Holiday Happenings and Major Milestones Ahead for New York City

Major milestones and holiday happenings.

The coming holiday season promises to be a wild and wonderful one in New York City, while 2019 is shaping up to be one of the most remarkable in the city’s already storied history, NYC and Company officials told a packed press conference at Hotel X in Toronto yesterday.

Among the new hotels on the way are a Hard Rock Hotel, a new Ritz Carlton and a second Ace Hotel, a hip and trendy hotel chain that reportedly is eyeing the Toronto market and already exists in the Big Apple, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and other cities.

One of the coolest projects is the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in Queens, where they’re taking the historic, mid-century TWA flight centre designed by Eero Saaraninen and turning it into a 512-room hotel with an infinity pool overlooking a runway and, apparently, an old TWA plane that will be used as a cocktail bar.

There are 123 hotels in the pipeline for September and beyond for New York City’s five boroughs.

On the shopping front, one of the biggest bits of news is the opening of NYC’s first-ever outlet center. Empire Outlets is slated to open Nov. 15 on Staten Island, part of a renewal of the north end of Staten Island (which is reached by a free ferry that offers great views of the Statue of Liberty, in case you didn’t know).

Next year also will see the opening of the new Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island, likely in May. The first phase of renovations is already finished at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the next phase should be completed by next summer, said Chris Heywood, NYC and Company’s SVP Global Communications.

A remarkable new performing arts centre called The Shed will open in the massive Hudson Yards area next spring, as well. It’s a wondrous piece of architecture with a retractable roof, with programs that will mix artists from different genres. One of the first projects will be a mashup by filmmaker Steve McQueen and music producer Quincy Jones, a program that will focus on African American music, said Fred Dixon, NYC and Company President and CEO.

Next year also marks WorldPride in New York City, which will be marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising for gay rights, a protest that took place in the city in 1969.

Dixon and Heywood said Canadians and Canadian travel agents should be aware of the many discount programs available to visitors. Off-Broadway Week runs from Sept. 24 to Oct. 7, with two-for-one tickets to unique, critically acclaimed performances.

New York City’s Restaurant Week (usually held in winter and again every summer) is another great way to save money, with fixed price meals at hundreds of great NYC dining spots.

Heywood said visitors should try heading to New York in January or February, when rates are cheaper and lines for museums or restaurants much more manageable. Going over a holiday weekend (think Presidents’ Day or Martin Luther King Day) means business people won’t be hogging rooms at the big hotels, which means better deals for average travellers.

Of course, there are still plenty of great things to do in the city for the rest of 2018. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade runs in Manhattan on Nov. 22, while the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held Nov. 28. Other fun family events include the Slice of Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour from Dec. 1 to 30, the Apollo Theater’s Kwanzaa celebration on Dec. 29 and The Largest Menorah Lighting at Grand Army Plaza Dec. 2-10.

Dixon said Canadians shouldn’t pay too much attention to certain political Twitter messages emanating from south of the border.

“No matter what you hear or read, we appreciate your business and you’re always welcome in New York City,” he said.

Dixon also thanked Tourism Toronto President and CEO Johanne Belanger for the work the two groups have been doing together to boost tourism to both cities.

“Johanne is a breath of fresh air,” he said. “It’s a joy, this partnership.”