NYC & Company Renews Agreement With Promocin Madrid During FITUR to Promote Travel Between Two Cities

1/18/12

NYC & COMPANY RENEWS AGREEMENT WITH PROMOCIÓN MADRID DURING FITUR TO PROMOTE TRAVEL BETWEEN TWO CITIES



—NYC & Company Attends FITUR in Madrid With Twelve Co-Exhibitors to Showcase NYC to International Travel Trade and Media from January 18 to 22—



—Marketing Agreement with Promoción Madrid Enters its Fifth Year



New York City (January 18, 2012)NYC & Company, the City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today renews its marketing agreement today with Madrid’s tourism board Promoción Madrid during Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) in Madrid in order to cross-promote travel between the two cities. From January 18 to 22 NYC & Company will be at FITUR with a tourism delegation to promote New York City as a top 2012 travel destination for Spanish travelers. Twelve co-exhibitors will accompany NYC & Company's tourism and communications staff in an effort to heighten New York City’s awareness amongst the international travel trade and media.



“We’re very pleased that due to our marketing efforts, we’ve increased the total amount of Spanish visitors to New York City by four percent in 2011, welcoming a total of 398,000 Spanish visitors” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “We are proud of this growth and expect to maintain its momentum in 2012 through our impactful cross-promotion efforts with Madrid.”



Recognized as the leading travel trade event for Spain, FITUR is a five-day meeting for tourism professionals to build business alliances and develop innovative strategies in response to the changing demands of the market. Last year the event attracted more than 10,400 exhibiting companies from 166 countries and regions. This year NYC & Company’s booth will include members Ar-Col Travel Arrangements, Inc.; The Broadway Collection; CTN Tours, Inc.; Harlem Spirituals; Hilton New York; InterContinental Hotels of New York; Jumeirah Essex House; The London NYC; The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Teamamerica, Receptive Tour Operator; Top of the Rock; Tour America.



NYC & Company and Promoción Madrid have worked together since 2008 to promote travel between the two cities. Their 2012 city-to-city partnership will include asset exchanges in the form of outdoor media and in-market promotions.



In 2011 New York City had an estimated 57 percent market share of all travel from Spain to the United States, welcoming approximately 398,000 Spanish visitors. A forecasted 410,000 visitors are expected to visit NYC from Spain this year. Spain currently serves as the City's seventh-largest overseas market.



New York City expects to have welcomed a record breaking total of 50.2 million visitors in 2011 generating $32 billion in visitor spending and $48 billion in economic impact. New York City reached Mayor Bloomberg’s goal to attract 50 million visitors annually to New York City a year ahead of schedule.



About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, 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:  Marjan Inbar/NYC & Company 212-484-1270