Guides Association Of New York City

Happy Easter to all who celebrate!

Members of the Guides Association of NYC are ready and waiting to welcome tourists back to New York! But "safety first" has been our motto throughout this pandemic, and that has not changed. Cases are rising again, and we all want the US to avoid the fate of many European nations, whose sharp rises have forced new rounds of lockdowns. We urge travelers to postpone travel until all 16+ members of their family/group have been fully vaccinated, to keep getting tested until then,... and to continue to avoid any activities (such as indoor dining, etc) where masks aren't worn until then as well. GANYC understands pandemic fatigue is rising sharply as well, but we must all continue to do our part to prevent more suffering. GANYC urges both travelers and guides to read the Health and Safety Guidelines on our website (under our COVID-19 menu) for our recommended best practices for touring during this time. And for fully vaccinated locals or travelers who are looking to tour New York City this Spring and Summer, please visit https://touryourowncity.com/ to peruse 100+ unique tours designed to help people fall back in love with this city. So please stay safe, get vaccinated as soon as possible (local pharmacies seem to the best source for appointments right now), and we hope to see you all soon! We are all in this together.

The Historic Districts Council has partnered with one of GANYC's Guiding Spirits, Joe Svehlak for a series of video tours focusing on historic neighborhoods. The first 3 videos on their YouTube channel feature Joe showcasing the East 25th Historic District in Brooklyn, East Flatbush, and Sunset Park. https://www.youtube.com/cha/UCfKKzW_UOM_Ml2AW7gKD5Pg/videos

Yesterday, Joe Svehlak gave a FAM tour: "Lower West Side Immigration: Diversity, Integration and Displacement". Joe's tour explored the former Lower West Side immigrant enclave neighborhood downtown, most of which was destroyed by construction of the World Trade Center, Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, and other projects. They looked at what is left, and explored the area's enduring legacy. (photos by Enrico Giolo)

GANYC's next online meeting is Wednesday, February 3 at 6pm! GUEST SPEAKERS: Francis Morrone is an architectural historian and the author of 14 books, including "The New York Public Library: The Architecture and Decoration of the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building." He teaches at New York University, where he founded the certificate program in Historic Preservation, and at the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, and lectures at the 92nd Street Y. He is currently writing ...the sixth edition of the "Blue Guide New York." Kelly Carroll is the Director of Advocacy and Community Outreach at the Historic Districts Council. She is an adjunct professor in historic preservation at New York University’s School of Professional Studies in the Center for Applied Liberal Arts. OTHER AGENDA ITEMS: There will be the president's report from Emma Guest-Consales, and committee reports from various GANYC committees.

GANYC held its January membership meeting last night, via Zoom. In addition to our President's report and several committees reporting, we also had a presentation by Bob Provost, President & CEO, NY State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). Robert discussed NYSTIA's NYERS4NY initiative and Explore NY Week (January 25-31). Our main presentation was by Sasha Vosk. He spoke about his book, "400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide," which portrays the evolution of the city across four centuries.

On Monday, February 22, at 8pm EST, the GANYC Apple Awards go live streaming around the globe! Hosted by ABC7's Bill Ritter, we will honor a city that is historically resilient, and that continues to inspire. The Apple Awards celebrate those who make New York City great. Over a dozen awards are given out each year to individuals & organizations from across our five boroughs. In addition to our 11 main nominated categories, we will also award a Lifetime Achievement Award to Ma...lachy McCourt, and our Guiding Spirit Award to Marta Sanders-Cooper! Tickets are now on sale! Only $5! After purchasing, stay logged in at EventBrite and your order page will contain the link to the LiveStorm event for February 22, which you can bookmark for later. Your confirmation email will also contain a link to return to that EventBrite page which has the LS link. We look forward to sharing in this virtual celebration with you on February 22! (Info on nominees: https://www.ganyc.org/2021-ganyc-apple-awards ) Get your tickets! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/7th-annual-ganyc-apple-awards-

GANYC E-Newsletter (Goodbye 2020 Edition!) - https://mailchi.mp/42b75f/ganyc-e-newsletter-jan121-7162229

