Congratulations to New York City for reaching its goal of attracting 50 million visitors in 2011, a year ahead of schedule.
This event is a milestone for the city and a welcome opportunity for us to stand on our soap box and speak of Things That Matter.
What matters to us about this event is not just the numbers, although 50 million is a nice round number, and $32 billion in visitor spending has a nice ring to it.
Even more important than the numbers is New York's attitude about the numbers. Put another way, what matters about these numbers is that they matter so much to New York.
The city's business and political leaders recognized the importance of the visitor industry, set a goal, worked toward it, reached it and staged an event to mark the occasion.
Few cities in the U.S. will come anywhere close to New York's 50 million, but every city ought to care just as much and just as openly about its visitor industries.
Some do. More should.