Jul 24, 2012 | NYC.gov
Mayor Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, NYC & Company
CEO George Fertitta and New York City Clerk Michael McSweeney today announced
that one year after the enactment of the Marriage Equality Act, same
sex-marriages in New York City have generated an estimated $259 million in
economic impact and $16 million in City revenues.
At least 8,200 same-sex marriage licenses were issued in the first year,
accounting for more than 10 percent of the 75,000 marriage licenses issued in
New York City since July 24 last year. The economic impact survey was conducted
by NYC & Company and the City Clerk’s Office and found same-sex marriages
generated significant additional revenue for New York City’s tourism industry
with more than half of same-sex couples holding wedding celebrations in venues
across the five boroughs. More than 200,000 guests traveled from outside of the
City to same-sex marriage events and more than 235,000 hotel room nights were
booked at an average daily room rate of $275. The announcement was made at the
Manhattan Marriage Bureau, where the Mayor and Speaker also were joined by
Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell, City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Marc
Solomon, National Campaign Director for Freedom to Marry, and Nic Faitos,
Senior Partner of Starbright Floral Design, a small business that has seen a
rise in revenue the last year.
“Marriage equality has made our City more open, inclusive and free – and it
has also helped to create jobs and support our economy,” said Mayor Bloomberg.
“New York has always been a great place to get married and since the passage of
the Marriage Equality Act, we’re welcoming more and more couples, their
families and friends from around the country and the world.”
“The widespread reach marriage equality has had in New York extends beyond
the fundamental need to make sure all people are free to marry the person of
their choosing,” said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. “Our economy has also reaped
the benefits full equality has to offer and the impressive economic impact
same-sex marriage has and will continue to have on our City is a boon for New
York and for all those who fought so hard to make equality a reality in New
York State.”
“Following the historic passage of the Marriage Equality Act, NYC &
Company launched the NYC I DO communications campaign domestically and through
our global network of 18 international representative offices to promote the
City as a vibrant and attractive weddings destination,” said NYC & Company
CEO George Fertitta. “New York City is the perfect backdrop for all couples to
tie the knot and share in one of life's most important moments.”
“As the legislative sponsor of the Marriage Equality Act, I couldn’t be more
proud that so many same-sex couples have taken advantage of their long-awaited
right to marry across our great state this past year,” said Assembly Member
O’Donnell. “Today is my husband John’s birthday, and after 31 years with me, it
is the first birthday he is celebrating as a married man. Happy birthday to
John and congratulations to the thousands of other LGBT New Yorkers now able to
share important life milestones as married couples!”
“This Saturday, my fiancé and I will join the thousands of LGBT New Yorkers
who got married in the past 12 months,” said Council Member Van Bramer, one of
New York City Council’s openly gay elected officials. “Love and commitment are
worthy of celebration and New York City is once again at the forefront of
equality. We are all enriched when people are free to be who they are, love who
they love, and yes, marry the one they choose.”
“Marriage equality is good for New York!” said NYC Council Member Daniel
Dromm (D-Queens). “All along, LGBT people have known that the passage of the
Marriage Equality Act by the New York State legislature last year would have a
positive impact on all New Yorkers lives. For LGBT people, marriage equality
obviously has a direct, personal impact but it has also been good for New
York’s economy. And that is good for all of us. I am so pleased that New York
has taken the lead on this issue which I hope in a few years won’t even be an
issue anywhere else in this country.”
“Extending the freedom to marry to loving and committed same-sex couples in
New York was a tremendous and transformative moment for the state, the nation,
and the world,” said Marc Solomon, National Campaign Director of Freedom to
Marry. “Thousands of couples have since professed their love in front of family
and friends in New York, affirming and strengthening their commitment to one
another and making the universal promise to share all of life’s joys and
sorrows together. It's no surprise that the freedom to marry has had a powerful
economic impact on New York City. Cities that cultivate diversity are the
places where great ideas thrive, where today's entrepreneurs are eager to build
the businesses of tomorrow.”
Since the Marriage Equality Act went into effect on July 24, 2011, 67
percent of same-sex couples held wedding receptions at restaurants, homes,
hotels or catering halls in the five boroughs, with 296,500 guests and 201,600
of them traveling from outside of the City.
Only half of same-sex couples had a budget in mind when planning their
wedding, but they averaged costs of $9,039 for their wedding celebration and 31
percent spent $10,000 or more. Approximately 235,900 hotel room nights were
booked, more than 40,000 wedding announcements were printed, and 47,445 wedding
favors were purchased all adding up to additional revenue for New York City.
To make New York City the top wedding and honeymoon destination for all
couples across the world, NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing
and tourism organization, launched the NYC I Do campaign immediately following
the passage of the Marriage Equality Act. The multi-channel, global communications
initiative promotes the attractiveness of the five boroughs as a place for all
couples to get married or enjoy their honeymoon. NYC & Company created the
website, nycgo.com/nycido, to provide New
Yorkers and visitors with important information about how to get married in the
city. The site also lists special hotel offers for couples searching for a
wedding venue or accommodations for out-of-town guests, and highlights some of
NYC & Company’s more than 2,000 members including restaurants, hotels,
bridal shops, florists, and gift registries who provide wedding goods and
services.
Starbright Floral Design is a small business with 25 fulltime employees
located in Manhattan. It has participated in NYC I Do and reported an uptick in
business since the enactment of marriage equality.
“With more couples marrying in New York, our business has seen a jump in the
last 12 months,” said Nic Faitos, Starbright Floral Design Senior Partner. “By
working with NYC I Do, we have connected with couples planning their wedding
and helped be a part of their celebration.”
From July 25, 2011 to March 31, 2012, the research firm, ARA, recruited and
interviewed more than 1,700 randomly selected same-sex and opposite-sex couples
at the City Clerk’s Offices across all five boroughs. Confidential online
surveys were then sent to all panelist volunteers between August 2011 and March
2012. The survey was designed to identify major expenditures for wedding
receptions in New York City and had a response rate of 20.5 percent.
One Year Marriage Numbers
According to the Clerk’s Office, from July 24, 2011 to July 16, 2012,
approximately 75,000 total marriage licenses have been issued in New York City.
The City no longer requires couples identify sex on the license application,
but many couples choose to self identify.
Of couples who choose to identify, 58,136 were heterosexual couples and
7,184 were same-sex couples. A total of 9,809 couples did not specify genders
Of the 7,184 same-sex couples, 3,898 were male couples and 3,286 were
female.
1 comment:
Wow that is a lot of money good for New York for being so excepting!
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