As we come down the homestretch on 2021 we are feeling thankful at City Guide. Thankful for the return of international tourists. Thankful for vaccines and the new treatments that will allow us to come together again. Thankful for governmental support and its promotion of our city. Most of all we are thankful for our colleagues and all our loyal partners. As we reflect with friends and family this weekend, we will feel grateful we have such a strong, vibrant community in New York City tourism, one that has better times ahead on the near horizon. 

It's been a little over a week since international tourists were allowed back in and already we're starting to see the impacts. One promising note in an article on big bets by midtown restaurateurs is a report of a sushi counter already fully booked through Christmas—and that's at a place that just opened! It's all thanks to international travelers.

In tandem with the reopening of U.S. borders to international travelers, New York City sees another sure sign of tourism’s return with new print versions of New York’s Original City Guide magazine. The new editions coincide with City Guide’s 40th anniversary, a run that has seen the publication become the largest and most widely distributed tourist magazine in the biggest city in the nation. In a media environment that has seen so many publications turn to digital-only or shutter altogether, the resilience of City Guide’s print presence is all the more impressive.

If you’re visiting New York from a more suburban or perhaps even rural area, the way transportation works in the city can feel foreign. The transportation system in New York is different from pretty much all others in America.

On November 8 international travelers will be eligible to return. Already, international searches on U.S. travel are spiking. The CDC has just released its latest guidance and it clears holiday gatherings and travel for the vaccinated. U.S. travel numbers were better than expected in September, reaching pandemic-era peaks, and traveler intent remains strong. The Lincoln Square BID notes foot traffic in the neighborhood has nearly doubled as arts and culture have returned. Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League, reports most of September's 77 performances were sold out or close to full. These confluences of factors bode well for an active holiday season in NYC.

As much as I’d like to dazzle you with a complete list of Broadway previews, openings and re-openings, the current roster is far from complete. Still, considering the Great White Way has been dormant for over a year and a half, the evolving influx of announcements is dramatically optimistic!

As life as we used to know it saunters back into NYC, the big news for theatre lovers is that, as of May 19th, capacity restrictions will be lifted for any number of venues, from salons, gyms, and food purveyors to museums and theatres, with Broadway coming back to life beginning this fall.

The world's smallest art masterpiece. The famous art you're probably carrying in your wallet. New York City’s unique resilience. The Behind The Experience video series discovers these and more little-known city secrets hidden inside the Museum of the City of New York.

The spate of recent changes reaffirms the city's comeback is on. In the past few days we've seen added restaurant capacity, extended closing times, and the return of movies, amusement parks, weddings, and catered events. We've also seen COVID positive rates plummet and hospitalizations remain low. A major bump in vaccines is on its way.

We are, at least, on the other side of the election. However things play out, at last being able to establish some parameters will allow our city and our industry to plan for recovery. For years we've heard an artificial emphasis on sectors like coal mining. There are 50,000 coal miners in the U.S. Tourism accounts for six times as many jobs—in New York City alone! Tourism and New York can be an accelerant for national recovery. In the links below we have several innovations and data points to that end.

For the second consecutive month, the city's unemployment rate has dropped, this time by a healthy 25%—although overall unemployment remains high, about double national averages. With tourism and hospitality curtailed, it's not surprising, although the city's low rate of COIVD transmission means more and more is reopening. Read on for the latest New York City and global tourism news.

The list of reopened cultural venues in NYC is lengthening; last week the FDNY FireZone reopened in a new space; the New Museum came back yesterday; today we add Fraunces Tavern Museum and the Society of Illustrators, and tomorrow MoMA PS1 returns. On the hotel side, the New York Marriott Downtown is open for guests again.

Not only can you get a cold or the flu, your local transit system and coronavirus also go hand-in-hand. That doesn’t mean you have to stay at home because you don’t have your own vehicle! Here are some ways you can reduce your chances of getting sick when you use public transit.

New York City is famous for its art museums, among the top places to go on a visit here. When you're planning a trip you can get a virtual preview from home of some of the amazing artwork awaiting you. From the Guggenheim to the Brooklyn Museum to a 360° tour of the Met.

Inspired by Brooklyn Museum’s new Studio 54: Night Magic exhibition, we've rounded up six activities for those of you that like to boogie. Shop for authentic disco gear, feel the groove at an Ice Disco, dance to disco music, and even visit the place where it all started.