Miami, NYC Tourism Agencies Announce Joint Venture

Miami, NYC Tourism Agencies Announce Joint Venture
by Hannah Sampson

Tourism officials in Miami and New York City are trying to sweeten the travel love affair between the two destinations. The Big Apple sent 1.6 million visitors to Miami-Dade County last year -- more than a tenth of all tourists to the county in 2009. More than 775,000 Miami residents headed north to New York. In these still-soft economic times, both areas are eager for more visitors.

To that end, the tourism czars from both regions held a press conference Tuesday at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts to announce a new partnership meant to boost inter-area travel -- and to promote a short-term sale on flights from American Airlines.

The deal, which must be booked by midnight Thursday, offers flights to New York’s three airports for $79 one way. Tickets are valid for travel between Jan. 5-Feb. 25, though holiday weekends are not included in the sale.

William Talbert III, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, called Tuesday’s announcement “step one” in what is expected to be at least a one-year partnership. He said the partnership could also eventually serve as a boon to Miami during its slower summer season.

New York and Miami are also promoting special events during the winter, including Broadway Week with two-for-one show tickets and restaurant deals in New York and, in South Florida, the Miami International Boat Show and South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

Both areas billed the city-to-city partnership as the first of its kind, though the New York tourism officials were also heading to Chicago and Los Angeles for similar promotions as part of their Live More Tour.

The organizations expect to hammer out more formalized plans for future efforts, but said they would share strategies, media assets, online capabilities and other resources.