New York:
The competition for supremacy among major airlines at New York's airports is paying dividends for the city's campaign to attract more visitors.
On Wednesday, American Airlines announced that it had formed an $8 million marketing partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Co. American will be the exclusive airline sponsor of the city's summer and fall tourism campaigns this year and next, and, in exchange, it will help promote New York across the country. The airline will also contribute $3.5 million toward NYC & Co.'s marketing budget, increasing it by about 15 percent.
Mayor Michael R Bloomberg has been pushing for more visitors to the city, but the latest round of budget cuts reduced NYC & Co.'s allocation from City Hall. To offset that reduction, tourism officials have sought help from corporations seeking a higher profile.
"We just have to become more self-sustaining," said George Fertitta, the chief executive of NYC & Co. "We'd be doing this anyway, but it's even more important now."
Right now, airlines are among the most eager partners because the competitive situation at the city's airports is in flux. Delta Air Lines is seeking to expand its presence at La Guardia Airport by adding flights there in a swap with US Airways for slots at Ronald Reagan National Airport, in Washington.
Not wanting to be eclipsed by Delta, American Airlines said on Wednesday that it had struck a partnership with New York-based JetBlue Airways. JetBlue agreed to trade some of its slots at Kennedy International Airport for some of American's slots at Reagan Airport. American also agreed to allow JetBlue's passengers to connect to overseas flights on American with a single ticket.
More important for New York officials, American and JetBlue agreed to encourage their passengers to stop over in the city for a night or more during their trips. Those additional overnight stays could significantly help the city's economy, Fertitta said.
"If we got another 100,000 people who happened to be coming through New York to stay over, that would mean probably $25 million in economic impact," Fertitta said.
On Wednesday, American Airlines announced that it had formed an $8 million marketing partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Co. American will be the exclusive airline sponsor of the city's summer and fall tourism campaigns this year and next, and, in exchange, it will help promote New York across the country. The airline will also contribute $3.5 million toward NYC & Co.'s marketing budget, increasing it by about 15 percent.
Mayor Michael R Bloomberg has been pushing for more visitors to the city, but the latest round of budget cuts reduced NYC & Co.'s allocation from City Hall. To offset that reduction, tourism officials have sought help from corporations seeking a higher profile.
"We just have to become more self-sustaining," said George Fertitta, the chief executive of NYC & Co. "We'd be doing this anyway, but it's even more important now."
Right now, airlines are among the most eager partners because the competitive situation at the city's airports is in flux. Delta Air Lines is seeking to expand its presence at La Guardia Airport by adding flights there in a swap with US Airways for slots at Ronald Reagan National Airport, in Washington.
Not wanting to be eclipsed by Delta, American Airlines said on Wednesday that it had struck a partnership with New York-based JetBlue Airways. JetBlue agreed to trade some of its slots at Kennedy International Airport for some of American's slots at Reagan Airport. American also agreed to allow JetBlue's passengers to connect to overseas flights on American with a single ticket.
More important for New York officials, American and JetBlue agreed to encourage their passengers to stop over in the city for a night or more during their trips. Those additional overnight stays could significantly help the city's economy, Fertitta said.
"If we got another 100,000 people who happened to be coming through New York to stay over, that would mean probably $25 million in economic impact," Fertitta said.
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