Friday, August 17, 2012

New Generation of Fans 2013 Family Concerts Celebrate Rodgers & Hart, Johnny Mercer and Stephen Schwartz

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE

Introducing the Masterpieces of American Musical Theater to a New Generation of Fans 2013 Family Concerts Celebrate Rodgers & Hart, Johnny Mercer and Stephen Schwartz  @ Merkin Concert Hall’s Broadway Playhouse series introduces children age 4-11 to classic Broadway shows through mini-musicals, medleys, sing-alongs and games in which children participate. Now in its 7th season, Broadway Playhouse has delighted both children and adults with playful presentations of musicals by Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Alan Menken and many others. This season, families will get the inside story on Rodgers & Hart, Johnny Mercer and Stephen Schwartz and discover classic musicals like Wicked, Li’l Abner and Babes in Arms.



Sun, 1/13/13, 11 am

Broadway Playhouse: Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart

One of the most successful songwriting teams in Broadway history, composer Richard Rodgers (1902-1979) and lyricist Lorenz Hart (1895-1943) collaborated for many years and wrote the musicals On Your Toes and Pal Joey. The concert features a mini-version of their 1937 classic hijinks musical Babes in Arms, which includes the songs “My Funny Valentine” and “The Lady Is a Tramp.”



Sun, 2/3/13, 11 am

Broadway Playhouse: Johnny Mercer

Lyricist Johnny Mercer (1909-1976) worked with some of America’s greatest composers in Hollywood and on Broadway – including Harold Arlen, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington and Henry Mancini. He wrote songs such as “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Moon River” as well as the Broadway shows St. Louis Woman and Li’l Abner. The show includes a mini-production of Li’l Abner, the musical based on the comic strip by Al Capp.



Sun, 3/3/13, 11 am

Broadway Playhouse: Stephen Schwartz

Stephen Schwartz is one of only two composer/lyricists to have three shows run longer than 1,500 performances on Broadway: Wicked, Godspell and Pippin. Schwartz was also involved in Disney’s classics Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame and wrote the score for Dreamworks’ Prince of Egypt. This concert will “Defy Gravity” and has lots of “Magic to Do” as we celebrate one of Broadway’s greatest living composers/lyricists.





Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center

129 W. 67th St. btw Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.

New York, NY 10023





Tickets at 212 501 3330 or kaufman-center.org/mch



Tickets

3-concert series subscription: $50

Single tickets: $20





Press Information

Joan Jastrebski

212 501 3386

joan@kaufman-center.org





Kaufman Center is New York’s creative home for listeners, learners and performers.

Founded in 1952 as a community school for pre-conservatory music training, today's Kaufman Center is home to Merkin Concert Hall; Lucy Moses School, New York’s largest community arts school; and Special Music School, a K-12 public school for musically gifted children.



Kaufman Center presentations in Merkin Concert Hall are made possible, in part, with institutional support from: Bloomberg Philanthropies, BMI Foundation Inc., The Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, The Barbara Bell Cumming Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, The Friars Foundation, Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Foundation, The Janis and Alan Menken Foundation, The Edith Meiser Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation and TD Charitable Foundation.



Presentations in Merkin Concert Hall are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, and from the New York City Council through the good offices of Councilmember Gale Brewer. Kaufman Center presentations in Merkin Concert Hall are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature. Merkin Concert Hall has also been awarded support from the National Endowment for the Arts.



Special thanks to Andrea Brown, Kara Unterberg, David Shaw, Beth Kobliner Shaw and the friend and supporters of Kaufman Center’s Theater Wing.

New-York Historical Society Reports

Madeleine Albright, Ken Follett, Charles Osgood, Robert Morgenthau, Tom Brokaw, George Lucas, and Adam Gopnik to Cast New Light On WWII During the New-York Historical Society’s Fall Film and Discussion Series




WHAT: The New-York Historical Society will present the exhibition WWII & NYC (on view October 5, 2012 – May 27, 2013), which will explore the most widespread, destructive, and consequential conflict in history through the lens of New York, telling the stories of the 800,000 New Yorkers who served and the sacrifices of those on the home front. New-York Historical will become the city’s headquarters for WWII programming this fall with a major exhibition, programs, and special displays all related to the historic event.



