As we come down the homestretch on 2021 we are feeling thankful at City Guide. Thankful for the return of international tourists. Thankful for vaccines and the new treatments that will allow us to come together again. Thankful for governmental support and its promotion of our city. Most of all we are thankful for our colleagues and all our loyal partners. As we reflect with friends and family this weekend, we will feel grateful we have such a strong, vibrant community in New York City tourism, one that has better times ahead on the near horizon. 

The White House has new details for the return of international travelers on November 8th. Tweaks to the guidance will make it easier for families to travel (children under 18 will be exempted from the vaccine requirement) and there will be exceptions for emergency, humanitarian, and medical reasons. Recent data shows a rise in bookings to the U.S. in tandem with reopening borders, with clear peaks at the point of reopening and again for the winter holidays. In mid-October, NYC's weekend hotel occupancy reached a pandemic-era high of over 80%. Read on for other signs of NYC and tourism comebacks.

The big story this morning is the announcement that land borders between Mexico and Canada will reopen to the vaccinated in early November. Canadians historically send more travelers to NYC than any other place save the U.K., and land borders will be easier to cross as no negative Covid test will be required. The Delta variant appears to be waning, with global rates of infection falling. Recovery is not overnight, but the U.S. economy is emerging with consumer sentiment, spending, and employment more resilient than it has been following previous surges. United Airlines's domestic capacity in December will be 91% of what it was in 2019. Their data suggests pent-up demand will be manifesting ahead of the holidays.

Although the Delta variant's impact on the economy is drawing most of the headlines, it's worth noting the good news for New York that's out there as well. The city will not be competing with European destinations in light of new international restrictions. On the domestic front, the number one fall destination for Airbnb searchers? That would be New York City. NYC will be ready to greet these visitors—many coming for longer stretches than usual—as reopening news continues to post.

The city is coming back quickly, to the point where things like hover drones above Times Square seem once again to be just another part of the city's fabric. Nationally, the TSA set another passenger screening record last weekend. AAA forecasts travel volumes around July 4th will approach the record highs set in 2019. As the nation and city bounce back, we see more and more openings and returns.

You probably never thought you'd be uplifted by reports of increased rat activity in the city, but such are the times we're living in. The uptick in rodent complaints reflects an increasingly bouncing back city. In more pleasant indicators, subway ridership just had its first 2 million-plus rider day in eons; nationally Uber saw rides spike almost 10% in March. There's much more on the opening front, too.

We are again overflowing with reopening news, as vaccine eligibility further expands and the CDC greenlights travel for those who've got their shots. Live theatre, music, and comedy have returned at least in part—even Jerry Seinfeld is back.

Hibernations are ending in NYC. We're seeing green shoots of growth both figurative and literal, including openings and reopenings of Frick Madison, Balthazar, Intrepid, Circle Line, Film Forum, and the Loeb Boathouse.

CBD drinks are popping up all around NYC and in all five boroughs. CBD, aka Cannabidiol, is being added to coffee drinks in creative ways and helps patrons take the edge off during the pandemic's numbing isolation.

As much as it may feel like 2021 is picking up right where 2020 left off, we are already in a different world less than two weeks into the year. Disturbing as the violence last week was—and the threat of more to come—we have seen the resilience of our institutions. Vaccines are rolling out across New York City, financial markets are optimistic, and interest in travel inspiration is at a pandemic-era high. Already we are seeing headlines like "The COVID Vaccine Travel Booking Spree Is On."

The vaccine news of the last few days is nothing short of spectacular. Pfizer and Moderna have both developed 95%-effective candidates, and Moderna's has less of a deep freeze requirement, making the logistics side more promising. Accordingly, travel stocks have been shooting up. Less publicized is a recent NYU study showing that hospitalized patients with COVID had a 26% chance of dying in March; that's been cut all the way down to 8% now. The FDA just approved an at-home COVID test. All of it bodes well for continued recovery. 

We are, at least, on the other side of the election. However things play out, at last being able to establish some parameters will allow our city and our industry to plan for recovery. For years we've heard an artificial emphasis on sectors like coal mining. There are 50,000 coal miners in the U.S. Tourism accounts for six times as many jobs—in New York City alone! Tourism and New York can be an accelerant for national recovery. In the links below we have several innovations and data points to that end.

Another week brings some major stories—no in-person ball drop for New Year's, no Met Opera season—and also several opportunities for rebirth. Indoor dining is back today. New York's outdoor restaurant program will be made permanent and new rules will make cooler-weather dining easier. Continuing innovation will get us out of this—read on for more links of interest.

For the second consecutive month, the city's unemployment rate has dropped, this time by a healthy 25%—although overall unemployment remains high, about double national averages. With tourism and hospitality curtailed, it's not surprising, although the city's low rate of COIVD transmission means more and more is reopening. Read on for the latest New York City and global tourism news.

As the Times put it yesterday, "if you’re worried about Covid-19, at this point New York is one of the safest places in America." Not exactly the fiery hellscape some have suggested this week. Enjoy the long weekend!