We recently compiled a report on the 26 Most Glamorous Cities in the US and in this article, we will look at the most glamorous city in the US.

Overview of the Tourism and Travel Sector

The pent-up demand for tourism and travel after the uplifting of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen exhibited in the tourism trends across the globe. Data from Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) shows that global leisure travel increased by around 31% in March 2023 as compared to its pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This translates to a 25% year-over-year growth between 2022 and 2023. Leisure and business travel have been on the path to recovery since 2022, increasing at the same rate. The sectors experienced a 33% increase in March 2023 as compared to its pre-pandemic levels in March 2019, and a year-over-year-to-date growth rate of 42% between 2022 and 2023. Trends across the tourism and travel sector show that travelers are keen to travel and experience the world, with total spending on experiences increasing by 65% in March 2023 as compared to its pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Similarly, the spending on things during traveling also increased by 12% between the same time period.

A report released by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) titled World Tourism Barometer January 2024 shows that international tourism has recovered nearly 88% of its pre-pandemic demand. The sector is anticipated to catch up to its pre-pandemic demand in 2024. Estimates show that around 1.3 billion international tourists were recorded across the globe in 2023. This number shows a growth of 34% over 2022. The UNWTO Tourism Confidence Index survey further highlights the positive trajectory for international travel, with 67% tourism professionals expressing belief in “better or much better prospects” in 2024 as compared to 2023. The tourism direct gross domestic product (TDGDP) as of 2023 stands at $3.3 trillion, which translates to 3% of the global GDP according to preliminary tourism estimates. These levels are the same as pre-pandemic levels in 2019, primarily fueled by recovering international and domestic levels. You can also look at 30 Most Visited Cities in the US by Foreigners for further insights.

Travel and Tourism in the USA

The tourism and travel sector in the USA reflects global trends. According to estimates by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is an official website of the US government, the travel and tourism industry as a whole grew by 53.6% in 2021, and 21.0% in 2022. When computed by real gross domestic product (GDP), the broader economy grew by 5.8% in 2021 and 1.9% in 2022. According to our report on the 30 Most Visited Cities by American Tourists, New York’s New York City, California’s San Jose, Georgia’s Atlanta, and California’s Los Angeles were the most popular tourist destinations across the country. These trends are primarily driven by the glitz and glamor of these cities, taking the lead in fashion, fine food, luxury, and tourist attractions.

Some of the most prominent luxury companies boosting tourism include Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR). On June 1, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced the debut of the Park Hyatt brand into Hunan, central China. The Park Hyatt Changsha will take up the uppermost floors of the International Finance Square (IFS), which is a 1,000-foot-tall skyscraper and the tallest building in the Hunan province. Guests at the Park Hyatt Changsha will thus have unhindered access to the largest commercial complex in the city, buzzing with high-end fashion.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) is another prominent name in the luxury hospitality industry. On June 3, the hotel company announced plans to take three luxury properties in the United States under the umbrella of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio. These three iconic properties include Turtle Bay Resort, The Resort at Pelican Hill, and a luxury Midtown hotel located in New York City. The Turtle Bay Resort is located on the North Shore of O’ahu, Hawai’i, and is expected to become a part of The Ritz-Carlton brand portfolio this summer. The Resort at Pelican Hill is a 504-acre luxury resort located in Newport Beach, California, and is set to join the luxury portfolio by Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAR) on July 1.

Lastly, New York City’s luxury hotel stands at the heart of Midtown Manhattan, with the biggest tourist attractions including Times Square, Fifth Avenue, The Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, and The Museum of Modern Art nearby. It is set to join the Marriott Bonvoy on June 5. Here is what Leeny Oberg, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Development, Marriott International, had to say about the development:

“In the last few weeks, we finalized deals for conversions of three incredible properties, adding over 1,000 rooms to our system and continuing to underscore our commitment to luxury. We are sought out by owners because of the depth and breadth of our brand portfolio and the power of our platform to drive results. Today, the company has an industry-leading global luxury distribution of over 510 open hotels with another 234 luxury hotels in the signed pipeline. We look forward to strengthening our leadership in this important customer segment as we continue to work with owners to maximize the potential of their projects.”

Now that we have taken an overview of the travel and tourism sector, let’s look at the most glamorous city in the US. You can also look at 30 Most Fun Cities in the US in 2024 and 30 Most Interesting Cities in America.

Our Methodology

In order to compile a list of the 26 most glamorous cities in the US, we used a consensus approach and a visitor survey through Reddit. Firstly, we consulted ten online travel expert resources to compile a list of the 26 most glamorous cities in the US. Next, we looked at ten Reddit threads that asked commenters to mention the most glamorous US cities they had visited in the United States. We only chose threads that had more than 50 comments and studied more than 500 comments to shortlist the most glamorous cities in the United States that had the most recommendations by Reddit users. We then counted the number of upvotes on each comment and chose the top 26 cities with the most number of upvotes. The 26 most glamorous cities in the US are arranged in ascending order of their number of upvotes on Reddit.

Note: This list is not exhaustive and does not reflect our opinion. The ranking is solely based on the opinions of mass consumers on Reddit.

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The Most Glamorous City in the US

1. New York City, New York

Number of Reddit Upvotes: 786

New York City ranks first on our list of the 26 most glamorous cities in the US. Located in New York state, New York City was the capital of America between 1785 and 1790. The city sits at the juncture of the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean, and comprises five boroughs. At the city’s heart stands the densely populated borough of Manhattan, also known as one of the most prominent financial, cultural, and commercial centers in the world. Also known as The Big Apple, New York City ranks as one of the most popular cities across the globe. It is the melting pot of America, housing people from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Some of the most popular tourist attractions in the city include Times Square, the Empire State Building, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Statue of Liberty, the Museum of Modern Art, and several others.

According to our methodology, New York City is the most glamorous city in the US. To look at more glamorous cities in the country, you can check out our detailed report on 26 Most Glamorous Cities in the US.

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