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New York City was 2009’s most popular U.S. tourist destination
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert C. Lieber and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta announced in 2009 New York City was the most popular tourist destination in the United States for the first time since 1990. The 45.25 million tourists exceeded projections, declining just 3.9 percent from 2008 versus the 10 percent expected. A 3.2 percent increase in tourism, with an estimated 46.7 million visitors, is expected in 2010.

Mayor Bloomberg also announced that employment in the leisure and hospitality sector has fully rebounded and surpassed pre-recession levels. New York City remains the most popular destination in the nation for international visitors with 8.6 million international tourists in 2009 – twice as many as the nearest competitor, Los Angeles. The Mayor made the announcement at the Greenhouse Cafe in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where he was joined by New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council President Peter Ward, and Bobby Daquara and John Keegan, co-owners of the Greenhouse Cafe in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, a participating restaurant in NYC & Company’s upcoming “Restaurant Week” promotion.

“Over the past eight years, our efforts to make New York City an even more exciting place to visit have helped produce a record number of tourists and create thousands of jobs,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Last year, while tourism declined significantly in cities across the country, we fared far better than most. In fact, for the first time in 20 years, we were the most popular tourism destination in the country, surpassing Orlando, and our leisure and hospitality jobs rose - surpassing even their pre-recession levels. Despite these gains, we know many of our hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops are still struggling as a result of the downturn, but the jobs they have added serve as an important indication that our efforts are paying off and that 2010 promises to be a year of growth.”

“We began 2009 facing a dismal forecast for the city’s tourism industry,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York. “Our initial projections estimated a ten percent decrease, but we continued to invest and strategically promote New York City to domestic and international visitors as well as to New Yorkers. As a result, New York City saw a less than four percent decline in visitation, and still holds onto an ambitious goal of attracting 50 million visitors annually by 2012.  We expect that 2010 will be a year of recovery, and we will continue to find new ways to promote the City to all travelers.”

“Every day, hotel and restaurant workers see the benefits of the Bloomberg Administration and NYC and Company’s innovative and aggressive strategies to promote tourism,” said New York Hotel & Motel Trades Council President Peter Ward. “When New York’s hospitality industry thrives, the jobs it creates are some of the best family-sustaining service sector jobs in the city. In a time of declining wages and rising unemployment, the tourism sector remains a way for tens of thousands of working people to provide a good quality of life for their families and opportunity for their children. Our members live in every borough of the city and truly serve as ambassadors to our city’s millions of visitors each year. We are the first people to greet our visitors upon their arrival, we help them navigate the city, serve their meals, maintain their rooms, and make sure their stays are as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. New York’s hotel workers provide a world-class level of service, and constantly work to ensure that our city remains one of the country’s and the world’s favorite places to visit.”

New York City surpassed Orlando in total visitors in 2009 after finishing second in 2008. The City remains on track to achieve its goal of 50 million annual visitors by 2012 despite the effects of the global recession. The more than 45 million people who visited New York City last year spent approximately $28 billion. Every dollar of direct tourist spending translates into a total of $1.50 in economic activity for New York. New York City welcomed an estimated 36.7 million domestic visitors and 8.6 international visitors to the City in 2009. International tourists remain particularly important to the City’s economy because they spend nearly five times as much as their domestic counterparts.

Approximately 311,000 people are currently employed in the leisure and hospitality industry in New York City - surpassing the 307,000 employed in late 2007 and marking the highest November employment level on record. The gains in employment touched all areas of the sector with employment at food service/restaurants and bars growing by 1.1 percent and employment in hotels growing by 2.6 percent compared to 2008.

Hotel demand remained very strong, with 23.6 million room nights sold -a new City record and 300,000 more than the previous year. Hotel occupancy rates during the final three months of 2009 were higher than they were during the same period in 2008 - generating roughly $315 million in hotel tax revenue for the year.  More than 5,100 new and renovated rooms were added in 2009, bringing the city’s total inventory to more than 81,500 hotel rooms, an increase of 6 percent.

