New York is characterized by its constant renewal. Whether you want to muse at the museum, catch a Broadway show, shop around or stroll through the historic neighborhoods, our list of the top 7 reasons to visit New York City will invite you to visit this incredible city.
1) More Places to Stay: More than 9,000 new hotel rooms will be coming online in the City this year, including the highly anticipated Aman New York, Fifth Avenue, the new urban sanctuary located on Fifth Avenue; the Ritz-Carlton, NoMad, a new experience inspired by the essence of the new Madison Square Park; and the Hard Rock Hotel New York, a new property offering a backstage pass to the best of Midtown Manhattan, all expected to open this spring. Additionally, the Renaissance Hotels brand will open properties in Harlem and Flushing in the coming months; the Virgin Hotel New York City and Hotel Barrière Le Fouquet’s New York are expected to open this summer; Moxy Hotels will open properties on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and in Williamsburg, Brooklyn later this year; and The Fifth Avenue Hotel is expected to open this fall. For more, visit nycgo.com/hotels.
2) Shopping in New York City: This fall, visitors will be able to stop by the new Tiffany & Co. flagship store at 727 Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The store will include eye-catching installations, exclusive products and the reopening of The Blue Box Café, where customers can enjoy breakfast. Visitors can also stop by New York City’s most iconic department stores, including Macy’s Herald Square, Nordstrom NYC, Bloomingdale’s, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. For more, visit nycgo.com/shopping
3) New and Evolved Museums and Cultural Institutions
The Museum of Broadway, the first permanent museum dedicated to Broadway, will open in Times Square this summer and celebrate Broadway’s history while also giving a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Broadway productions. The Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens, is undergoing a physical and programmatic expansion for a new cultural center, expected to debut later this year, which includes an interactive exhibit, archival collections, a 68-seat jazz club and store. And, the Bronx Children’s Museum, which celebrates the natural curiosity, creativity and compassion inherent in all children, is also opening this year after moving to a new home in Mill Pond Park. For more, visit nycgo.com/museums.
4) Stars and Beloved Stories Return to Broadway
There’s no business like show business, and this year, Broadway is going to become home for some of the biggest and brightest stars in entertainment. Hugh Jackman recently returned to Broadway for the revival of The Music Man; Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick will star in the Broadway revival of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, with previews February 25; on March 22, Darren Criss and Laurence Fishburne join the stage for the revival of American Buffalo; and Daniel Craig will make his anticipated return to the stage on March 29 for Macbeth. There are also limited revivals of shows coming to Broadway such as For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When The Rainbow Is Enuf, beginning April 1; Hangmen, with previews beginning April 8; and the best-selling novel The Kite Runner is coming to Broadway for the first time this summer. For more, visit nycgo.com/broadway.
5) Explore the Great Outdoors Within the Five Boroughs
Experience the beauty of the outdoors without leaving the City, with a vast array of floral and nature-related offerings. This spring, view the annual blooming of the cherry trees at Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the East River walkway on Roosevelt Island. Since each tree only blooms for one week, check out BBG’s Cherry Watch to plan your trip. Don’t miss the horticultural spectacle of The Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, which will fill the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory with thousands of dramatically displayed orchids. Nearby, adventure enthusiasts can check out the Treetop Adventure at the Bronx Zoo, reopening this spring. And to catch some waves, visit Rockaway Beach in Queens, known as the City’s go-to surfing destination, which also offers playgrounds and other outdoor activities, such as basketball courts, baseball fields, volleyball courts and more. For more, visit nycgo.com/outdoor
6) Rejuvenating Wellness Experiences
Find tranquility at the City’s numerous wellness outposts in 2022. The seasonal Winter Spa at The William Vale hotel offers guests the ultimate spa experience with private red cedar outdoor saunas featuring panoramic dome windows and soaks in their red cedar hot tubs to relax and recharge. Governors Island offers your pick of 20 wellness experiences at QCNY—opening March 4—including several saunas, and massage and treatment offerings. Additionally, opening this spring, the spa at the new Aman New York hotel will offer three stories of rejuvenating experiences, including a 65-foot-long indoor swimming pool, two spa houses and an outdoor terrace.
7) A Greener New York City
Sustainability remains at the forefront for the City, with the newly renovated and expanded Javits Center debuting its state-of-the-art 7-acre green roof. The rooftop has become a sanctuary for area wildlife, including 35 bird species, five bat species and thousands of honeybees. Meeting delegates and visitors can schedule a tour to learn more about the facility’s effort in reducing energy consumption. Meanwhile, New York City’s newest public park, Little Island, located near the Meatpacking District, provides serene spaces for locals and visitors to explore, venues for live cultural performances and events, and views of the river. And Central Park, one of the world’s most iconic green spaces, has created a Central Park Climate Lab in partnership with the Yale School of the Environment and the Natural Areas Conservancy to develop new research and tools to help urban parks manage the severe impacts of climate change. For more, visit nycgo.com/green.
