New York City and American Airlines joined Chicago tourism officials for their first-ever collaborative effort to bolster tourism and promote travel between the two cities in 2011.
To promote travel between New York City and Chicago, American Airlines unveiled a special limited-time reciprocal airfare deal of $89 each way. Reservations must be made and tickets must be purchased by October 22, 2010. Valid for round-trip travel to O’Hare airport and to the three primary New York City airports. The valid travel period will be January 5, 2011 to February 25, 2011 with embargoes from January 15 to 17 and February 18 to 21, 2011.
American Airlines and American Eagle have also strengthened their commitment to Los Angeles with plans to add 10 new destinations - one international and nine domestic - for a total of 33 additional round trips beginning April 5, 2011. In addition to Los Angeles-Shanghai, American will offer seven additional daily domestic flights from Los Angeles, including two flights each to Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami and one flight each to Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando. By spring 2011, American and American Eagle will offer 153 daily departures at LAX - a 28 percent increase from today's schedule.
This city-to-city partnership comes as NYC & Company continues its national Live More Tour, designed to give travel incentives to visitors through exclusive flight deals and consumer offers in the two destinations.
"Travel is an opportunity for people to broaden their horizons—truly giving us all the chance to live more," said George Fertitta, NYC & Company CEO. "More than 47.5 million are expected to visit New York City this year, with our ultimate goal to welcome 50 million visitors annually by 2012. With that in mind, we are pleased to partner with the City of Chicago and American Airlines to directly promote tourism between our great cities in 2011."
"Chicago and NYC are both outstanding year-round destinations, full of great events and activities that take place both indoors and out. We are very excited to be partnering with NYC & Company and American Airlines to encourage travel between our cities," said Dorothy Coyle, Director of the Chicago Office of Tourism.
Last year New York City welcomed approximately 555,000 Chicagoans while approximately 872,000 New Yorkers visited the Chicago area. More than 4.4 million total passengers traveled between Chicago and New York City, with 37 percent flying on American Airlines. There are more than 50,500 flights per year between Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports and the three major airports that serve New York City; American Airlines represent 30 percent of flights to O'Hare.
In 2009, New York City welcomed 45.6 million visitors who collectively spent $28.2 billion. For 2010, NYC is forecasting 47.5 million total visitors (which will represent a 4.2 percent increase over the previous year) who will collectively spend an estimated $30 billion. Approximately 80 percent of New York City’s visitors are domestic. In August 2010, New York City’s leisure and hospitality industry employed 322,200 people—this represented an increase of 5.3 percent over the previous August.
In 2009, Chicago welcomed 39.6 million visitors representing $10.2 billion in spending and 125,000 jobs.
In addition to the exclusive American Airlines travel offer, New York City and Chicago officials today promoted several marketing programs and events for travelers to take advantage of over the upcoming months. NYC & Company highlighted its Get More NYC campaign partnering with American Express, American Airlines, AT&T, YP.com and Travelocity and at retailers, restaurants, theaters and other culture institutions around the five boroughs. Some of the NYC promotions taking place this winter include the first-ever Broadway Week offering two-for-one tickets to more than 40 of Broadway’s hottest shows (January 24–February 10); the upcoming NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2011 offering visitors prix-fixe meals at nearly 300 of the City’s high-end restaurants (January 24–February 6); and the Off-Broadway promotion “On the House” offering theater enthusiasts two-for-one tickets to some of the City’s most celebrated Off-Broadway shows (January 24–February 13). In addition, more than 80 of the City’s top hotels will offer up to 35 percent off their best available rate from January 2 to February 28 when travelers book between October 15 and November 2. Further details on all of NYC & Company’s winter promotions can be accessed at nycgo.com.
In the months ahead, the City of Chicago encourages visitors to take advantage of the many, world-class events taking place across the city including skating on the world's highest ice rink at the John Hancock Center (January 1–March 31); Chicago Boat Show (January 12–16); Snow Days Festival (January 28–30); Chicago Winter Dance in Millennium Park (February 5–27); Chicago Auto Show (February 11–20); Chicago Restaurant Week (February 18–27) and museum free-admission days. These events, combined with the lowest rates of the year at hotels. make for a fun, affordable trip.
American Airlines travel bookings can be made through AA.com—fares are reciprocal for travel between Chicago and New York City and New York City and Chicago. These special fares are on sale for a limited time—from October 20 through October 22 —so act quickly. Fares are valid for round-trip travel to and from both Chicago and New York. The overall travel period runs January 5–February 25, 2011 with travel embargoes on January 15-17 and February 18–21, 2011. The fares require a 14-day advance purchase, are nonrefundable and require a Saturday-night stay. A $150 change fee applies, as does the 9/11 Security Fee and PFCs (Passenger Facility Charges) of up to $4.50 per segment, depending on the airport.
Fares shown do not include a Federal tax of $3.70 per domestic segment (defined as one takeoff and one landing), passenger facility charges of up to $18, and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement at a US airport. Fare shown is each way based on roundtrip for economy class travel purchased on AA.com no later than October 21, 2010. Travel is valid starting Jan. 5, 2011 with all travel completed by Feb. 25, 2011. Embargo dates: Jan. 15-17 and Feb. 18-21, 2011. The fares are non-refundable and require a Saturday night stay. A $150 change fee applies. See AA.com for complete details and conditions.