New York City was the most popular U.S. tourist destination in 2009

New York City was the most popular U.S. tourist destination in 2009, and there may be more visitors this year, helping to retain leisure and hospitality jobs at pre-recession levels, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said.

New York’s 45.25 million visitors surpassed Orlando, Florida, the home of Walt Disney Co.’s Walt Disney World, after finishing second in 2008, according to NYC & Co., the city’s marketing office. In 2009, Orlando placed second, said George Fertitta, chief executive officer of the tourism effort.

“We began 2009 with a dismal forecast for the city’s tourism industry,” Fertitta said at a Brooklyn news conference today. “Our initial projections estimated a 10 percent decrease.” An international advertising campaign, promotions for discounted airfares and several months of reduced hotel rates helped tourists compensate for a slide in business travel during the worst economic decline since the Great Depression. International Visitors

In 2009, international visitors decreased to 8.6 million. Tourists from abroad spend nearly five times more than domestic visitors, the mayor said today.
Business group meetings and convention visits increased 15 percent in 2009 compared with 2008, Fertitta said.

Hotels sold a record 23.6 million room nights during 2009, 300,000 more than in 2008, NYC & Co. said. A 6 percent increase in the city’s hotel rooms during the past year to 81,500 helped keep the industry’s employment level above 300,000, Fertitta said.

The release of the year’s tourism statistics coincided with NYC & Co.’s announcement of its latest promotion, “Real Deal Winter,” offering discounts at hotels, museums, theaters, restaurants, shops and tours through February.

The tourism bureau also announced that 15 luxury hotels had agreed to offer a free third night to guests who book and pay for two consecutive nights through February. Get the full story at Business Week