In conjunction with WWII & NYC, New-York Historical will host a number of public programs related to the exhibition, with highlights to include:



world-renowned novelist Ken Follett discussing his latest book, Winter of the World, with CBS Sunday News and CBS Radio anchor Charles Osgood on Tuesday, September 18 at 6:30 pm. Follett’s new novel, the second in the Century Trilogy following Fall of Giants, chronicles the experiences of five interrelated families living in a time of social, political, and economic turmoil in the 1930s and 1940s, with special focus on the events leading up to and during WWII.



a dance class with Pierre Dulaine Dancing Classrooms to learn the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, and other swing-style dances that were popular in American culture and spread widely during the WWII period on Friday, October 5 at 6 pm.



a film series presented in conjunction with the exhibition, featuring a special showing of Double Victory (2012) by George Lucas about the legendary Tuskegee Airmen of WWII, the first African-American aerial unit. George Lucas, Roscoe Brown, and Brent Staples will speak at the screening on Friday, October 26 at 7 pm.



Robert M. Morgenthau sharing his remarkable life experiences during WWII with legendary newsman Tom Brokaw on Tuesday, December 11 at 6:30 pm. The grandson of the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey at the outbreak of WWI and the son of FDR’s Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Morgenthau began his own journey to prominence on the decks of naval destroyers during WWII and later served nine terms as New York District Attorney.



The Instrument of Surrender, on view at New-York Historical from September 21–October 21, 2012. One of only twenty copies made of the United States’ signed original formal surrender document officially marking Japan’s surrender to the Allies on September 2, 1945, that ended WWII. The Instrument of Surrender was last shown in New York in 1945. Other rarely exhibited documents to be shown in rotation include Four Freedoms posters (October 10, 2012 – December 2, 2012) and a Longfellow poem (December 7, 2012 – January 1, 2013).



WHERE: The New-York Historical Society

170 Central Park West (at Richard Gilder Way, 77th Street)

New York, NY 10024



WHEN: WWII & NYC will be displayed October 5, 2012 to May 27, 2013. See dates above for public programs and rare documents on exhibition.



HOURS AND ADMISSION

Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday 10am-6pm

Friday 10am-8pm (6-8pm pay-as-you-wish)

Sunday 11am-5pm

Adults: $15

Seniors: $12

Students: $10

Kids 5-13: $5 (under 5 FREE)



About the New-York Historical Society

New-York Historical is recognized for engaging the public with deeply researched and far-ranging exhibitions, such as Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America; Slavery in New York; Nature and the American Vision: The Hudson River School at the New-York Historical Society; Grant and Lee in War and Peace; and the 2009 exhibition Lincoln and New York. Supporting these exhibitions and related education programs are one of the world’s greatest collections of historical artifacts, works of American art, and other materials documenting the history of the United States and New York.



MEDIA CONTACT

Laura Washington / New-York Historical Society

lwashington@nyhistory.org / (212) 873-3400 x263



Sarah Buffum / Arts & Communications Counselors

buffums@ruderfinn.com / (212) 715-1594

Mets complete trade with Boston

FLUSHING, N.Y., August 16, 2012 – The New York Mets today announced that righthanded pitcher Pedro Beato has been assigned on a waiver claim to the Boston Red Sox to complete the August 14 trade that brought Kelly Shoppach to New York for a player to be named later.



Beato, 25, did not receive a decision in seven games with the Mets this season. He compiled a 10.38 ERA (five earned runs/4.1 innings) with five strikeouts and two walks. He appeared in 24 games, one start, with Buffalo (AAA) of the International League, going 4-4 with a 4.14 ERA (17 earned runs/37.0 innings).

