In 2018, New York City received 65 million visitors, 330,000 of which were from the Middle East.

NYC & Company’s managing director Makiko Matsada Healy said that there is always something new in New York, therefore, even for repeat visitors, with five boroughs (The Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island), visitors will always find something different to explore.   

This month, Edge, set to be the tallest outdoor observation deck in the western hemisphere, will open in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards development. The pioneering design includes a partially see-through floor and angled glass walls that let visitors take in the Hudson River and New York Skyline from more than 1,000 feet in the air.

Visitors to the Empire State Building can now build customised digital trip itineraries that can be emailed or access via QR code for use on any device thanks to the new NYC Above and Beyond experience, located on the attractions 80th floor and created in partnership with NYC & Company. The landmark observatory also recently added an art deco-inspired quest entrance on 34th street that offers additional space for better crowd flow as well as new second-floor museum that highlights the building history.

Both the American Museum of National History and the Metropolitan Museum of Arts will celebrate their 150th Anniversary in 2020 with special programme throughout the year.

This year, the New York Marathon that has over 50,000 people entering, will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Even if your customers don’t run, this event is a great time to be in New York as there is a lot happening around the event, especially this year.

Over 20,000 new hotel room will come online this year, including luxury brands such as Six Senses, Virgin Hotels and Nomad. NYC is investing heavily into the four International airports adding more shops, food outlets etc. This includes the 512 roomed TWA Hotel with views of JFK Airport’s runways and reignited the magic of Eero Saarinen’s landmark 1962 TWA Flight Centre.

New York’s two cruise terminals have also undergone infrastructure improvements. Getting around the city too is easy, including NYC Ferry service, which will add Coney Island in 2021.

New York has free wi-fi hotspots available at the LinkNYC kiosks popping up on sidewalks all over town.

NYC website NYCgo.com includes a travel trade section NYCgo.com/travel-trade which will assist the trade in packaging New York and also help become a NYC destination expert. You can also email them direct to get a list of halal-compliant & shisha-serving restaurants.

NYC’s partners at this workshop were Alliance for Down Town New York, Lotte New York Palace and The Pierre, A Taj Hotel.