NYC & COMPANY FOUNDATION HONORS NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB AND CARNIVAL CORPORATION AT VISIONARIES & VOICES GALA
NYC & COMPANY FOUNDATION HONORS NEW YORK CITY FOOTBALL CLUB, CARNIVAL CORPORATION AND CARNIVAL CEO ARNOLD DONALD AT VISIONARIES & VOICES GALA
— More than 350 Attended the Annual Travel and Tourism Awards Event, Which Raised Funds To Support Cultural Tourism—
New York City (December 9, 2015) – The NYC & Company Foundation honored New York City Football Club, Carnival Corporation and its CEO, Arnold Donald, for their commitment to and support of New York City tourism at its annual travel and tourism awards gala, held at Cipriani 25 Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
Visionaries & Voices was attended by more than 350 guests. The event was emceed by Charl Brown, 2013 Tony Award nominee and originator of the role of “Smokey Robinson” in Broadway’s Motown the Musical. It was recently announced that Charl will reprise his role in the West End production of Motown, opening in London in the spring of 2016.
Carnival Corporation is one of the largest travel and leisure companies in the world. Its 10 global cruise line brands—which include Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard and Holland America Line—attract nearly 11 million guests annually. The global company makes a unique contribution to New York City’s vitality as a destination: with six of its brands sailing in and out of Manhattan and Brooklyn, their guests often stay in the City and explore it before and after their cruises. As a result, Carnival Corporation plays a valuable role in visitor exploration and spending in New York City.
As Carnival Corporation CEO since July 2013, Arnold W. Donald has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Carnival Corporation & plc since July 2013. He has also been a director of Carnival Corporation since 2001 and a director of Carnival plc since 2003.
New York City Football Club just completed its first Major League Soccer season and is the first and only Major League Soccer club located within the five boroughs of New York City. Its addition to New York City’s impressive roster of professional sports teams strengthens the City as a destination for soccer tourism for the millions of fans of the world’s biggest and favorite sport.
“Carnival Corporation and the New York City Football Club have helped create a destination with world-class dynamism and character,” said Fred Dixon, President and Chair of NYC & Company Foundation. “Thanks to them, New York City is a more appealing and vibrant city; we look forward to joining them in welcoming guests and sports fans to enjoy and explore New York City for years to come.”
“The excellence and continual evolution of our City’s rich cultural landscape is integral to its enduring appeal to visitors and value to residents,” said Emily Rafferty, Chair of the NYC & Company Board of Directors. “The investment of leaders like New York City Football Club and Carnival Corporation adds to an extraordinary mosaic of experiences unique to New York City, as well as to the strength of our City’s economy and quality of life for New Yorkers.”
“It’s a great honor for our club to be recognized in what has been an incredibly special first year as New York City’s newest professional team,” said Tom Glick, New York City FC President. “New York is a legendary sports town, and we are building a club that will make New Yorkers proud and give soccer fans from around the world another reason to visit this great city.”
“On behalf of all 120,000 employees at Carnival Corporation, I am honored to accept this Visionaries & Voices award in recognition of our leadership and contributions to the economic growth of New York City,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “We have been operating out of New York for almost 200 years, so we have a very special relationship with and deep roots in the City. Today, six of our 10 global cruise brands sail to and from the Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals, contributing a positive influence on the City’s economy. We are proud of our heritage and role in helping promote a vibrant travel and tourism industry, and we look forward to our continued collaboration with NYC & Company and many business partners in the City.”
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York. NYC & Company Foundation is the affiliated charitable organization whose cultural tourism, audience education and outreach projects help sustain the extraordinary nonprofit cultural communities of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. The annual Visionaries & Voices gala is NYC & Company Foundation’s principal source of funding.
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Contact: NYC & Company / Chris Heywood 212-484-1270
NYC & Company / Dena Libner 212-484-1270