Aims To Boost Borough’s Business
A diverse coalition of hotels, entertainment venues, restaurants and cultural institutions from all over the borough have joined together to relaunch the Queens Tourism Council (QTC).
With the mission to promote the borough as a place to stay, eat, experience culture, enjoy nature and have fun, the 23-member QTC held its first meeting at Long Island City’s Z Hotel on Feb. 27.
Meeting attendees discussed cross-promotional activities that QTC members will undertake to make sure that Queens residents are of what’s going on in their backyards and out-of-town tourists know about the borough’s many wonders. Attendees also discussed producing a promotional video, establishing a greater Internet presence and improving transportation options between venues.
Over the last 15 years, there has been a surge of interest in Queens, as evidenced by articles in major publications from around the world, new media coverage and TV shows based in the borough.
In 2010, more than seven million visitors spent more than $3 billion in Queens, according to city records, and the travel sector currently supports roughly 16 percent of the jobs in the borough. Plus, there are currently more than 80 hotels in Queens with more than 8,000 rooms.
“Local tourism here in Queens provides enjoyment for visitors and jobs for our local economy,” Borough President Helen M. Marshall expressed. “The Queens Tourism Council will help boost the number of tourists who not only want to see the U.S. Open or Major League baseball, but also those who want a taste with international flavor, whether it be in music, dance or the visual arts. We have first-class hotels, a smorgasbord of restaurants and world-class cultural institutions. We also have the most diversified population of any county in America.”
“There’s an authenticity to Queens that tourists love, and borough is booming,” said Queens Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Seth Bornstein. “Not long ago, there were very few local hotels that I would have recommended to a friend. Now, we have about 90 quality hotels with sweeping skyline views, top-notch on-site restaurants, even swimming pools … and all of them are $150-$300 cheaper per night than their counterparts in Manhattan. Add countless activities at great museums, theaters and stadiums and you have a tremendous borough.”
“Thanks to the Queens Tourism Council, it’s no longer a secret that Queens has it all-fabulous museums, performances, sports, parks, and restaurants,” said Michael Cogswell, director of the Louis Armstrong House Museum.
“I love working in Queens because of the multicultural atmosphere with an abundance of museums, restaurants, theatres, tourist attractions and ethnic restaurants. Plus, my hotel is so convenient to Manhattan with such affordable rates,” said Jeffrey Reich-Hale, director of sales and marketing at Long Island City’s Wyndham Garden hotel. “I’m really excited about the Queens Tourism Council because it will promote all these wonderful attractions. Finally, the borough is getting the recognition it deserves.”
“From the emerging communities in Long Island City to the cultural institutions of Flushing Meadows- Corona Park, Queens is rapidly becoming a go-to destination for New Yorkers and out-of-towners alike,” added Dan Wempa, vice president of external affairs at the New York Hall of Science. “The Queens Tourism Council is doing great work presenting the best of what the borough has to offer.”
“We’re very excited to be part of the Queens Tourism Council,” said Timothy J. McGlinchey, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott JFK, which is located near John F. Kennedy International Airport in Jamaica. “We have known for many years that Queens is not only a great place to stop over on your way to or from the airports, but also a great place to stay and play. We can’t wait to share with others all the exciting and interesting things to do that borough has to offer.”
QTC was actually established in the 1980s, but had fallen into dormancy until last week’s meeting. The Queens Economic Development Corporation promotes the borough through the “Discover Queens” brand.
In addition to maintaining the website discoverqueens.info, QEDC manages the Discover Queens Visitor Center at Queens Center Mall and spearheads promotions such as Discover Queens Restaurant Week, Shop Queens, Shop the World and 75 Days of Summer.