GANYC's rescheduled January online meeting is Wednesday, January 13 at 6pm. GUEST SPEAKER 1: Sasha Vosk, who will be speaking about his book, "400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide," which portrays the evolution of the city across four centuries. This incredible visual representation of New York City is the first book to use the unique, almost-three-dimensional illustrations that Vosk creates using the latest in CG visual-art technology. What you see in 400 Years o...f New York History’s first volume New York as New Amsterdam in the 1600s is a photorealistic reconstruction of what the city almost certainly looked like over the course of the 17th century. GUEST SPEAKER 2: Robert Provost, President & CEO, NY State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). Robert will be discussing NYSTIA's NYERS4NY initiative and Explore NY Week (January 25-31). OTHER AGENDA ITEMS: There will be the president's report from Emma Guest-Consales, and committee reports from various GANYC committees. https://ganyc.wildapricot.org/event-4115852

GANYC member Ibrahima Diallo is quoted in this CNBC article on virtual tours around the world helping people safely explore from home this year. GANYC is proud at how its members adapted this year to still shine as the best guides in NYC, in-person or online. GANYC will continue to lead the way to represent NYC over the next year.

In light of the turmoil engulfing our nation's capitol today, the GANYC Board has decided to cancel tonight's GANYC meeting.... it will be (tentatively) rescheduled for next Wednesday, January 13th, at 6pm EST. A formal announcement with new registration links will follow in the days ahead when we confirm that. We especially hope our friends and colleagues in Washington DC are staying safe, and we are thinking of you today. We appreciate everyone's understanding about this situation, and we wish everyone well.

Thank you to all our members and industry partners and other friends in the tourism world for their support throughout 2020. This photo was taken in February, as the NYC guiding community looked to the year that lay ahead. Needless to say, it was not the year anyone envisioned. A year of horrific loss, struggle, and also resolve. Our members inspired us to keep pushing, and to work to become the loudest voice fighting for the recovery of our industry. We are proud of the man...y new initiatives we undertook in 2020, and of how we worked to help members adapt to the fast-moving changes. We will continue and expand on this work over the coming year of recovery and transition. For a summary of the work that GANYC did this year, you can read our site here: https://www.ganyc.org/covid-19-resources

GANYC has been providing its members a lot of exclusive virtual content throughout this year, including professional development programs and virtual tours. These are all available to members to rewatch in our Digital Library. Today, GANYC concluded its "GANYC Celebrates the Met@150" virtual tours with an eight and final session... a group celebration of favorites aspects of the Met's collection, and how we experience them. GANYC will continue to offer great virtual educational (and fun!) programming throughout 2021, as we also work on ways to help our members get back to doing what they do best... serve as the ambassadors to our great city through their guiding work. If you are licensed NYC sightseeing guide and are interested in becoming a member, see our website for membership info and an online application.

GANYC's next online meeting is Wednesday, January 6 at 6pm! GUEST SPEAKER 1: Sasha Vosk, who will be speaking about his book, "400 Years of New York History: A Pictorial Guide," which portrays the evolution of the city across four centuries. This incredible visual representation of New York City is the first book to use the unique, almost-three-dimensional illustrations that Vosk creates using the latest in CG visual-art technology. What you see in 400 Years of New York Histo...ry’s first volume New York as New Amsterdam in the 1600s is a photorealistic reconstruction of what the city almost certainly looked like over the course of the 17th century. GUEST SPEAKER 2: Robert Provost, President & CEO, NY State Tourism Industry Association (NYSTIA). Robert will be discussing NYSTIA's NYERS4NY initiative and Explore NY Week (January 25-31). OTHER AGENDA ITEMS: There will be the president's report from Emma Guest-Consales, and committee reports from various GANYC committees.

A new edition of The Virgil is here! In addition to a new Presidential address, we look at what the road back to "normal" may look like, discuss school reopenings, the future of virtual tours, the pandemic's effect elections & voting, + more! https://mailchi.mp/f24f4d431ea4/14707212-5597353

GANYC members had an opportunity this weekend to explore Morningside Heights on a FAM tour led by Alice Hunsberger, PhD. Her tour explored the beautiful uptown neighborhood through its numerous monuments. These monuments tell tales not only of wars of America's independence, rupture and union, and echo similar tales from Germany, Hungary and Japan. They also honor America’s fights for public health, women's suffrage, freedom of the press, civil rights and clean government. In short, one can see the civic fabric of America woven along these streets! Thanks to Dr. Hunsberger for an excellent and engaging tour!

