Broadway Is (Almost) Back As NYC Tourism Hits Post-COVID Highs: Study

NEW YORK CITY — Curtains are rising on mostly full Broadway theaters as tourism in New York City rebounds, a new study found.

Broadway attendance was at 86.2 percent pre-coronavirus pandemic levels in November, according to a study by the New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Hotels were also filling up, the study released Thursday found. Occupancy in the city’s hotels was 86.1 percent, or 20 percentage points higher than a year ago, the data shows.

The good news didn’t stop there, said Andrew Kimball, the EDC’s president and CEO.

“Both Broadway attendance and hotel occupancy rates reached new post-COVID highs this month,” he said in a statement.

The “post-COVID highs” come as New York City commences its holiday season, with a rush of tourists likely to flood hotels while waiting for “Hamilton” showtimes.

Such crowded scenes were almost inconceivable during the coronavirus pandemic’s height, which saw Broadway theaters closed for months on end and hotels virtually empty as travelers skipped trips.

But officials started to see hopeful signs for tourism’s return in mid-2021.

The study hints that the return has translated into jobs.

"Hotel and restaurant employment increased by 9,600 jobs in October, and the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation sector added another 2,200 jobs," the study states.

"Employment in these sectors, which were hit hard by COVID, has increased 15.4% and 21.7% year-over-year respectively."

Read the full study here.