International airport arrivals, while down for the year, showed two consecutive months of increases in September and October, after 10 months of decreases. Non-commuter Amtrak arrivals showed positive growth in October for the first time since September, 2008, with 328,700 passengers during the month, November saw another increase over the previous year with 332,100 passengers. Season-to-date through November, Broadway revenues rose by $3 million in 2009, 0.6 percent increase.

To highlight New York City as an affordable destination in 2010, NYC & Company today kicked off its NYC: The Real Deal Winter promotion, giving visitors and residents access to more than 200 special offers throughout the five boroughs at hotels, attractions, museums, theaters, restaurants, shops and tours.

NYC & Company also launched the Signature Collection Third Night promotion at 15 city luxury hotels. The program gives visitors a complimentary third night at participating hotels after booking and paying for two consecutive nights through February 28th.

NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2010 will run from January 25th through February 7th, with the same prices charged since 2006. Costs will remain $24.07 for three-course prix-fixe lunches and $35 for three-course prix-fixe dinners (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2010 excludes Saturdays and restaurants have the option to offer the program on Sundays. Reservations open January 12th. Buy Condos NYC – Battery Park Apartments – NYC Real Estate – Buy Hotels NYC – Midtown Hotels For Sale – Battery Park Hotels For Sale – Central Park Area Hotels For Sale - Manhattan Hotels Broker – NY Hotels for sale

Vicky Karantzavelou – Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Dream cars and luxury defy the economic gloom in Geneva

Despite the crisis, automakers have not given up on selling dreams at the Geneva Motor Show, which opened this week with an array of eye-catching cars that are always shinier, faster, and ever more expensive.

“Geneva has always been a bit special, somewhere between the provincial and the chic,” said Carlos da Silva, analyst at Global Insight.

Garish colours help to highlight the array of concept, sports and luxury vehicles, which are still one of the principal attractions for the 700,000 visitors expected during the show until March 15.

As the doors opened to the public, overcrowded trains were spilling visitors from around Europe into Geneva while roads to the

exhibition hall were jammed.

Sports cars with prices above 100,000 euros (125,000 dollars), such as the new Lamborghini Murcielago LP 670-4 Super Veloce, inevitably capture minds in search of escape from economic gloom.

Crowds already pressed around the low slung, yellow sports car during the press preview, trying to imagine the effect of being slung by 670 horsepower to 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds.

The Murcielago is “more extreme and more exclusive than any other car,” Lamborghini’s chief executive, Stephan Winkelmann, claimed.

Not to be outdone, Aston Martin unveiled the One-77 sports car with a price tag of 1.0 million pounds (1.2 million euros, 1.4 million dollars).

Only 77 will be built and the company claims to have received queries from about 250 potential customers.

Aston Martin also revived the luxury Lagonda name with a brash four wheel drive vehicle on show in Geneva, to try to appeal to new markets in the Middle East, India and China.

“The Lagonda is the luxury car of the future,” said Aston Martin Chief Executive Ulrich Bez. It might not be available for another five years.

Porsche claimed that its new 911 GT3 — displayed in an evocative bright red — is “more powerful” and “more efficient”, while Ferrari sought some of the thunder with ever more sporting engines.

Meanwhile, young men with feather dusters toured the stands to ensure the cars never lose their shine and wipe off finger marks, while “hostesses” handed out brochures or simply posed by the cars.

“They make us dream,” said Marcello, a young Swiss visitor whose gaze was fixed intently on the vehicles.

Amid the dominant theme of fuel economy and environmentalism, the carmakers freely admit that they are trying to stir emotions as well.

“Cars are very important part of the human psyche, because they are symbols of pleasure and prestige,” explained Simon Rochefort, the sales manager of US newcomer Tesla.

The Californian company was presenting its electric-powered convertible sports car in Europe for the first time, trying to combine the zero emissions of an electric motor with the thrill of a Lamborghini or Porsche — and a 99,000 euro (124,000 dollar) price tag.

