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I Love NY
Weekend
October 6/7, 2001
The emotional toll of September 11th is impossible to determine. But in a city where tourism is a 25 billion-dollar a year industry, the economic blow is all too measurable.
Hotels have lost 10 million a day, restaurants 20 million, and taxicabs have been empty for weeks following the horror.
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But now, from the Statue of Liberty to the Empire State Building, the tour busses are revving, the maps are out, and tourism is returning to the city that never sleeps. And to keep them coming, the Big Apple has big plans. Mayor Giuliani says, “If you're thinking about coming to New York over the next year, do it now.”
Those who heed mayor Giliani's battle cry are in for some deals. Recently, the mayor unveiled a "Delta Loves New York" promotion, which has the airline handing out 10,000 free tickets to the city. Congress has proposed a $1,000 tax deduction for anyone visiting New York. Plus, those ailing hotels like the Waldorf in Manhattan - are ready to make a deal.
And if that's not enough, on Monday a new version of the old “I Love New York” campaign hit's TV. "I Love New York More Than Ever," with a seared heart symbolizing the city's pain, features stars like Kathleen Turner, Robert De Niro, and Regis Philbin lending a hand to rebuild the city they love.
The original campaign - which featured stars like Liz Taylor, Brooke Shields and Frank Sinatra - lifted New York out of the doldrums back in the 70's. Public relations powerhouse Bobby Zarem, who created the original “I Love New York” campaign, says, “Within three weeks of the ‘I Love NY’ commercial going on the air, theater attendance jumped from 67 percent to a 102 percent.”
Now, the new ads can only help a rebound that's already beginning. Hotel occupancy is already on the rise. Flights to New York already 60 percent full. So with a seared but unbroken heart, New York City looks forward to a new day.
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Autographed
picture available on Ebay
starting next week
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