New York City and Puerto Rico Form New Tourism Alliance

November 8, 2018

Last month, NYC & Company, New York City’s official destination marketing organization and Discover Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico’s newly established destination marketing organization, signed a first-ever partnership to boost tourism between the two destinations

Formalized at a press conference on Oct. 23 at El Museo del Barrio in Manhattan, the new one-year city-to-island alliance includes a collaboration agreement between Puerto Rico and New York City; the exchange of marketing assets to boost reciprocal travel; the sharing of best practices in tourism marketing and management, and the continued support of Puerto Rico’s ongoing recovery following Hurricane Maria. 

NYC & Company Board of Directors Vice Chairman Charles Flateman and Discover Puerto Rico CEO Brad Dean signed the new agreement at the event, which was hosted by Lin-Manuel Miranda of “Hamilton” fame.   

“As Puerto Rico continues its recovery, NYC & Company is pleased to do its part to further encourage visitation from New York City to Puerto Rico,” Flateman said.

He continued, “Now more than ever, we need to support and celebrate the island while also creating economic impact for the destination. We are honored to work alongside Discover Puerto Rico to communicate that it’s open for business and welcoming travelers.” 

According to NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon, there couldn’t be a better time for the new alliance.

“We are proud to partner with Discover Puerto Rico to encourage and welcome visitation to the island,” Dixon said. “New York City and Puerto Rico share a diverse culture and vibrancy that cultivates a unique affinity between the two destinations.” 

He added, “This first-ever city-to-island partnership is a remarkable representation of the unity between New York City and Puerto Rico, and we look forward to a productive year ahead.” 

NYC PR

Dean said he believes the unprecedented partnership with NYC & Company will help take Discover Puerto Rico’s strategic tourism efforts to the next level.

“We are working aggressively to elevate Puerto Rico’s brand and make it visible to the world as a premier travel destination,” Dean explained. “Puerto Rico is open for business and eager to share its rich and diverse culture with visitors.”

He continued, “Our entire Island is brimming with festivals, events, attractions and natural beauty that are waiting to be discovered this holiday season. Puerto Rico is ready to celebrate.”

The city-to-island partnership includes a swap of marketing and advertising assets, which are valued at $300,800. 

Beginning Nov. 19, New York City campaign advertisements will be featured on select billboards throughout San Juan, Puerto Rico for three months, while Puerto Rico advertisements will appear on bus stop shelters and LinkNYC screens across New York City’s five boroughs through Jan. 13. 

“This partnership is deeply personal for me as it formally bridges two of the most fundamental parts of my identity,” said Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

He continued, “As a first-generation New Yorker with parents from Puerto Rico and family on the island, I’ve always felt a special connection not only to my life in upper Manhattan but with my roots and summers spent in Vega Alta, Puerto Rico. I do not exist without both or either. (This) public commitment and bond between these two places that I hold so dear could not be more meaningful.” 

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.