Groups Today, the community for group travel professionals, has published its Readers’ Choice Awards for Tenacity in Travel 2020. GANYC is proud to announce that we are among the recipients. Guides Association Vice President Michael Morgenthal was honored for spearheading our Tour Your Own City initiative. We launched this project as part of our ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of the recovery of New York City's tourism industry over this coming year. Thank you to all who have supported Tour Your Own City, and please let all your friends & family know about it! https://touryourowncity.com

Several more GANYC members have been featured in the news lately, and we put a roundup on our blog. Thanks to our members for representing our industry to the wider world!

GANYC members braved a chilly forecast for Kevin Fitzpatrick's "Secrets of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Tour." Author, editor, and historian, Kevin is a 3-time GANYC Apple Awards recipient. Fitzpatrick led his fellow members on a Manhattan tour of the 1920's, visiting the Fitzgeralds' haunts - hotels, speakeasies, landmarks. The tour included a wonderful behind the scenes visit to The Lambs Club, a social club for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre founde...d in the 1870s. Thanks to Kevin for offering this tour, and to all who attended! (photos by Bob Gelber & Nina Mende)

Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate.

New Yorkers... now is your chance to tour your own city! https://touryourowncity.com/ Over 100 unique tours are waiting for you from the best guides in New York! Re-discover the best of New York, or embark on a unique journey through the city's history and culture. Our site connects you directly to the guide, to ensure you are supporting a genuine local business. We have worked to ensure safe & fun experiences for New York area residents looking to support their city. ... Arrange your NYC adventure today!

GANYC has been working to provide countless resources to its members during this year of crisis. We have helped guide our members into a new world of virtual touring, with instructional PDPs (professional development programs) on how to create this type of content and find your audience, as well as numerous virtual tours available only to our members. One of our current virtual tour series is celebrating The Met's 150th anniversary, with several webinars on its various colle...ctions. We also recently offered a 3-part PDP series on tourism marketing. Members have exclusive access to all these videos in a digital library. We have also resumed in-person fam tours, demonstrating not just to members, but to others, how tours can be conducted right now in both a safe and a fun manner. We have also continued to publish our regular Virgil e-newsletters with information on navigating and understanding this tumultuous year. Other member benefits include: optional tour guide liability insurance, GANYC's ongoing Certification Course, professional and social networking opportunities, our political and media advocacy on behalf of NYC guides, and more! Any licensed NYC sightseeing guide may apply for membership. Info here: https://www.ganyc.org/membership

Jeremy Wilcox led a few fellow GANYC members through Dyker Heights yesterday evening, to see their spectacular Christmas decorations & discuss how this has changed this year. Which local favorites decided not to decorate this year? And did any actually go bigger than ever to spread extra cheer? Jeremy showed members this, as well as explained the humble origins of this tradition. (photos by Megan Marod + Eileen Coloretti)

GANYC member Kevin C. Fitzpatrick is a celebrated author, and also the founder of the Dorothy Parker Society. This past August, he was selected by Parker's family to represent them as, after years of trying, he brought back Parker's cremated remains to NYC from Baltimore, in a quest covered by the New Yorker magazine she helped found. Fitzpatrick then helped bury Parker's remains next to her parents in the Bronx's Woodlawn Cemetery. Fitzpatrick shared this story, as he gave ...a walking tour of her former childhood neighborhood in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Members walked in her footsteps to her former apartments, haunts, school, and more. The tour allowed members to experience a neighborhood familiar to most guides through the eyes of a young Dorothy Parker. (photos by John Semlak & Stan O'Connor & Jerry Jastrab)

GANYC member Sibyl McCormac Groff is interviewed in this NY Times article about the ice skating season this year at Rockfeller Center. Besides being a longtime Rockefeller Center historian & tour guide, she is also the author of "A New York Christmas Hohoho at Gothamtide". She is GANYC's foremost Christmas elf!

