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March 7, 2007
NYC & Company Expands International Marketing Reach to Promote New York City Worldwide : GlobalGiants.com
Unprecedented Financial, Creative Resources Elevate Campaign to New Level for Travel and Tourism Industry.
Photo: Pictured is Adolfo Carrion, Jr., Bronx Borough President, who attended ITB Berlin with NYC & Company, the city's tourism and marketing company to announce a new five-borough strategy to market the City of New York internationally. George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company and Fred Dixon, VP Tourism Development for NYC & Company, also spoke during the city's press conference in Berlin, Germany on March 7, 2007. Photo Credit: NYC & Company.
BERLIN, March 7 -- NYC & Company, New York City's tourism, marketing and events organization, today announced a slate of international office openings, the latest in an ambitious campaign to build a global network -- and in the process remake the face of New York City's travel and tourism industry.
With the new offices, NYC & Company has more than doubled its international presence in the last year. Recent additions include outposts in Spain, Russia, Scandinavia and Amsterdam, which serves the Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. NYC & Company now operates 11 international offices in 19 countries.
News of the international offices came during a press conference at ITB, the leading trade fair for the global tourism industry. Held each year in Berlin, Germany, the five-day event draws roughly 10,900 exhibitors from 180 countries and almost 163,000 total visitors, including nearly 84,000 trade professionals. NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta, Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion and Vice President of Tourism Development Fred Dixon were all on hand to represent the city and answer questions about the future of New York City tourism.
Travel and tourism for New York City is a $24 billion industry that supports more than 330,000 jobs. The new NYC & Company is the world's leading municipal tourism, marketing and events organization, dedicated to building New York City's economy and positive image in order to achieve 50 million visitors annually by 2015.
"We New Yorkers are passionate about our city -- and with good reason. It is vibrant, culturally diverse and has the potential to be the most powerful brand in the world," NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta said. "What we have here is just the beginning. And as we move ahead, we will watch carefully to make sure not a penny is wasted, and that our energies and talents are all leveraged toward making sure the rest of the country and the world experiences that passion as well." |GlobalGiants.com|
The expansion is just one facet of the organization's dramatic transformation since mid-2006. Following the June merger with NYC Marketing and NYC Big Events, NYC & Company emerged with a new strategy aimed at achieving the City's goal of attracting 50 million visitors to New York City annually by 2015. To that end, the new NYC & Company is also operating with an additional $15 million in annual funding from the City and more than $60 million in media and promotional assets -- an unprecedented store of resources directed toward municipal promotion.
"Travel and tourism is a critical industry for our City -- one that supports an estimated 330,000 jobs and generates more than $24 billion in spending -- which is why we have redoubled our efforts to promote and market the City to prospective tourists in every corner of the globe," Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said. "In 2006, we project that a record 44 million tourists visited New York, and we are ahead of schedule towards reaching our goal of attracting 50 million tourists to the City by 2015."
"We are capitalizing on our strong economy, the value of the dollar versus foreign currencies, historic lows in the City's crime rate, the vibrancy of our cultural attractions and many other factors," Fertitta said. "Our job is to think well into the future, and with Mayor Bloomberg's investment it provides us with the financial wherewithal to achieve goals that -- before now -- were never even contemplated."
The goals include drawing up an innovative marketing campaign that reaches more people worldwide and attracts more major events to the city. It is supported by more than $60 million in media assets, including New York City bus shelters, phone kiosks, street banners and television and radio. These also will be traded for in-kind media in international markets, the result of an historic street furniture contract signed with Cemusa. NYC & Company has already begun placing billboards in European countries including England, Italy and Spain.
"What has been particularly illuminating is just how much of a difference can be made when you take the New York City message on the road," said Dixon, who has attended all the overseas office launches. "The City is such a diverse microcosm of cultures, neighborhoods and experiences, and sharing our story first hand with potential visitors will have a positive impact for years to come."
Some early results of the new NYC & Company's work are already evident. NYC Big Events -- originally founded in 2002 to attract high-profile events and create new ones for the City -- was instrumental in bringing the Latin Grammys to the city for the first time last year. This year, the City announced the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held at Yankee Stadium. On the marketing side, the organization has rolled out its NYC Open/Book campaign, a consumer and trade initiative tailored to individual international markets and designed to draw visitors to the city during traditionally slow travel periods. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:47 PM | View the original post
Mercedes-Benz at the 77th Geneva Motor Show : GlobalGiants.com
Triple Premiere for the New C-Class.
