Here's a name to remember when looking for details about New York City: NYC & Company, the official tourism arm for the five boroughs, has a new president and CEO.
With more than 23 years of experience in the travel industry, Fred Dixon will be responsible for developing and implementing New York City’s tourism and convention development strategy internationally as well as in domestic leisure and business markets. At NYC & Company, he has built a sales and marketing team that is at the core of the organization’s strategy to increase visitation and increase economic impact across the City.
"It’s so important to bring this business [and] these opportunities to where the majority of our people live, and that 'Neighborhood by Neighborhood' program has done that," said New York City mayor Bill de Blasio about the appointment. "I was so moved, not only in terms of our economy and tourism, but also in terms of the underlying meaning of the 'Rainbow Pilgrimage,' which I think is a great example celebrating this city’s decisive role in the fight for the rights of LGBT people, and the 40th Anniversary of Stonewall, so that’s an incredible thing that New York City & Company achieved."
Dixon has served on boards including National Tour Association (NTA), Tourism Cares, Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA), US Travel Association/IPW Planning Committee and was the City’s appointment to the Board of the Javits Center Operating Corporation.
He is the city’s primary liaison to the state’s travel and tourism industry in addition to Empire State Development and I Love NY.
Locally, Dixon has built tactical relationships with industry partners, airlines, cruise, and transportation; credit cards and OTAs; hotels, restaurants and entertainment companies; the City’s arts and cultural organizations, borough tourism offices and the small business members of NYC & Company across all five boroughs that keep the industry growing and creating jobs and opportunities.
Prior to joining NYC & Company, Dixon served in key positions at the Nashville Convention & Visitors Bureau, Planet Hollywood International, The Biltmore Estate, the Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau, Delta Airlines and Group Sales Box Office.
Joining NYC & Company in 2005, Dixon has lead the expansion of the City’s international marketing efforts. With a goal of growing visitation and visitor spending, NYC & Company focused on emerging global markets, rapidly expanding the City’s presence from six traditionally strong origin markets to 18 offices covering 25 countries in just over two years. With a network of sales, marketing and press professionals in diverse feeder markets from Australia to the UK, China to Mexico and India to Brazil, New York City remains at the forefront of inbound international tourism to the US.
The City's Visitor Numbers
The period from 2005 to 2013 has seen a 68 percent increase in international visitation from 6.8 million to over 11.4 million a year, more than 1.5 times faster than the US as a whole. Economic activity as a result of international visitor spending is rising faster than the economy overall and reached $18 billion in 2013, a 68 percent increase since 2005. The total economic contribution of the industry is now over $55 billion annually, supporting over 370,000 jobs and contributing over $3.5 billion to local taxes.