Jeremy Wilcox gave another encore FAM of his Billionaires Row: Rise of the Supertalls tour yesterday. The tour aims to better familiarize people with the new wave of supertall residential buildings that have come to redefine the Midtown skyline. This stretch includes the world's tallest residential building, the world's thinnest skyscraper, and several other massive buildings with rich amenities. (photo by Stan O'Connor)

Tommy Wilkinson gave another FAM tour of the historic Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, and its unique catacombs this week. Members have continued to offer unique FAM tours this Fall, so that we can all learn from experience, and so that we should show that great tours are available all over the city for area residents to rediscover the best of the Big Apple. GANYC's Health & Safety Guidelines for tours, which we worked on for months in consultation with health & gov...ernment officials, can be found on our website as well as other great resources during this time. (photos by Jared Goldstein)

At the start of the pandemic, GANYC created a new e-newsletter called The Virgil, designed to help those in the NYC tourism industry navigate this crisis... mixing news, advice, opinions, and humor. We hope our readers have found it helpful. Though this crisis is far from over, this will be our last regularly-scheduled Virgil edition. We may still issue special editions next year, as news comes out relevant to our readers: full vaccine rollouts, renewed economic relief packag...es, the reopening of international borders, the reopening of Broadway and other NYC attractions, and news of how NYC tourism is adapting in this coming year of transition. In the meantime, we will still publish GANYC's regular e-newsletter. This final issue contains a note from our President, a farewell from our editor Cristina Lombardi, a summary of GANYC's 2020, a look at the timeline for the vaccine rollout, a note about the GANYC Apple Awards, and a member's experience with new guiding app.

GANYC held its December membership meeting last night, via Zoom. In addition to our President's report and several committees reporting, most of the meeting was a presentation by John Tebeau, illustrator and author of Bars, Taverns, and Dives New Yorkers Love. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2s-n5Acw_U

GANYC E-Newsletter (December 2020) - https://mailchi.mp/a27c91/ganyc-e-newsletter-oct120-7123741

The November monthly GANYC meeting will be held virtually at 6pm EST on Wednesday, November 4. Register at the link below, after which you will receive the webinar registration info by email. The topic at this month's GANYC meeting will be borough history.... We will feature invited borough historians for a panel discussion on this eventful year. The historians will reflect on historical echos of how communities within their respective boroughs have dealt with biological and economic catastrophes. Each historian will have their own introduction, and then we will have a panel discussion, moderated by members of the GANYC Education Committee. There will also be committee reports, and the President's Address. We hope you can join us!

The nominees for the 2021 GANYC Apple Awards are live! https://www.ganyc.org/2021-ganyc-apple-awards Tickets will go on sale in a few weeks. GANYC members will be receiving online ballots to vote this week!

Yesterday, Joe Svehlak gave his most recent FAM tour for GANYC, "I Remember Downtown Part 2-- West Side from South Ferry to St. Peter's on Barclay Street". In Joe's lifetime over a third of Manhattan below Chambers Street has disappeared. Members saw what's left of the Lower West Side, once a thriving unique immigrant and commercial area before two acts of eminent domain wiped out the "Little Syria" neighborhood and Radio Row, the city's first electronics district. Joe spoke of the struggles to preserve the memory and few remaining buildings of this former melting pot neighborhood of twenty-seven nationalities living here in 1917. Members also viewed the rampant redevelopment after 9/11 and ended at New York's first Catholic parish where noted New Yorkers and various immigrants worshiped. (photo by Renee Kohn)

This morning, GANYC member Marc Landman led a walk over the new Tappan Zee Bridge, officially named the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, which connects the towns of Tarrytown and Nyack across the Hudson River in beautiful Westchester County. This spot is about 28 miles north of Midtown Manhattan, whose skyline is visible from the span on a clear day. The nearby village of Sleepy Hollow is a popular tourist destination during the Halloween season. (photos by Marc Landman + @nyperte on Instagram )

GANYC is very proud that our President, Emma Guest-Consales, is featured in this industry spotlight by TripSchool!

This morning, Tommy Wilkinson Tommy's New York gave members a tour of the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral. This was the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York until the current St. Patrick's Cathedral opened in 1879 in Midtown. The history of the church and its ground have strong ties to the history of New York City, and to Catholicism in America, as Tommy explained throughout our tour. The highlight of this tour for many is a visit underneath the church to its catacombs, the final resting place of many prominent parishioners of Old St. Patrick's. These are the only catacombs in Manhattan and one of only a handful that exist in the entire United States. Thanks to Tommy for a wonderful visit to an oft-forgotten part of NYC history!

