Manchester tourism bosses are aiming to boost visitors numbers from NYC after signing a new city-to-city agreement.
The new agreement between Marketing Manchester and NYC & Company , the official tourism boards for the cities, aims to bolster tourism between the two destinations.
This includes a number of marketing plans including strategy around arts and culture, sports, and LGBTQ+ travel.
The partnership makes Manchester the first and only non-capital city to have an agreement with the NYC tourism board.
The partnership comes as Virgin Atlantic increases services between the two cities by over 65%.
The two-year partnership, which will develop joint tourism opportunities between the two cities was signed yesterday (January 16) at Manchester's newest arts centre, CULTUREPLEX.
Marketing Manchester’s Managing Director Sheona Southern was joined by NYC & Company’s president and CEO Fred Dixon and Virgin Atlantic’s Head of Brand Strategy & Campaigns Hai Bei Chen for the announcement and signing ceremony.
Speaking of the announcement, Sheona Southern, managing director of Marketing Manchester said: “I’m incredibly proud that Marketing Manchester has secured what is undoubtably a very powerful partnership with NYC & Company.
"New York City is one of the top tourism destinations in the world and to be able to align ourselves with a city that we have so much in common with – especially in respect to being open, diverse and welcome destinations – is a huge coup and speaks volumes about Manchester’s increasing global profile.
“Marketing Manchester has been delivering strategic and tactical marketing in the USA for many years and this formal partnership – based on an agreement to share insights and intelligence, connections and collaboration opportunities and access to media infrastructure – is particularly significant as Virgin Atlantic will this year increase capacity by 65% on their non-stop flight to/from Manchester Airport/John F. Kennedy International Airport.”
Fred Dixon, President and CEO at NYC & Company said: "It’s a pleasure to announce our newest tourism marketing partnership with one of the United Kingdom’s most important Northern England cities. Both destinations are capitals of diversity and iconic hubs of arts & culture, sports and media.”
“We believe there is outstanding potential to further develop joint tourism opportunities between Manchester and New York City. We look forward to collaborating with Marketing Manchester, Manchester Airport and Virgin Atlantic to further solidify this new alliance and in so doing, welcome more visitors to our welcoming urban destinations.”
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