Monday, April 14, 2008

New York Public Library Unveils $1 Billion Transformation Plan



New York Public Library Unveils $1 Billion Transformation Plan



Watch the March 11th Press Conference
A Re-envisioned Library System to Meet the Needs of a Growing, Changing New York
Fifth Avenue Building Dramatically Renovated to Become Flagship Lending and Research Library, A Model for the Urban Library of the Future
Large Hub Libraries Established in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island as Anchors to Neighborhood Branches
Expanded Digital Resources Increase Access to Library Collections
$100 Million Gift From Stephen A. Schwarzman is the Largest Outright, Unrestricted Donation to a New York City Cultural Institution
(New York, NY) March 11, 2008 – At a press conference in Astor Hall attended by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Nobel laureate Toni Morrison, and many other elected officials, New York Public Library Chairman Catherine C. Marron and President Paul LeClerc today announced a transformative plan that will reach far beyond the historic marble building – the "people’s palace" – that has been at the center of New York City since 1911. The plan, which will take at least five years to realize, represents the greatest change to the New York Public Library system since its founding more than 100 years ago; it will have an impact on every one of the millions of users – children, teens, and adults from all walks of life – who come in person to the Library’s 89 locations, as well as the countless citizens of New York State and beyond who access the Library’s astonishing holdings through the Internet and who call upon the unparalleled expertise of its staff in their pursuit of knowledge.
The purpose of the plan is to transform the Library so that it can better serve a growing public, one that is accessing information in rapidly changing and diverse ways. The Library’s five-year goal is to double the number of unique users who take advantage of its rich collections, wide-ranging programs, inspirational reading rooms, and online offerings. The plan, which calls for a total investment of approximately $1 billion, was adopted by the Library’s Board following a comprehensive 18-month study by Trustees and staff.
Mrs. Marron and Dr. LeClerc also announced that Stephen A. Schwarzman has donated $100 million to the Library as the lead gift toward a newly launched fundraising campaign in support of the plan. They were joined at the Library by Mr. Schwarzman, the Chairman, CEO and co-founder of The Blackstone Group, and a Library Trustee since 2001. His gift is by far the largest single donation in the Library’s history, and, indeed, is the largest outright, unrestricted gift by an individual to any cultural organization in New York City. In acknowledgment of his extraordinary donation, the Fifth Avenue building – currently known as the Humanities and Social Sciences Library – will be renamed the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. (See below for a biography of Mr. Schwarzman.)
The major elements of the plan, described in detail below, are:
Renovate and reconfigure the historic Fifth Avenue building to add a vast, state-of-the-art lending library alongside its existing research divisions, thus creating the world’s most comprehensive library under one roof.
Build two new "Hub" libraries – in Northern Manhattan and Staten Island – with greatly expanded hours and services. These Hub libraries, modeled on the highly successful Bronx Library Center, will work in tandem with and support neighborhood libraries that offer essential services for their local communities.
Expand the Library’s online presence dramatically to make its unique holdings and programs accessible worldwide, and create new online communities led by its librarians and curators.
Strengthen the Library’s financial position by improving operational efficiencies and increasing the endowment.
"The New York Public Library is the most effective organization in this city to help people achieve their goals and improve their lives," said Chairman Marron. "Steve Schwarzman’s gift moves the Library’s plan forward in a powerful way and will have a lasting impact for generations to come."
"The world of information and ideas has changed profoundly," said Dr. LeClerc, "and the needs of library users have changed in response. In neighborhoods, on the Internet, and at the heart of the City, our new plans provide a framework to deliver future generations of library users with the services that will be essential to their lives and livelihood in this new era. We are extremely grateful to Steve Schwarzman for his remarkable commitment to the future of the Library and his recognition of the vital significance of our library system to users around the corner and across the globe."
"I want to congratulate the staff and the Board for setting the bar high, with a sprawling and ambitious billion-dollar plan that completely transforms the New York Public Library for the 21st Century. Our City’s great institutions need to keep making the investments that will keep New York a place that attracts the best and the brightest and nurtures the next generation of leaders in different fields," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "On behalf of all New Yorkers, I also want to thank Steve Schwarzman for his incredible $100 million gift. It’s the generosity of New Yorkers like Steve that really sets this City apart."