GANYC is saddened to report that member Eddie Schneller has passed away. We send our condolences out to all his loved ones.

On this Small Business Saturday, remember that most NYC tour guides are self-employed small business owners. This holiday season, locals can give themselves (or family or friends!) the gift of an amazing local tour from an amazing selection. As much as you can this season, shop local, shop New York!

Happy Thanksgiving to family and friends, near and far! GANYC is thankful for your support of guides and guiding in New York City, and we are always ready to welcome you back to the Greatest City in the World. Have a wonderful celebration, be safe, and stay healthy!

The World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. (WFTGA) asked their member associations from around the world to share their journeys as we near the end of 2020. GANYC VP Michael Morgenthal presented on our behalf, showing what we've learned since March, and how we created Tour Your Own City to be at the forefront of the coming recovery. https://youtu.be/SVLO7rUPptY?t=4907

GANYC's next online meeting is Wednesday, December 2 at 6pm! Our guest speaker is John Tebeau, Author, Bars, Taverns, and Dives New Yorkers Love. John is a writer, illustrator, and former Brooklyn bartender. He’s a true topophiliac a lover of places who enjoys bars, taverns and dives primarily as social centers. These are what sociologist Ray Oldenburg calls third places; not home, and not work, but oases where you can be yourself, recharge, and flourish.... Inspired by Mr. Oldenburg (and genetics; his dad and grandpa were both barmen in Michigan) John wrote and illustrated Bars, Taverns, and Dives New Yorkers Love published by Rizzoli in 2018. The book celebrates 50 special places all over the five boroughs. Places where people meet up, hang out, decompress drink, talk, laugh, argue and fall in love. Often in that order. He lives in Brooklyn Heights with his wife The Lovely Colleen and two semi-domesticated cats rescued from the mean streets of Queens. His local is the Long Island on Atlantic Avenue, seat 14 at the bar. He has been knocked unconscious twice, touched a monkey once, and never been to Savannah, GA. Other agenda items will include committee reports, and the President's Report. We hope you can join us! https://ganyc.wildapricot.org/event-4053805

GANYC has been asked by its members and the press to comment on a new NY Times article stating a full tourism recovery will take until 2025. GANYC and others who intend to lead on the recovery of tourism do not intend to do so based on worse-case scenarios. Here are our thoughts on all this: https://www.ganyc.org//ganyc-will-keep-fighting-nycs-touri

Here's the online version of the article in the Red Hook Star-Revue about the Tour Your Own City initiative. We thank all those who've supported this project, and continue to support local tours & exploration!

Stan O'Connor led a FAM tour yesterday, providing fellow members with a unique look at lower Manhattan. Looking at events from 1664 to the present, the tour takes in the history, business and culture the UK has shared with the city of New York for nearly 350 years. There is hidden history on almost every block downtown! (photos by Enrico Giolo and Jerry Jastrab)

Here are some additional photos of Monia Bonaldo's Fall foliage FAM tour in the North Woods of Central Park this past weekend. The unseasonably warm weather has made this an ideal time for New Yorkers to explore nature, leaf peep, and engage in urban birdwatching. The 40-acre North Woods were designed to evoke the look and feel of the peaceful Adirondack Mountains. (photos by Alice Hunsberger)

A great tour guide knows how to create tours that only appeal to international and domestic travelers, but to locals as well... and luckily GANYC is filled with great guides. This is one reason why GANYC launched our Tour Your Own City site/initiative, to connect locals to over 100 unique tours, operated by our members. The Red Hook Star-Revue recently spoke with us about this project, and how GANYC is helping New Yorkers discover the hidden gems of this city during this diff...icult year. Reporter Michael Fiorito joined Jeremy Wilcox on one of his Flatbush tours, and discovered new things about an area he used to live in. He also spoke with member Maggie Browne about her tours, and with GANYC VP Michael Morgenthal, who spearheaded the Tour Your Own City initiative. The article is not yet online, but here are the scans from the November issue, which is available for free at many businesses throughout Red Hook. We thank the Star-Revue for spotlighting the work our guides are doing to provide fun & safe options for locals looking to get out and explore NYC.

