Things to do in New York

New York City officials are turning to gays and lesbians to help reduce a projected $4 billion budget deficit.

The nation's largest city unveiled a marketing campaign to attract more gay and lesbian tourists from around the country and the world as other U.S. cities compete to strip New York of its title of No. 1 vacation destination for gays and lesbians.

The Rainbow Pilgrimage campaign comes as state and city officials grapple with diminishing revenue resulting from the global economic meltdown, which is forcing many people to forgo leisure travel plans or take so-called staycations near home.

The campaign kickoff also comes months in advance of the June 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in Manhattan, considered the start of the modern gay liberation movement.

"This is a tough time for New York City's budget," said openly gay City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who made the announcement with Council Member Rosie Mendez and city tourism officials. Quinn noted that 20 percent to 25 percent of the city's revenue comes from Wall Street, which remains in turmoil.

An estimated 47 million people visited the city last year, a record high that generated $30 billion in spending, also a record over 2007's $28.9 billion, according to according to the mayor's office. Gays and lesbians accounted for about 10 percent of those figures.

But state officials are predicting a decline this year in the city's tourism industry.

The new campaign will highlight New York's reputation as a gay-friendly travel destination and tout a visit to the city as a "rite of passage rite of passage". The campaign will include advertising on niche Web sites and in magazines, as well as bus stop shelters, utility poles, street furniture, telephone kiosks and railroad stations.

The NYC & Company nonprofit that handles marketing and tourism for the city is working with Travelocity.com and numerous hotels, restaurants and Broadway theaters to offer discounts. George Fertitta, the organization's chief executive, said the announcement was made months before the Stonewall anniversary in late June to give potential tourists time to make plans.

The NYC & Company spent $190,000 in city taxpayer money on the campaign but estimates that, through partnerships with advertising agencies, its value reaches nearly $2 million.

Overall, New York City remains the top leisure and business travel destination for gays and lesbians followed closely by Las Vegas and San Francisco, California, said David Paisley, a senior projects manager at Community Marketing Inc., a tourism research company that specializes in gay and lesbian consumers.

"There's increasing competition from cities who are reaching out to gays and lesbians," Paisley said. "New York needs to respond or it'll lose the No. 1 position."

The annual economic impact of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender travelers is about $70.3 billion in the United States, according to Community Marketing.

"It clearly is a market that has the flexibility to travel," Fertitta said.

Article by Marcus Franklin

There are many airlines and travel agencies offering cheap flights to New York. Well known for its mix of culture and prosperity, New York has a steady number of visitors during the peak seasons and off-peak seasons mainly due to its trading businesses at Wall Street. Business meetings are a well known reason for people to set foot to New York. Catering to this need, many airlines offers special discounted rates to corporations for their travelling executives. Cheap flights to New York are easily found for domestic flights and also for international flights.

If you like big casinos, the biggest one you will find in New York State is the Seneca Niagara Casino (in Niagara).

Seneca Niagara Casino is New York State's first full-service casino featuring reel-spinning and video slot machines. Just a few blocks from world-famous Niagara Falls, the Casino is located at 310 Fourth Street.

The 112,590 square feet gaming floor houses more than 3,200 slot machines.

New York City is a photographers heaven and here are my favourite cool New York pictures.


Here are some pictures of the poinyant New York memorial lights.


On topic, I am looking to go to New York this Christmas and I would like some advice from anyone who has any recommendations of where to stay in New York. I have looked at many luxury hotels in New York but not sure which is the best location to visit all the major attractions, shopping and theatres etc. Any ideas, would really appreciate it. Thanks.

20 Cool facts about New York. Did you know that in New York City, more than 26,000 people live in each square mile? Or that the island of Manhattan was purchased from Native Americans for about $24? In fact, New York City is not only the largest city in the United States, but is made up of five separate boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, and Manhattan. If you think you know everything about the Big Apple, think again.

Here are my top 20 Interesting Facts About New York City, some you might have heard and others I guarantee you haven't.


1. Dutch explorer Peter Minuit purchased the island of Manhattan (really its southern tip) from the Algonquin tribe for trinkets and tools worth about $24.

2. The first known name for Manhattan was New Amsterdam, which referred to the southern tip of Manhattan, a Dutch trading port.

3. New York City was the U.S. capital from 1789 to 1790

4. New Yorkers travel an average of 40 minutes to work each day.

5. More than 47 percent of New York City's residents over the age of 5 speak a language other than English at home.

6. New York's Central Park is larger than the principality of Monaco.

7. The New York City Council consists of 51 members and is the legislative branch of city.

8. According to Crain's New York Business, the average sale price of an apartment in Manhattan during the 4th quarter of 2007 was a whopping $1.49 million.

9. New York's Yellow Cabs are yellow because John Hertz, the company's founder, learned from a study that yellow was the easiest color for the eye to spot. He was right.

10. The Federal Reserve Bank on New York's Wall Street contains vaults that are located 80 feet beneath the bank and hold about 25 percent of the world's gold bullion.

11. In 2007, 46 million international and domestic visitors came to New York City. They spent approximately $28 billion while there.

12. The average daily room rate in New York hotels in 2006 (the most recent year surveyed) was $267.

13. More than 250 feature films are shot on location in New York City each year.

14. An average of 4.9 million people ride the New York City subway each weekday.

15. The New York City subway system runs 26 routes with 6,200 subway cars that stop at 468 different subway stations.

16. More than 12,700 licensed medallion taxis work the streets of New York City.

17. More than 18,600 restaurants and eating establishments do business in New York City, and the average cost of a dinner in 2006, according to the Zagat Survey, was $39.43. That includes a drink, tax and the tip.

18. As of the 2000 Census, 8,008,278 people live in New York City.

19. Approximately 790,000 companies operate in New York City.

20. Although many legends exist about the origin of New York City's nickname, the Big Apple, most historians agree that it can be traced back to a writer who covered horse racing in the 1920s. In The Morning Telegraph, he wrote that stable hands often referred to New York as the Big Apple, meaning that any thoroughbred that raced in New York had reached the pinnacle of racing.


New York highlights video



For those looking for luxury hotels in New York then visit http://www.luxique.com/boutique-hotels/united-states/new-york-city/

Here are the top 10 tourist attractions in New York.

The Empire State Building
The 1,453-ft “cathedral of the skies,” opened in 1931. How could you not take the ultimate romantic trip to the top? http://www.esbnyc.com

The Statue of Liberty
Next to the flag, America’s most famous symbol for freedom, standing 151ft above New York harbor since 1886. http://www.StatueOfLiberty.org

Times Square
The exciting, vibrant, historic landmark in the heart of the city. Great shopping, eating and nightlife. http://www.timessquare.com

Central Park
An oasis offering New Yorkers and visitors a refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life. http://www.centralpark.com

Ground Zero
A solemn reminder of the events of September 11 2001 – a day that will be forever remembered in the hearts of all Americans. http://www.projectrebirth.org

United Nations
When you enter its gates, you’re actually leaving New York City, as the 18-acre site is an international territory belonging to all the member countries. http://www.un.org

Brooklyn Bridge
The iconic bridge over the East River that opened to traffic in 1883. http://www.nycroads.com/crossings/Brooklyn

Chrysler Building
The elegant, art-deco edifice considered by many to be the quintessential skyscraper design with its beautiful tapered stainless steel crown. http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Chrysler

Broadway
The Great White Way, a street synonymous with great shows and great stars. http://www.broadway.com

Ellis Island
The nation’s premier federal immigration station, through which 12 million people came to start a new life. Now a museum. http://www.nps.gov/elis