A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization
Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
| Home | Search | About ASH | Why Join | Comment | Email page |
|
Action on Smoking and Health
A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
|
NYC: Hotel Revenues Up and "I Love Smokefree New York" Campaign
Underway [08/29-4]
Excerpts from: City gains favor with inn crowd
By Lisa Fickenscher Crain's
New York Business [08/25/03]
June, 80% of New York City's hotel rooms were filled, a figure higher than many
in the hospitality industry expected. In July, hotel revenues began to tick
up for the first time in nearly three years.
Now, evidence is building that business and leisure travel to New York is gaining momentum. Hotel managers, convention centers, tour operators and the New York City Marathon report year-over-year increases in reservations and activity. Many executives are even dropping the word "cautious" when they talk about being optimistic.
Hotel executives began to notice their numbers perking up in June, when the occupancy rate for Manhattan hotels, at 79.8%, for the first time exceeded the comparable month in the past two years. Then in July, revenues per available room grew 1.2%, compared with the same period in 2002, according preliminary estimates by PKF, which tracks hotel data. This increase represents the first real growth in revenues since the end of 2000.
Seeing smokefree air as a benefit, New York has begun an "I Love Smokefree New York" ad campaign complete with hats, shorts, t-shirts, buttons, and subway placards. "New York's smokefree air is definitely preferable to New Jersey's dirty air," says Joe Cherner, president of SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc., the nation's largest smokefree advocacy group. "And the tourism dollars are showing it."
| Home Web Page | Search This Site | Learn About ASH | Why Join ASH | Comment on This | Email This Page |