The Broadway Collection Hosts Broadway Meets Brazil with NYC Tourism Partners in São Paulo
The Broadway Collection partnered with members of New York City’s tourism industry on Thursday evening to host the first-ever Broadway Meets Brazil event at the Auditório Ibirapuera in São Paulo, Brazil. Broadway Meets Brazil—a partnership among The Broadway Collection, NYC & Company, American Airlines, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and São Paulo Turismo (the City of Sao Paulo’s tourism board)—was a joint trade event featuring performances from six hit Broadway Collection shows: Chicago the Musical; Cirque du Soleil: Zarkana; Disney’s The Lion King; The Phantom of the Opera; Priscilla Queen of the Desert; and Wicked, as well as an exclusive Q&A session with the performers.
Attended by a select group of 150 top tour operators and travel agents in Brazil, Broadway meets Brazil also served as an incentive promotion to increase travel bookings to New York City in 2012, with a specific focus on increasing Broadway’s exposure among Brazilian travel planners.
Brazil is New York City’s number three overseas market. An estimated 589,000 Brazilian residents traveled to New York City in 2010 and contributed approximately $1.6 billion in spending to the City’s economy—a new record and 77% increase over 2009. The top-ranked activities for travelers include shopping, dining and cultural tourism. Overall New York City welcomed a record-breaking 48.8 million visitors who contributed $31 billion in direct spending. Tourism is the fifth-largest industry in New York City, supporting nearly 310,000 jobs across its five boroughs. The City remains on track to meet Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s goal of attracting 50 million visitors annually by 2012.
The United States is the number one market for Brazilian travel overseas; an estimated 1.2 million Brazilians visited the United States in 2010—34% more than in 2009. Conversely, about 667,000 Americans traveled to Brazil in 2009, making it the number one destination for American travelers visiting South America.
The Broadway Collection is a surefire hit for travelers to New York City, and tickets to our member shows can be purchased from our travel partners throughout Brazil.