Dave Gardner publishes our quarterly printed newsletter, Guidelines. But he is also the NYC guiding world's foremost expert on all things Titanic. In the November/December 2020 issue of The Saturday Evening Post, they cover the Titanic buffs who follow the history, and even collect memorabilia and artifacts. The article speaks to Dave about his relationship with the Titanic's history and legacy, and the tours he does about it. You can read it here:

GANYC member, historian, and veteran Kevin Fitzpatrick is featured in the NY Daily News for the special tours he is running to celebrate Veteran's Day. The tour he ran this weekend and this coming Saturday honors those who served our country who are laid to rest in the Bronx's historic Woodlawn Cemetery. Kevin is the author of, among other history books, "World War I New York: A Guide to the City's Enduring Ties to the Great War".

New York has been having gorgeous weather this week, and Monia Bonaldo took advantage of it to lead her fellow members on a walk in the northern sections of Central Park. As the fall foliage comes into peak beauty this week, it is the perfect time to explore NYC's favorite backyard. Monia led members down well worn paths along a stream, under soaring & gravity-defying stone bridges, majestic and spooky arches, past babbling waterfalls, and up and down hills. The nature and wildlife of the north woods and the ravine make for an amazing contrast with the surrounding city neighborhoods. These FAM tours are open to GANYC members only, and remain one of the most popular benefits of membership, to explore different areas and to network with fellow guides. If you're a licensed NYC guide, contact us to inquire about becoming a member!

GANYC held its November membership meeting last night, via Zoom. In addition to our President's report and several Committees reporting, our main topic was borough history. We invited four of the official borough historians for a panel discussion on this eventful year. We asked the historians to reflect on historical echoes of how communities within their respective boroughs have dealt with biological and economic catastrophes. We thank them for their insights and stories! Our historians were: Robert W. Snyder (Manhattan), Jack Eichenbaum (Queens), Lloyd Ultan (The Bronx), and Ronald Schweiger (Brooklyn).

Joe Svehlak led another FAM tour for members this week: "When New York Was Nieuw Amsterdam". November is the month to celebrate our Dutch heritage! On this tour, members walked the old Dutch streets and along the original shoreline as Joe shared New York's Dutch roots downtown over 4 centuries ago, such as our Dutch legacy of tolerance and commerce. Members learned about the diverse immigrant population, the problems they faced, and the part they played in the foundation of... our democratic society. Joe pointed out historical remnants around today that provide a window into this era. Thanks to all who came! (photos by Ann McDermott)

Calling all New York area residents... now is the perfect time to tour your own city! https://touryourowncity.com Over 100 professional tours are available on every aspect of NYC! Come re-discover New York with those who know it best.

Since the start of the pandemic, GANYC has published a regular e-newsletter called The Virgil. In this newsletter, GANYC provides some humor and relief, but most importantly keep our contacts updated on topics relevant to tourism during this crisis. Our COVID-19 Resources page contains links to all issues, as well as other materials. GANYC would like the feedback of our members and supporters as to what topics (or types of topics) they would like future Virgil issues to focus on. Let us know in the comments or by email. Thanks!

GANYC members recently had a fam tour called "Billionaires Row, Rise of the Supertalls!", with Jeremy Wilcox. New York City is in the midst of a new skyscraper age, leaving icons like the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building in the dust. In the last 7 years, 36 skyscrapers have popped up, all over 700 feet (213.36 meters) tall. In the entire previous century, there were 38 skyscrapers. But the biggest buildings in this age of the supertalls are a series of residentia...l buildings dubbed Billionaires Row. On this tour, members learned the factors that led to this modern skyscraper boom: from economic factors, to zoning loopholes, and new building techniques. What are air rights? What is a mechanical floor, and why do they matter? The tour explored not only these topics, but also dived into the luxurious life and amenities and famous residents of these buildings. Members saw the works of architects such as Jean Nouvel, Gregg Pasquarelli, Rafael Viñoly, and others. The tour also delved into the discussions around the controversies over how these buildings reflect the economic divides of 21st-century New York, as well as how they impact the neighborhoods and landmarks around them. (Thanks to all who attended, and provided photos!)

