NYC & COMPANYS TOURISM READY INITIATIVE COMES TO HARLEM

NYC & COMPANY’S TOURISM READY INITIATIVE
COMES TO HARLEM

— NYC & Company Leads Harlem Businesses and Attractions in
Boosting Tourism, Driving Local Spending and Job Creation —

New York City (April 2, 2015) — NYC & Company today launched its latest Harlem tourism initiative at Madiba Harlem, empowering local businesses and attractions to collaborate in order to more effectively harness the power of tour operators and boost local economic activity.

Tourism Ready, NYC & Company’s newest initiative, is inspired in part by former Borough President Marty Markowitz’s success in branding and increasing tourism to Brooklyn during his 12-year borough presidency. Now, as NYC & Company’s VP of Borough Engagement and Promotion, Markowitz is working with the destination marketing nonprofit organization to strengthen tourism to all boroughs.

“We want to make sure Harlem feels the love from tourists—specifically in their spending at local businesses and attractions!” said Markowitz. “NYC & Company’s newest initiative is going to help the neighborhood collaborate, attract more visitors and get a bigger piece of the tourism pie.”

“The city’s core in Midtown and Lower Manhattan is a tourism engine, but neighborhoods like Harlem are packed with authentic local businesses, arts, cultural institutions and more that offer wonderful – and different – experiences,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “Harlem, the site of so much history, has so much to offer visitors to our city – and I’m thrilled to work with NYC & Company to help all our neighborhoods benefit from tourism.”

For the next year, Tourism Ready will bring the expertise of NYC & Company to borough businesses and attractions. Under the guidance of Jen Ackerson, a destination marketing expert and NYC & Company consultant, those businesses will be guided through a collaborative process that enables cross promotion, packaging of goods and services, and engagement with the tourism trade to increase visitation and visitor spending locally.

Tourism Ready builds on NYC & Company’s longtime commitment to bringing the benefits of tourism to Harlem. The neighborhood is featured at nycgo.com/harlem. NYC & Company leads international media on tours of various Harlem attractions as well, increasing coverage of the borough in articles read by visitors who then include a trip to the neighborhood in their New York City itinerary.

About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is New York City’s official destination marketing nonprofit organization, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide. For more information, visit nycgo.com.

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Contact: NYC & Company / Chris Heywood 212-484-1270
           NYC & Company / Dena Libner 212-484-1270