Business
Hochul announces almost half a billion in tourism industry funding
BY KEVIN DUGGAN
Governor Kathy Hochul announced
almost half a billion in state funds
to boost the tourism industry and
its workers recover from the COVID-19
pandemic on Nov. 8.
The governor wants to provide as much
as $450 million for the ailing sector as
federal authorities have started allowing
international visitors back into the United
States if they are fully vaccinated against
the coronavirus on Monday.
“Since day one, I’ve had one thought as
your governor… I want to make New York
fun again,” said Hochul during her announcement
of the initiative at the American
Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. “I
want people to feel that vitality, that energy
that all of us knew before the pandemic that
we just embraced was part of our DNA.”
The package includes $100 million for
tourism workers who have not been able to
come back to their jobs or a full-time position,
and who will be able to get a one-time
payment of up to $2,700 from the state’s
Department of Labor, according to Hochul.
“There are so many jobs that are still
not back yet, and we cannot be blind to
this any longer,” she said. “We cannot just
People wear masks around Times Square in July 2021.
say, ‘They’ll be back tomorrow, just keep
holding on.’ People been holding on a long
time since they lost their extended unemployment
benefi ts back in September.”
The state will contact eligible New
Yorkers via text or email, according to the
governor’s offi ce.
Another $100 million in grants will go
to businesses to incentivize them to rehire
REUTERS/EDUARDO MUNOZ
workers sooner, and for each staff member
they bring back full-time for at least
six months the companies can get $5,000,
and $2,500 for each part-time employee.
More information on that grant is available
on the Empire State Development’s
website.
There will also be a $25 million grant
for convention centers to spur the return of
trade shows and events, also available from
ESD, and another $25 million the state will
spend on an international “I LOVE NY”
ad campaign promoting the Empire State.
The largest chunk of $200 million
will come from the state’s $800 million
pandemic small business recovery grant
program and Hochul plans to introduce
legislation to expand the criteria to allow
more companies to get the relief.
That expansion still requires the sign-off
from the State Legislature, which reconvenes
in Albany in January.
After almost three decades of growth
in tourism in New York City, peaking at
66.6 million visitors in 2019, the numbers
dropped by two-thirds in 2020 to 22.3 million
as the coronavirus tore through the Big
Apple, according to an April report by the
offi ce of State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli.
The industry’s economic impact dropped
from $80.3 billion in 2019 to $20.2 billion
in 2020, the state’s accountant estimates,
and 89,000 jobs were lost out of 283,000.
Hotel room occupancy is down 30% in
the city and 20% statewide, according to
Hochul, who added that the $117 billion
industry employed 403,000 workers statewide
pre-pandemic and is the third-largest
sector in the Empire State.
Times Square Alliance unveiled their holiday Show Globes
BY NYCKOLE MAREE
Times Square Alliance unveiled their
holiday Show Globes, located on
the Broadway Plaza between 45th
and 46th Street in Times Square. They are
partnering up with local businesses to offer
great deals throughout this holiday season
until Dec. 26.
Show Globes are a representation to celebrate
the creativity of Broadway designers
and the power of live theater. Guest are
welcome to take photos in front of these
Show Globes and admire the imagination
and talent that gives life to every show.
“The Times Square Alliance partnered
with Serino Coyne, a live entertainment
advertising and marketing agency, on the
curation and development of this “Show
Globes” exhibition and selected a diverse
combination of all-time classic Broadway
and more recent hit shows,” said TJ Witham,
Vice President, Communications for
the Times Square Alliance. “Show Globes
are a public installation of large-scale
snow globes featuring designs inspired by
hit shows currently playing on Broadway.
This year we have Show Globes inspired
The Wicked show globe in Times Square.
by Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times
of The Temptations, Dear Evan Hansen,
The Lion King, and Wicked.”
To celebrate the opening day, the event
featured a performance from Mark Nadler to
welcome back the Show Globes for Holiday
2021. People gather around the PlayBill’s
Piano Of Hope to listen to Nadler sing
Broadway and holiday tunes while eating
glazed donuts provided by Krispy Kreme.
PHOTO BY NYCKOLE MAREER
“Yesterday was electric in Times
Square as we unveiled the Show Globes,”
said Witham. “Tom Harris, the Alliance
President welcomed people celebrating the
power of Broadway as both a driver of our
economy and our humanity. He introduced
Mark Nadler, the internationally acclaimed
singer, pianist, comedian, and the recipient
of the 2015 Broadway World Editor’s
Choice Award for Entertainer of the Year,
who performed Broadway and holiday tunes,
along with a medley of songs from each of
the shows. He played on the Playbill Sing for
Hope piano. The event ended with a huge
confetti moment as the globes were offi cially
opened for the public to enjoy.”
Times Square Alliance is also kicking off
the holiday shopping and dining season with
special deals and offers from local restaurants,
shops, and attractions. Like Hershey’s
Chocolate World in Times Square will be
offering an exclusive holiday sweet personalization
bar. In addition, Playbill along
with the conjunction with Show Globes has
an online store where people can browse
through their favorite shows to buy special
ornaments, mugs, posters, attire, and other
items. Also, to satisfy people’s hunger, Tito
Murphy’s located on 346 West 46th Street is
a lively cantina that sells authentic Mexican
Cuisine and the restaurant is offering free
dessert of churros, tres leches, or fl an this
holiday season.
Come out to Times Square to view these
fabulous Show Globes and enjoy discounts
from participating local businesses. For
more information visit www.TSQ.org/holidaydeals
and www.TSq.org.
16 NNoovveembbeerr 1111,, 22002211 Schneps Mediia
/holi-daydealsand
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/holi-daydealsand
/www.TSq.org
/www.TSq.org
