Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958, Jack Deacy or Kim Serafin 212 788 - 2958
At a press conference at City Hall, the Mayor was joined by City Council Speaker Peter Vallone, New York Convention and Visitors Bureau President Stephen Morello, its Chairman, Paul O’Neill, Times Square Business Improvement District President Gretchen Dykstra, Op Sail 2000 Chairman Charles Robertson and Steve Leber, Chairman and Executive Producer of Celebration 2000.
“New York City is the world’s best place to ring in the New Year. The world looks to New York and equates our City with New Year’s Eve,” said Mayor Giuliani. “From the countdown launch this Sunday, to the gala events planned for the City leading up to December 31, 1999, New York City will be the place to be.” The Committee has designated this coming Sunday, April 6, 1997 -- the 1000th day before New Year’s Eve, 1999 -- through the year 2001 as “Millennium Season,” and plans to promote all Millennium related events that occur during this time. The Millennium Committee includes representatives from hotels, restaurants, retail businesses, transportation companies, entertainment venues, museums, cultural institutions and major attractions.
“The biggest Millennium myth right now is that New York City is already sold out,” said Stephen Morello, President of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The truth is we have hardly begun to take reservations. We plan to make sure that the people who want to celebrate the Big Night In New York get the information they need to do it.”