New York City transforms faster than a New York minute. So, Karryon caught up with Reginald Charlot from NYC & Company to find out how agents can turn the city’s dynamic vibe into sales success. Get ready to slay, honey!
New York City is like Heraclitus’ (or for those of us who are more down with Disney than Greek philosophers: Pocahontas’) river. You can never step into the same NYC twice.
And that has never been more true of NYC than now.
NYC & Company’s managing director tourism market development Reginald Charlot was in Australia with key members to update agents on the city’s latest and greatest.
“New York is super fresh New York,” he told Karryon in Sydney.
“It’s a revitalised New York. It’s new things in the city that are happening all the time, new openings like SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and Hudson Yards. It’s new restaurants, new Broadway shows.”
But it’s also new-to-visitor experiences and places, he says. It’s exploring the city’s five different buroughs and the neighbourhoods within them.
“It’s the same city, but it’s not the same.”
New York City is one of those travel unicorns. It’s simultaneously on traveller’s bucket lists because it’s simply iconic. And it’s on their return-to lists too. Because once you take a bite of the Big Apple, you realise how much more there is to taste.
“It’s absolutely a must to go back and see destination,” Charlot says.
And it’s not just the new openings and attractions.
“A lot of the classics have been revitalised.”
Want to find the Tom Hanks to your Meg Ryan at The Empire State Building? After an almost AU$250 million renovation, those amazing 360 degree views of the city can be experienced with no lines and a King Kong experience.
And get ready for some serious upgrades at the top of 30 Rock. Construction starts this year at the Rockefeller Center, and soon visitors can take a thrilling, rotating photo ride on a steel beam that recreates the iconic 1932 ‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper’ photograph featuring 11 fearless ironworkers.
For those who want their feet firmly planted on solid ground, a viewing platform called ‘Skylift’ is also in the works. Shaped like an inverted telescope, it will sit 30 feet above the existing 70th floor platform to offer enhanced views of the Big Apple.
Charlot also talks of Little Island, a new public park which sits atop concrete tulips on the Hudson River. Or there’s the Tin Building, a brand new foodie paradise, and the yet-to-open Hip Hop Museum in the Bronx.
A two week city
Charlot recommends a 12-14 day stay minimum for Aussies.
“You want to be able to explore other areas,” he tells Karryon.
“I’m sure people have been to Times Square before which is fantastic. People may have been to lower Manhattan, which is fantastic. But when you cross the river to Brooklyn, you get to feel like a local. I think a lot of people want to have that local experience.
“You go to Flushing in Queens and you can have whatever cuisine of the world you want, from Korean to Ethiopian to Turkish to Ugandan.
“And the Bronx is actually the greenest borough in all of New York City. You can sail and fish from City Island and feel like you’ve escaped to the countryside.”
How to sell NYC like a local
“We have a number of webinars that we offer to people so they can get to know the new New York City,” Charlot says.
“We also have our resource page on the NYC & Company website where agents can get access to images and videos.
“And don’t forget our newsletter, which I think is super key. Here, you get up to date information on what’s happening as it happens.”
For more information, head to the NYC & Company website.