Photo: Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of DaimlerChrysler AG and Head of the Mercedes Car Group presents the highly economical and environmentally friendly Vision C 220 BLUETEC in Geneva. In the study based on the new C-Class, Mercedes-Benz is presenting its innovative BLUETEC emissions control technology for the first time in combination with a highly fuel-efficient four-cylinder engine.
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Photo: Mercedes-Benz at the 77th Geneva Motor Show.
GENEVA, March 6 -- The new Mercedes-Benz C-Class is celebrating a triple premiere at the 77th Geneva Motor Show: in addition to the standard-production model, the "AMG-Mercedes C-Class DTM 2007" racing version and Vision C 220 BLUETEC have their debut at the show. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:58 AM | View the original post
Volvo at the Geneva Motor Show : GlobalGiants.com
Two Global Debuts.
All-New XC70, the next generation of Volvo's segment defining crossover and the All-New V70, staking claim as a segment leader take the stage in Europe's first major auto show.
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Photo: All-New Volvo XC70.
GENEVA, March 6 -- The all-new Volvo XC70 is being introduced at the Geneva Motor Show with comprehensive changes inside and out, with new styling cues, improved driving dynamics, inspiring technological applications, added luxury and new developments in safety.
Photo: All-New Volvo V70.
As a leader in the wagon segment with 54 years of continuous refinement and improvement, Volvo is also introducing the all-new Volvo V70 in Geneva. With its perfect balance of luxury, versatility and safety, the all-new Volvo V70 sets the standard for premium wagons. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 2:29 AM | View the original post
ABC Radio Networks En Espanol Partners With Thalia & The Mottola Co. to Launch 'The Conexion Thalia Radio Show' : GlobalGiants.com
Latin Superstar to Host Nationally Syndicated Radio Show.
Pontiac and Amtrak on Board as Inaugural National Sponsors.
Show Will Debut in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami.
Photo: Latin superstar, Thalia, to host nationally syndicated radio show on ABC Radio Networks en Espanol.
NEW YORK, March 6 -- ABC Radio Networks today announced an exclusive agreement with Thalia to produce and syndicate The Conexion Thalia Radio Show, a two-hour weekly radio program starring superstar Thalia premiering on March 17. The show will debut with an incredibly strong line-up of top rated stations in the nation's largest markets. The Conexion Thalia Radio Show continues ABC's commitment to its Hispanic initiative, ABC Radio Networks en Espanol, which includes Latin superstars and mega-brands such as Reggaeton sensation Daddy Yankee, Emmy award-winning broadcaster Maria Celeste Arraras and ESPN Deportes Radio.
The Conexion Thalia Radio Show will feature the Latin superstar in a fun and fast-paced lifestyle show in a format that allows Thalia to expound on fashion, gossip, and inside celebrity information as well as include informative segments on issues facing Latinos today. She will cover all the topics that appeal to an extremely wide demographic of l8-34 year old male and female Latinos and lovers of the culture.
Thalia began her career as a child star on Mexican television and in Mexican theatre. As a recording artist for EMI Music she has achieved superstar status, sold over 12 million CDs worldwide and been nominated for four Latin Grammy awards. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:59 AM | View the original post
JAPAN STOCKS : GlobalGiants.com
Asian markets rebound.
Photo: A pedestrian passes in front of a share prices chart in downtown Tokyo, 06 March 2007. Japanese share prices rebounded 202.25 points to close at 16,844.50 points at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, clawing back some of their heavy recent losses as bargain hunters emerged after five straight days of falls. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:55 AM | View the original post
CURVATION PROJECT CONFIDENCE WINNER SHELLY THOMAS : GlobalGiants.com
Photo: Queen Latifah, left, congratulates Shelly Thomas, of South Euclid, Ohio, the winner of the second annual CURVATION(SM) PROJECT CONFIDENCE(SM) Awards on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 in New York. This is the culmination of a nationwide search to recognize women who project the power of confidence and encourage it in others, ultimately helping them live more fulfilling lives. Thomas was presented with a $10,000 grant for her non-profit InnerBeauty Foundation. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 1:48 AM | View the original post