The Library’s mission has great resonance for Mr. Schwarzman, who credits access to libraries as critical to him during his youth and as he went on to build the largest diversified private equity firm in the world. "The New York Public Library is a passport to the American dream for lower and middle income Americans and immigrants from around the world," said Mr. Schwarzman, the son of a linen and curtain store owner.
"It’s a free university for everyone, from children to scholars. I’ve always loved this Library, particularly for the way in which it serves all people and entirely without cost to them. It is a privilege for me to make this gift to an organization that is so essential to the welfare of New York City and, indeed, the nation."
"Last year, I was incredibly proud to allocate funding to reinstate six-day library service citywide; as a result, an additional 600,000 New Yorkers have been able to take advantage of all our city’s libraries have to offer," said City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn. "Today I am honored to join the New York Public Library in announcing an unprecedented expansion that will transform the concept of the modern, urban library system. The New York Public Library – already world-renowned – will soon be the paramount institution for the 21st century and beyond."
Demand for the New York Public Library’s services has soared in the past two years. In fiscal year 2007, the NYPL received more than 16 million visits to its 89 locations (2 million more visits than in 2006), and its web site received more than 25 million visits (an increase of 5 million visits over 2006). According to recent surveys, each year more than one million residents of the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island – one third of the population – use their local library.
Much of these gains are the result of strong investment in expanded library service made in recent years by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg; Speaker Christine C. Quinn and the City Council; and Governor Eliot Spitzer and the State Legislature.
Historic Fifth Avenue Building Transformed
A centerpiece of the Library’s plan is the transformation of the Fifth Avenue building into a Central Library that will include an expansive new lending division serving children, teens, and the general reading public. The historic library at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street opened in 1911 as a grand symbol of the City’s commitment to culture and knowledge. It currently houses the Library’s renowned research collections in Humanities and Social Sciences, including millions of volumes of general reference material as well as unique archives and rare special collections.
By moving the general research collection from the original 1911 stacks to high-density shelving under Bryant Park, vast spaces that were formerly inaccessible to the public can be repurposed in order to create a multi-level, light-filled new library that overlooks the park. The integration of research and lending resources under one roof will allow the library to serve a diverse range of users, including young children, students, scholars, writers, entrepreneurs, and casual readers, among many others. The Library will also offer improved exhibition spaces, hundreds of computers and full wireless access, meeting rooms, program venues, and a café. The creation of the new Central Library is expected to result in a threefold increase in use of the building, to an estimated 3.5 million visitors annually.
Marshall Rose, Chairman Emeritus and Chair of the Building Committee of the Board, is providing oversight of the building’s renovation. "Over the past 27 years, I have been involved with many capital improvements in this great building, and the restoration of many of its historic rooms, but none can match this spectacular transformation in terms of the impact it will have on the public." A number of leading architecture firms are currently under consideration to create the design for the Central Library.
New Hub Libraries Anchor Networks of Neighborhood Branches
The Library plans to build two new "Hub" libraries, in Northern Manhattan and Staten Island. Hub libraries offer a full range of collections and programs in state-of-the art facilities geared to all users; they serve as anchors to a group of smaller neighborhood branches that offer services tailored to local communities. In addition to offering in-depth collections, dedicated spaces for children and teens, robust programming, and facilities for a variety of classes and events, Hub libraries are open seven days per week and operate on an expanded schedule of daily hours designed to meet the needs of the area they serve.
This plan has been piloted in the Bronx, where the spectacular new Bronx Library Center on East Kingsbridge Road is a Hub to 11 branches in the northern part of the Borough. In September, the hours of the Bronx Library Center were expanded to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, resulting in an additional 12% increase in attendance and a 13% increase in circulation. In January, the pilot was extended to Staten Island, where the historic St. George Library Center is being used as a temporary Hub until a new Hub library is built elsewhere in the borough. In total, there will be six Hub libraries: three in the Bronx, two in Manhattan, and one in Staten Island.
Expansion Online

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Entertainment and Concert Listings in New York City




New York City Night Life ( NightLife ), RMC Special Events BlogSite Sectionals:
This Blog, New York City Night Life ( NightLife ), RMC is going more indepth in its converage of what can be dome at night. And if you know the city has alot to offer!
Though " Under Construction " the first three sites already have their URLs:

One: New York City Concerts: This is at a glance topic which represents New York Citys Night Life ( NightLife ), RMC Jazz, Blue, Rock concerts and much more.

Two: New York City Concerts and Entertainment: This is a brief of major concerts, and entertainment which New York City is known for. Thus this is at a glance, which will be a job in itself, topics which best represents New York City's Night Life ( NightLife ), RMC within these entertainment areas.

Three: New York City Entertainment: This is at galnce topics which represents New York City's Night Life ( NightLife ), Symphonic Concerts and Orchestra Achivements, Chamber Music, and more historic cultural coverage of the Arts.

New York City Fashions and Trendsetters: Why New York City is one of " The Eight Styles, Fashions, and Trendsetters of the World.

New York City NightLife: An brief version of New York City Night Life ( NightLife ), RMC.