During a crisis “it’s even more important to dream,” said Frank Rinderknecht, owner of specialised Swiss firm Rinspeed, which presents a new and generally more outrageous concept car every year.

But this year Rinderknecht also sought to capture the mood of the moment by showcasing an array of environmental technology.

Even the elite end of the market is tentatively reaching out to the “ecologically correct”.

Bentley is trying out biofuels, which pollute less but are controversial because of their impact on crops, food prices and the amount of energy it takes to produce them.

Bentley’s chief executive, Franz-Josef Paefgen, admitted that the dreams might have reached their limits.

“It is a crisis that affects luxury cars as much as it affects other sectors,” he remarked

Source : http://www.livemint.com/2009/03/06220936/Dream-machines-come-alive.html?h=B

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Luxury Car Rentals For Business Travelers
Lauren Kerensky 08.24.07, 12:01 AM ET

Your business trip itinerary is tightly packed–red-eye flight, a two-day stay jammed with meetings and an early morning return. You’ll definitely need a car to get around town. A stroll through the average rental lot, however, chock full of mid-size sedans and mini-vans, might be enough to make you want to call a cab.

But who says your trip has to be all work and no play?

Today, luxury rental car outfitters can set you up with a vehicle right from the airport. Many of the big-name companies, like Hertz, Budget and Dollar, have Prestige or Style Series collections featuring BMWs, Mercedes and Hummers. And for those with bigger budgets, some specialty companies will put you behind the wheels of vehicles you’ve only dreamed of driving.

In Pictures: Luxury Car Rentals For Business Travelers

What’s driving interest in these rentals is a desire by top executives to maintain the comforts of home on the road. If you regularly drive an Infiniti, you’re probably not going to be happy renting an “econobox,” says Joe Brancatelli, founder of the business-travel Web site Joe Sent Me. There’s also an aspirational aspect to consider: If you drive a Ford at home, this may be your only chance to get the feel of a Ferrari.

For those looking to try out a fantasy car, Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car, which has outposts in California and Arizona and now in Las Vegas, has a plethora in its garage. Bentley, Rolls Royce Mercedes Benz Rentals and Ferrari are just a few of the brands on its roster. Got your heart set on a car that isn’t in stock? No worries.

“There’s no make or model that we can’t get,” says Kurt Siejkowski, vice president of marketing for Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car. He recalls purchasing a Lamborghini Gallardo for one customer, as well as an Aston Martin Vantage at the request of another.

Just make sure you plan ahead. Though most rentals only need to be booked three days ahead of time, due to the exclusive nature of high-end cars, it’s best to schedule special requests as far as six months in advance.

VIP Pickup
Driving in style and impressing clients often comes with other perks, too.

While some high-end rental companies, such as Rent-a-Vette in Las Vegas and Image Rent-a-Car in New York City, the services go beyond the usual.

Beverly Hills Rent-a-Car and Concierge Car Service in Chicago take things a step further, offering VIP services in which someone meets you at the airport in your rental, gives you a tutorial and hands over the keys. And if you’d rather enjoy the ride from the backseat, these companies will provide you Rent A Car with a chauffeur.

The Cost of Luxury
While the rental prices of the more outrageous cars are much more affordable than their purchasing costs–renting an Aston Martin Vantage Roadster for a day is $1,950 vs. the $189,000 sticker price–they’re hardly economical. A day with a Maybach, for instance, will cost you $3,500.

Companies are often willing to foot the bill of luxury rentals from mainstream outlets for their chiefs, however, since the cost is tiny compared to the expense of first-class travel.

If you’ve got the green light to splurge a little on your next business trip, just be sure you don’t forget what brought you to town in the first place.

During a trip last year, Hertz gave Brancatelli a Mazda Miata Convertible, which he had to turn down since it would not fit his luggage as well as two people he was picking up.

“You’ve got to be a little practical,” he says.

Luxury Rental Car Companies in New York Renting Hummer BMW Convertible Cadillac Escalade Porsche Carrera Ferrari Bentley Mini Cooper Lexus and more

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Luxury Rental Car Companies in New Jersey

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