GANYC held its October monthly meeting last night, via Zoom. The topic at the meeting was accessibility in the tourism sector. There was a panel discussion moderated by our President, Emma Guest-Consales.... We had two speakers: 1. Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, founder of the travel blog, AccessibleTravelNYC, is an expert destination marketer focusing on accessible travel. She and her family recently appeared in the first ever campaign with New York City featuring a person with a disability. She's a recognized digital marketer, educator and mentor within the travel & tourism industry. She's currently on the NYC Steering Committee for Tourism Recovery ensuring New York City welcomes all when travel resumes. 2. Roberta Rosenberg is the co-founder of Destination Accessible US Inc., a 501c3 that believes everyone deserves to have fun, including those with mobility challenges. Destination Accessible provides first-hand, accessibility information on restaurants, parks, museums, theaters and kid-friendly venues, other popular places. Several GANYC Committee also gave reports.

GANYC E-Newsletter (Autumn 2020) - https://mailchi.mp/1cc6ec/ganyc-e-newsletter-oct120-2289689

A new edition of The Virgil is here! In addition to a new Presidential address, our PR Chair offers a follow-up to our response on the "anarchist jurisdiction" nonsense, a call for guides to become volunteer mentors, and more!

The third and final day of presentations from the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. (WFTGA) Enjoy!

Day Two of presentations from the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. (WFTGA) as guides' associations from around the world share their journeys.

Over the next few days, member associations of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations. (WFTGA) will be sharing their 2020 journeys. Our President Emma Guest-Consales will be speaking in today's session. Watch the livestream here!

GANYC's next monthly meeting is Wednesday, October 7th at 6pm, and will be conducted via the Zoom platform. It is open to the public. Registration info here: https://ganyc.wildapricot.org/event-3989402 The topic at this meeting will be accessibility in the tourism sector.... This will be a panel discussion moderated by our President, Emma Guest-Consales. We will have two speakers: 1. Lakshmee Lachhman-Persad, founder of the travel blog, AccessibleTravelNYC, is an expert destination marketer focusing on accessible travel. She and her family recently appeared in the first ever campaign with New York City featuring a person with a disability. She's a recognized digital marketer, educator and mentor within the travel & tourism industry. She's currently on the NYC Steering Committee for Tourism Recovery ensuring New York City welcomes all when travel resumes. 2. Roberta Rosenberg is the co-founder of Destination Accessible US Inc., a 501c3 that believes everyone deserves to have fun, including those with mobility challenges. Destination Accessible provides first-hand, accessibility information on restaurants, parks, museums, theaters and kid-friendly venues, other popular places. Thank you as always for your support!

Today is World Tourism Day. This day is celebrated to raise awareness on the importance of tourism in the social, cultural, political and economic aspects of any region. What was supposed to be another record year for travel and tourism has turned upside down due to the ongoing pandemic. But we have seen this year the resilience of professional guides, as they've used the downturn time to learn new skills to prepare for the future, create new markets for virtual tours, and h...elp show locals how much there is to explore right in their own areas. GANYC is proud to have hundreds of talented professional guides who've been the ambassadors for NYC tourism for years, and we are proud to be working on their behalf for the coming recovery. (Photos from GANYC events from throughout 2020)

GANYC member Beth Goffe led an encore of her Central Park birdwatching FAM tour this week. Members explored the 36-acre Ramble in the park's center, while Beth showed members how to spot and identify some of the dozens of species of birds that make the park their home. The Ramble is an amazing spot that feels worlds away from the city. Some of the birds spotted on the tour (beyond the park's common robins, sparrows, cardinals, and blue jays), were: several varieties of warble...rs, a wood thrush, doves, and a red-tailed hawk on the hunt for lunch! A beautiful early Fall morning to explore nature! Locals looking for a Central Park tour can find several available now on TourYourOwnCity.com ! (photos by Jeremy Wilcox + Deborah Blau)

Earlier this year, GANYC completed the latest round of our certification course. We created this course to enhance and certify members skills beyond mere licensing requirements (skill versus knowledge). GANYC certification helps show that we remain *the* main resource for travelers and tour operators to go when seeking the very best professional guides in New York City. Over 3 weeks of classes, the course participants learn how to craft tour narratives, how to manage tours i...n different types of situations, professionalism and customer service, and more. There was also field work, on buses, by subway, and on foot! The final project for the course is for participants to create a brand new tour, and to make a professional pitch to the Committee. As part of maintaining their certification, course graduates are encouraged to offer their new tour as a FAM tour to the organization. Certified guide Jeremy Wilcox recently did this for the Certification Committee, with his "Billionaires Row: Rise of the Supertalls" tour. GANYC intends to offer this course again in 2021. More details will come next year. (photos via Juan Garcia-Aenlle + Emma Guest-Consales)

New York City is being actively undermined by a campaign of right-wing propaganda, fueled by a federal government threatening to choke its recovery. Here is a response from GANYC.