New York City's Incubator and Issues development:

Saturday, February 09, 2008

The Mable Grahm Mens Wear Collection’s





The Mable Grahm Mens Wear Collection’s new spring line will showcase at Fairway Studios in New York’s midtown Fashion District.




Established in 2006 by designer Sherrita R. Davis, the New York based Mable Grahm Collection provides a fresh perspective on the once staunch market that has recently seen a great rebirth of innovation.




“We provide classic silhouettes with unexpected details,” the designer declared in a recent online interview. The collection is all about interpreting the standards with a twist. With each season, highlighting designs that are more sophisticated the upcoming spring 2008 collection is sure to please. The inspiration for the newest season is very “Buster Keaton in modern day SOHO”. Expect more play on proportion as well as on texture and accessories.




Mable Grahm has been featured in several national campaigns and publications including: Metro Source, Urbanology and Fashion Manuscript.




For more information about Mable Grahm, visit http://www.mablegrahm.com/ . For invitations to the runway show, call 202-431-1229 or email info@mablegrahm.com .

Saturday, June 30, 2007

First Offices in Japan




NEW YORK CITY ESTABLISHES FIRST OFFICES IN JAPAN
NYC & Company promotes tourism from Japan throughrepresentation on the ground in Tokyo—



Tokyo, Japan (June 26, 2007)—Building on the strong economic and cultural connections between New York City and Japan, NYC & Company—the marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York—today announced its first office opening in the capital city of Tokyo. Given Japanese residents' increased interest in traveling abroad, and the importance in particular of the long-standing relationship between the sister cities, fostering tourism from the region will be critical to achieving New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's goal of welcoming 50 million visitors annually by 2015."It's a privilege to represent New York City today and to mark this important moment for our travel and tourism industry," said NYC & Company chief executive officer George Fertitta. "As financial and cultural centers, New York City and Tokyo have long been global partners with many common interests. And as New York City continues in this period of unprecedented growth, now is the time for visitors to come and see for themselves why the five boroughs remain such a dynamic and multicultural destination.


"The new office also marks the first time NYC & Company has established a presence in Japan, and is the next step in the organization's plan to build a global network and boost international travel to New York City. The organization now has representative offices serving 19 countries. The formal launches of new locations in Shanghai, China, and Seoul, South Korea, will take place in the coming days.The Tokyo office opening was announced today at a press conference at the Roppongi Hills Club. Fertitta was joined at the event by Kayoko Inoue, Managing Director of the Japan Office. It was preceded by meetings with key industry partners, including representatives from the US Embassy and the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA).The Tokyo office is located at 6-2-31 Roppongi, Minato-ku in the Roppongi Hills North Tower.


For some time Japanese travelers have been considered among the most sophisticated in the world, with interests that run from dining and shopping to sightseeing, sports and cultural pursuits. Tourism from Japan to international destinations in general has been booming for years—and with all that overseas travel experience comes the confidence and curiosity to seek out new and different experiences.Japanese travel to New York City, meanwhile, shows particular signs of growth. The country represents the third-largest overseas market for New York City, and though recent years have been marked by incremental gains and losses in the total amount of Japanese visitors, forecasts call for the number to rise in 2007 to 294,000."There is no better time for travelers from Japan to visit New York City," said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and chief executive officer of Loews Hotels and chairman of the NYC & Company board. "As always, visitors will enjoy taking the time to walk through Times Square and to see landmark attractions like the Empire State Building. But as New York goes through a renaissance perhaps unseen in its history, visitors will also find there is much to discover throughout the five boroughs.


"In the Bronx, for example, plans are under way to build a new Yankee Stadium. The existing stadium, meanwhile, has been selected to play host to the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Brooklyn was recently named one of the world's top travel destinations, a nod to the growing art and restaurant scenes in areas like Williamsburg, Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. Among the cultural highlights are the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music and Brooklyn Botanic Garden.The diverse neighborhoods of Queens continue to thrive, with specialty restaurants serving up authentic food from around the world.


The Noguchi Museum, dedicated to the life and work of the Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, also recently reopened after extensive renovation. Staten Island, meanwhile, offers much in the way of history and natural beauty. Among the more moving experiences is a trip to the Staten Island September 11 Memorial, located on the promenade adjacent to the ferry terminal. Further in, LaTourette Park offers hiking trails, a golf course and more.Among the latest cultural developments in Manhattan are the new Greek and Roman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The newly opened New Museum—the city's only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art—is already getting noticed for its cutting-edge architectural design and is slated to open on the Bowery in the fall.


