing support from a number of other philanthropic funders.