NEW YORK CITY TOURISM + CONVENTIONS WELCOMES STUDENT & YOUTH TRAVEL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE TO NYC

New York City Remains a Top Global Destination for Student Group Travel

Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Conference Celebrates the Significant Impact of Student Travel and Tourism with Spotlight on New York City

New York City (August 7, 2024) — New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, prepares to welcome the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Conference back to NYC for the first time in over a decade, from August 9–13 at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel.

The Student Youth & Travel Association (SYTA) is the world’s largest association dedicated to the student group travel segment. Student group travel is a vital sector of New York City’s tourism economy, and NYC is among the top three destinations annually for student travel in the United States, welcoming nearly one million visitors each year.

New York City Tourism + Conventions has partnered with the Student Youth & Travel Association (SYTA) to welcome a record-breaking 1,100+ conference delegates who will gather for business appointments, networking events, educational panels and workshops, and sightseeing tours throughout New York City, a central hub for student travel.

“New York City has always been a global hub for education and culture, making student travel a vital component of our tourism industry, accounting for nearly one million visitors to the five boroughs last year,” said Nancy Mammana, CMO and Interim CEO of New York City Tourism + Conventions. “Welcoming student groups to our city plays a crucial role in engaging future generations of travelers, educating them on exploration through history, diverse cultures, immersive experiences, sustainable practices and more. This will be particularly important as we ramp up to our commemoration of NYC’s 400th anniversary in 2025 and the 250th of the founding of the United States in 2026.”

“We are excited to welcome this year's attendees back to New York City, a destination that embodies the spirit of exploration and learning, and truly welcomes the diversity of the world’s traveling young people,” said Carylann Assante, CAE, Chief Executive Officer of the Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA). The Student & Youth Travel Association (SYTA) Conference provides a platform for sharing knowledge and forging connections that will shape the future of student travel. Further information about the conference is available here: Annual Conference – SYTA.

Student travel is a transformative experience that fosters personal growth, cultural understanding and educational enrichment. As one of the world’s most iconic destinations, New York City offers students unparallelled opportunities to engage with historical landmarks, world-class institutions and diverse cultures. From 2025 to 2026, New York City Tourism + Conventions will celebrate Founded By NYC commemorating both the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 400th anniversary of NYC. In partnership with Hamilton, New York City Tourism + Conventions is celebrating the ways NYC has made history—and continues to do so—highlighting achievements driven by the creativity and resilience of the five boroughs and its people, incorporating the perspectives of marginalized audiences, including Indigenous communities, women and people of color.

In 2023, tourism to New York City generated an estimated $74 billion in economic impact with more than $48 billion in direct spending. This activity supported over 380,000 leisure and hospitality jobs—roughly 9% of the City’s workforce—and thousands of small and minority-owned businesses across all five boroughs. In 2023, NYC welcomed 62.2 million visitors—50.6 million domestic and 11.6 million international. In 2024, visitation is expected to grow to 64.8 million, a 97% recovery of 2019 record levels.

About New York City Tourism + Conventions:
New York City Tourism + Conventions is the official destination marketing organization (DMO) and convention and visitors bureau (CVB) for the five boroughs of New York City. Our mission is to invite the world and energize the City, building equitable, sustainable economic prosperity and community through tourism for the mutual benefit of residents, businesses and visitors. For all there is to do and see in New York City, visit nyctourism.com.

About SYTA:
SYTA is the premier association of businesses dedicated to providing life enhancing travel experiences to students and young people. To find out more about SYTA and research on the student group travel market, please contact info@syta.org.