In addition to the three new offices in Asian markets, NYC & Company this year has added representative offices in Spain, Russia, Amsterdam—serving the Benelux countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands—and Stockholm, serving Finland and the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Other locations are in Argentina, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
# # #

About NYC & Company:Travel and tourism for New York City is a $24 billion industry that supports more than 330,000 jobs. NYC & Company has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2006, when the city's Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, pledged an additional $15 million in annual funds and provided unprecedented media and promotional resources. The new NYC & Company is the world’s leading municipal tourism, marketing and events organization, dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image in order to achieve 50 million visitors annually by 2015. For more information, go to nycvisit.com


Contacts: Chris Heywood, NYC & Company, 212/484-5458, cheywood@nycvisit.comTiffany Townsend, NYC & Company, 212/484-5404, ttownsend@nycvisit.com

Marketing Presence in China

NEW YORK CITY OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE MARKETING & TOURISM PRESENCE IN CHINA WITH REPRESENTATION IN SHANGHAI
—Announcement Marks Latest Step to Build Global Network and Boost Travel—


Shanghai, China (June 27, 2007)—George Fertitta, chief executive officer of NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, held a press conference today in China's largest city, Shanghai, to announce the establishment of New York City's tourism representation in the country. The high volume of Chinese business travel to New York City, coupled with residents' increased interest in tourism opportunities, make the region among the most important destinations in New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's campaign to attract 50 million visitors annually by 2015.

The announcement marks the latest step in NYC & Company's plan to build a global network and boost international travel to New York City."It's a privilege to represent New York City today and to mark this important moment for our travel and tourism industry," said Fertitta to the invitation-only audience that included travel industry leaders at the JW Marriott in Shanghai. "As financial, commercial and media centers, New York City and Shanghai have many common interests. And as professionals in those and other industries continue to travel to New York for business, they will find a dynamic, thriving city—all the more reason to extend their trip and discover all the exciting things to see and do."The offices are located at 128 Nanjing West Road, Shanghai in Novel Plaza, Suite 1605.NYC & Company now has representative offices serving 19 countries. A new location in Tokyo, Japan, opened on June 26, and a launch for Seoul, South Korea, will take place July 2.Supported by a growing economy and some relaxation of travel restrictions, outbound tourism from China has grown tremendously over the past decade. Although the United States still does not have approved destinations status (ADS), travelers from China may come with work visas that include allowances to bring family members. These visits then generally last 10 to 15 days and include stays in multiple cities.This new wave of travelers already has affected the tourism industry across the United States and in New York City in particular.


Travel from China to New York City has been on the rise for some time, jumping sharply from 59,000 visitors in 2002 to 133,000 in 2005. Reports call for the growth to continue, with an estimated 165,000 visitors forecast for 2007.


"There is no better time for Chinese travelers to visit New York City," said Jonathan M. Tisch, chairman and chief executive officer of Loews Hotels and chairman of the NYC & Company board. "It continues to be a dynamic and multicultural destination that offers visitors exciting things to do from designer shopping and dining out to sightseeing at landmark attractions like the Statue of Liberty and Times Square."New York City, in fact, offers some of the top designer shopping experiences worldwide, from luxury boutiques on the streets of SoHo to flagship stores such as Bloomingdale's and Saks Fifth Avenue. Popular sightseeing attractions also include the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center and Metropolitan Museum of Art.In addition to the three new offices in Asian markets, NYC & Company this year has added representative offices in Spain, Russia, Amsterdam—serving the Benelux countries of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands—and Stockholm, serving Finland and the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Other locations are in Argentina, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and the United Kingdom.


# # #

About NYC & Company:Travel and tourism for New York City is a $24 billion industry that supports more than 330,000 jobs. NYC & Company has undergone a dramatic transformation since 2006, when the city's Mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg, pledged an additional $15 million in annual funds and provided unprecedented media and promotional resources. The new NYC & Company is the world’s leading municipal tourism, marketing and events organization, dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image in order to achieve 50 million visitors annually by 2015. For more information, go to nycvisit.com


Contacts: Chris Heywood, NYC & Company, 212/484-5458, cheywood@nycvisit.comTiffany Townsend, NYC & Company, 212/484-5404, ttownsend@nycvisit.com