A new edition of The Virgil is here! In addition to a new Presidential address, we hear from a member on his return to tour guiding and how it's going, a look at the safety and concerns over the coming return of indoor dining, another museum experience, and more!

GANYC President Emma Guest-Consales was interviewed by the World Journal for their article on the plight of NYC tour guides during the COVID crisis (you can use Google Translate to get an English translation for the page). We thank GANYC member Yue Wang for arranging the interview, and for speaking on behalf of NYC's great community of Chinese guides. GANYC will continue to work hard over the next year on behalf of NYC tourist guides to get them back to work, and to jump-start our vital tourism industry with projects like Tour Your Own City.

The WFTGA is featuring talks from tour guide associations around the world this week, including GANYC on 9/28. Please note the times shown there are Vienna Austria time zone. GANYC will present in the 10:00 am (4:00 pm Vienna) time slot on Monday 9/28. Registration links as follows;... (please register for each day that you intend on watching) Option A - 28th September (starting 10 am NYC) https://us02web.zoom.us//9415996/WN_dFzQAZdjShuhdp_OiOVuIQ Option B - 29th September (starting 3 am NYC) https://us02web.zoom.us//7715996/WN_Vj_fuKD9SUmjqHZxuP9rfQ Option C - 30th September (starting 6 am NYC) https://us02web.zoom.us//8315996/WN_Ank7xo4zTnu-nUj5mGJXsA

This morning, GANYC members joined Joe Svehlak on a fam tour: "I Remember Downtown, Part 1-- From the Municipal Building to Bowling Green". Joe shared his memories and knowledge of downtown... He believes that about a third of Lower Manhattan as he knew it has been lost in his lifetime. He remembers old Newspaper Row before redoing approaches to the Brooklyn Bridge changed that area. He remembers Water Street before it was widened and the South Street Seaport area before it b...ecame an historic district. Downtown used to have a Diamond District, a Stamp and Coin District and an Insurance District among other distinct areas. The tour also discussed planning and preservation issues and viewed some of Downtown's spectacular architecture from the Civic Center down to Wall Street and Bowling Green that made an impression on Joe when he first started to work Downtown over 60 years ago. (photos by Tony Di Sante)

One of the perks of being a GANYC member is going on a FAM tour! Some of our members had a fabulous morning birdwatching in Central Park with GANYC guide/birder Beth Goffe. They saw a dozen different species of birds, from a tiny hummingbird to a majestic red-tailed hawk - all in the heart of Manhattan! #touryourowncity #centralparknyc

GANYC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday, via Zoom webinar. This is the annual meeting where GANYC administration presents its strategic plan for the coming year. All committees give a report on what they've done, and will do, members discuss the direction of GANYC, and the Treasurer presents the budget for the next fiscal year. We thank all the members who attended for their feedback. GANYC and its volunteer-run Board and committees work hard to serve the NYC guiding community, and will strive to keep pushing further in the coming year, amidst a tourism & travel industry in crisis.

Thank you everyone for attending the GANYC Annual General Meeting tonight. Thank you Committee Chairs for your presentations. HUGE thanks to Treasurer Jeremy Wilcox for his great work on the budget. Thank you all Board members for your devotion to our great association.

A new edition of The Virgil is here! Our President reports her experiences at the Met post-reopening, an update on Tour Your Own City post-launch, more members share experiences returning to NYC cultural institutions, + more!

Thank you Empire State Building for our final fabulous FAM tour this morning. GANYC guides had a wonderful time seeing the new exhibits and magnificent view. We can’t wait to return with guests who want to tour the city again! #empirestatebuilding #touryourowncity #NYC #AllInNYC