Big Conventions Come To New York

According to a press release on NYC & Company's Web site, the bureau is working with Mayor Rudy Giuliani's office, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and Delta Airlines to lure tourism, travel and business back to New York City following the September 11 attacks. The team has already persuaded some major conferences and meetings, some originally planned to take place overseas, to come to New York:

• The Javits Center will host the American Society of Travel Agents World Travel Congress, which was moved from Seville, Spain, to New York. The congress expects 2,500 attendees November 4 through 7.


• The American Society of Association Executives' 150-member board of directors will meet at the Waldorf=Astoria instead of Buenos Aires, Argentina, from November 16 through 18.


• The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO's 1,500-attendee Women's Conference was moved to the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers from Boston for November 16 through 18.


• Six hundred members of the fourth estate (also known as the Magazine Publishers of America) will grace the city with the American Magazine Conference on October 21.


• Meeting Professionals International's (MPI) MPI Foundation Meeting will come to the Hilton New York on October 27.


• Microsoft plans to celebrate the release of its new Windows XP operating system with public events in Times Square and Rockefeller Center.


• The Audio Engineering Society expects 15,000 to 20,000 of its members to the city on November 30.


• The International Engineering Conference and Expo will draw an estimated 2,500 attendees in November.

These conventions are expected to bring an estimated $185.7 million to the city's tourism economy.

Delta CEO Leo Mullin also announced the launch of the Delta Loves NY campaign. The airline is now offering 10,000 free inbound tickets to New York City for the next six months via radio, hotel and travel agent promotions, and through its Web site.

Posted 10.06.01