NYC & COMPANY NAMES BRONX ZOO AND BROOKLYNS NEW YORK AQUARIUM CULTURE SPOTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

NYC & COMPANY NAMES BRONX ZOO AND
BROOKLYN’S NEW YORK AQUARIUM
CULTURE SPOTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

—The Iconic New York City Sites Offer
20% Off Discounted Admission All Month Long—

New York City (August 29, 2012) — NYC & Company, New York City's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today named the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium its Culture Spot picks for September. From September 1 to 30 both attractions will offer guests 20% off any Total Experience ticket, which grants you access to all the exhibits and facilities at each destination. Designating two Wildlife Conservation Society’s parks for Culture Spot offers New Yorkers and visitors an opportunity to explore the world’s largest urban zoo and the City’s only aquarium for a discounted price. A monthly program that spotlights cultural organizations across the five boroughs, Culture Spot elevates the City’s arts community and encourages local and visitor exploration.

“With engaging exhibits and an impressive array of animals, both the Bronx Zoo and Brooklyn’s New York Aquarium provide an enjoyable experience for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “Culture Spot gives families one more reason to spend an afternoon examining the hundreds of rare species housed at the Wildlife Conservation Society parks, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of this limited-time offer.”

Bronx Zoo
The world famous Bronx Zoo covers 265-acres and re-creates the diverse natural habitats of its many animals. With more than 6,000 animals representing over 600 species from around the globe, the zoo is a destination for the entire family. World-class exhibits include a sea lion pool, African plains with lions, zebras and gazelles, and three acres of interactive kids’ activities.

Permanent exhibits include Tiger Mountain, a woodland habitat where visitors can stand nose-to-nose with Siberian tigers; JungleWorld, an Asian jungle with nearly 800 animals; and World of Reptiles, the home of frogs, turtles, Cuban crocodiles, pythons and more.

New York Aquarium
Located on the boardwalk in Coney Island, Brooklyn, the iconic attraction stands as the oldest continually operating aquarium in the United States. Covering 14 acres and housing more than 350 species of aquatic wildlife, the New York Aquarium hosts a number of year-round exhibits that invite visitors to interact with the animals, birds, reptiles and fish while learning about the importance of preserving their environments.

This September, New York Aquarium is celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Week with two weekends of games, activities and sea otter feedings and training demos, on September 22 and 23 and September 29 and 30. Permanent exhibits include a Conservation Hall where visitors can travel through three distinct aquatic life habitats—coral reefs, flooded forests and freshwater lakes; a floor-to-ceiling deep-ocean exhibit full of sharks, stingrays and turtles; and Explore the Shore, an interactive coastal exhibit with a touch pool, sea nursery and a crashing tidal wave that guests can stand under.

To take advantage of these offers between September 1 and 30, visitors can pick up a discount coupon at the Official NYC Information Centers located in Midtown Manhattan, Times Square and Harlem, or the Official NYC Information Kiosks at City Hall and in Chinatown (nycgo.com/articles/official-nyc-information-centers). Starting September 1, the coupon can also be downloaded online at nycgo.com/culturespot.

To learn more about September's Culture Spot picks, Annie Bergen will host a special podcast with representatives from the Bronx Zoo. To listen to the podcast and learn more about the Culture Spot program, visit nycgo.com/culturespot.

About Bronx Zoo:
The Wildlife Conservation Society's Bronx Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. Adult admission is $16, children (3-12 years old) $12, children under 3 are free, seniors (65+) are $14. Parking is $13 for cars and $16 for buses. The Bronx Zoo is conveniently located off the Bronx River Parkway at Exit 6; by train via the #2 or #5 or by bus via the #9, #12, #19, #22, MetroNorth, or BxM11 Express Bus service (from Manhattan that stops just outside the gate.) To plan your trip, visit www.bronxzoo.com or call 718-367-1010.

About New York Aquarium:
Wildlife Conservation Society's New York Aquarium opens every day of the year at 10am, and closing times vary seasonally. Admission is $14.95 for adults, $10.95 for children ages 3-12 and $11.95 for senior citizens (65 and older); children under 3 years of age are admitted free. Fridays after 3pm, admission is by suggested donation. The Aquarium is located on Surf Avenue at West 8th Street in Coney Island.  For directions, information on public events and programs, and other Aquarium information, call 718-265-FISH or visit our web site at http://www.nyaquarium.com. Now is the perfect time to visit and show support for the New York Aquarium, Brooklyn's most heavily attended attraction and a beloved part of the City of New York.

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.

About the NYC & Company Foundation:
The NYC & Company Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization whose mission is to support tourism to New York City by promoting the arts and cultural organizations that make visiting New York City a special and exciting experience. Since its inception in 1999, the Foundation has focused on educating domestic and international audiences about the vibrant and diverse cultural community throughout New York City.

-30-

Contact: Emily Mayrath 212-484-1270