GANYC
Formation1974 (1974)
TypeProfessional trade association
HeadquartersNew York City, United States
Location
  • New York City
Membership
341
Official language
Multiple spoken by member guides
President
Michael Morgenthal
Key people
Beth Goffe (Vice President), Katherine Hill (Vice President), Sara Lyons (Treasurer), Leigh Hallingby (Secretary), Mitch Paluszek (Secretary)[1]
Websitewww.ganyc.org

GANYC (Guides Association of New York City) is the professional association of licensed New York City tour guides.

Established in 1974, it is one of the oldest tour guide associations in the United States. GANYC is a member of the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations.[2] With a present count of approximately 371 members, GANYC represents nearly 10% of the guides licensed in New York City with an estimated 4,000 guides currently licensed by the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.[3]

The organization's mission is provide continuing education about touring through a series of internal and external programs. It also advocates on behalf of New York tourism industry workers, such as in response to overtourism concerns at the Statue of Liberty in 2019[4][5][6] or after tourism shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8][9] They have also worked with city agencies on behalf of better conditions for tourists,[10] including an ongoing legislative battle involving sightseeing bus guides.[11] It has also acted as an aid in finding government assistance for its constituents, such as after the September 11th attacks in 2001.[12]

The organization is run by an all-volunteer Executive Board, with elections occurring among its membership every two years.

History

GANYC was founded as the Multilingual Guides Association of New York City in 1974. In 1979, the organization changed its name to the Guides Association of New York City to better reflect its growing recognition outside of New York as the professional organization for tour guides in New York City. In 2012, GANYC began to hold its monthly meetings at various sites of historic and cultural significance and also introduced industry partner membership and strategic affiliations to more closely engage with businesses and organizations interested in supported tour guiding. Its membership provides tours in all five NYC boroughs and covers approximately 10% of all New York City sightseeing guide licensees.[13]

GANYC Apple Awards

GANYC hosts an annual awards ceremony to honor the best in New York City culture, preservation and tourism in a dozen categories.

Previous hosts have included Tony award-winning broadway musical star Brian Stokes Mitchell,[14] cabaret performer Mark Nadler, and podcast hosts the Bowery Boys.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Board Members". GANYC.
  2. ↑ "WFTGA Members".
  3. ↑ "NYC DCA Sightseeing Guide List" (PDF).
  4. ↑ Kilgannon, Corey (2019-05-01). "Everyone's Welcome at the Statue of Liberty. Except Tour Guides". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  5. ↑ Rosenberg, Zoe (2019-05-01). "Statue of Liberty will ban tour guides from some of its most popular areas". Curbed NY. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  6. ↑ "Commercial tours restricted at Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island: Travel Weekly". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  7. ↑ "City Tourism Dips Due to Coronavirus Spread". www.ny1.com. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  8. ↑ Anuta, Joe. "Hotel occupancy rates plummet as coronavirus decimates tourism trade". Politico PRO. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  9. ↑ "Bleak Times for NYC Tour Guides | WFUV". wfuv.org. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  10. ↑ "Times Square Alliance invites Alec Baldwin to visit". WPIX. 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  11. ↑ "The Future of NYC Tour Bus Guides | The Brian Lehrer Show". WNYC. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  12. ↑ ""(Page 15 of 20) - Finding Meaning Off and On the Sidewalk: Walking tour guides and their untidy careers authored by Wynn, Jonathan"".
  13. ↑ "GANYC Press Kit" (PDF).
  14. ↑ BWW News Desk. "Brian Stokes Mitchell To Host 4th Annual GANYC Apple Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
  15. ↑ "The Bowery Boys are hosting an awards show — the 5th Annual GANYC Apple Awards (March 4)". The Bowery Boys: New York City History. 2019-03-01. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
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