A new Web site and visitor center partnered by Google and Travelocity will help tourists and residents find New York City's best shows and hottest restaurants.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined tourism officials Wednesday to introduce the NYC Information Center in midtown Manhattan.
"Our city's travel and tourism industry is as important today as ever, and we've invested in new tools to attract visitors and formed innovative partnerships with brands such as Google and Travelocity to promote the city to people around the world," Bloomberg said.
The officials also introduced a new Web site, www.NYCgo.com, that will feature a comprehensive calendar of the city's cultural events.
The new $1.8 million visitor center, a few blocks north of Times Square, replaces one that closed in July. Wall-mounted information kiosks available in nine languages will offer transportation tips and services. The center will also sell MetroCards and tickets to top attractions.
The Web site will allow visitors to create personal profiles and review venues and events. They will be able to use Travelocity to book hotels, flights and car rentals.
Both the visitor center and the Web site will offer Google Maps for trip planning. At the center, interactive tables will allow users to plan a custom tour and then visualize it using Google Earth on the video wall.
"New York City's innovative implementation of Google tools will improve the experience for both visitors and locals," said Google Senior Vice President Tim Armstrong.