As Staten Island's North Shore Revitalization Continues, Empire Outlets & CitySightseeing New York Announce New St. George Stop On Hop-on/Hop-off Cruise Route

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y., Sept. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As the revitalization of Staten Island's North Shore continues to draw unprecedented new interest and investment, CitySightseeing New York and Empire Outlets today announced a partnership that will include a new St. George stop on the CitySightseeing New York Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise loop. This new cruise stop in St. George will bring thousands more tourists per day directly to Empire Outlets, New York City's first premium outlet center, as well as surrounding destinations and businesses.

As part of its agreement with Empire Outlets and the New York Wheel, CitySightseeing New York will promote the new St. George cruise stop in its tourist packages and marketing materials, which are provided at concierge desks in major New York City hotels and at iconic landmarks. The new route will also be advertised on CitySightseeing New York's double-decker tour buses, creating additional waves of interest among the millions of tourists who visit the city each year. The new St. George stop is expected to go into service following Empire Outlets' planned opening next spring.

"It's an incredible opportunity to partner with Empire Outlets connecting Manhattan and Staten Island," says Mark Marmurstein, President and CEO of CitySightseeing New York, "We look forward to bringing both tourists and locals alike who love to shop to this exciting new destination."

"This partnership between CitySightseeing New York and Empire Outlets is a huge win for shoppers, tourists, businesses and the future of Staten Island's revitalized North Shore," said Joseph Ferrara, principal of BFC Partners, the developer of Empire Outlets. "As we get even closer to opening New York City's first and only premium outlet center, the new St. George cruise stop is just another reminder that when visitors come to Empire Outlets, they will go where New York is going."

"We are thrilled to work with CitySightseeing New York to ensure that even more visitors will come to enjoy Staten Island's incredible North Shore and everything it has to offer," said Don Capoccia, principal of BFC Partners, the developer of Empire Outlets. "These kinds of partnerships have long-term positive impacts that will strengthen economic development, job creation and community growth right here on Staten Island."

The new St. George stop will be part of the CitySightseeing New York Hop-on, Hop-off cruise route that currently includes stops at Pier 78 (West 38^th Street), the World Financial Center, Pier 11 (Wall Street) and DUMBO, Brooklyn. These Hop-on, Hop-off cruises carry more than 650,000 passengers each year, the vast majority of whom are tourists visiting New York City.

A survey by CitySightseeing New York revealed that more than 80 percent of customers polled would be interested in utilizing a hop-off stop on Staten Island to go shopping and visit destinations like Empire Outlets and the New York Wheel.

Located adjacent to the St. George Ferry Terminal, Empire Outlets will feature over 100 designer outlet retailers, a boutique hotel with a rooftop venue and a 1,250-space parking garage. Major retailers at the center already include H&M, Nordstrom Rack, Banana Republic, Gap Factory and Columbia Sporting Goods. Empire Outlets' 40,000-square-foot food and beverage deck will also offer a diverse array of dining options including Shake Shack, Two Boots Pizza, Mighty Quinn's Barbeque, Wasabi Steak & Sushi, Ghirardelli and MRKTPL, Staten Island's first-ever artisanal food hall.

CitySightseeing New York and Empire Outlets will release more details about the new St. George cruise stop and its arrival/departure schedules in the coming months.

"Enhancing access and connectivity to Staten Island through the new CitySightseeing New York Hop-on, Hop-off Cruise loop will be a tremendous advantage for visitors and New Yorkers heading to the new Empire Outlets, an anchor of Destination St. George," said Fred Dixon, NYC & Company's President and CEO.

"The addition of the Hop-on, Hop-off cruise stop in Staten Island is a great example of the continued growth that the North Shore is experiencing, with convenient connections from Manhattan and Brooklyn making it even easier for tourists and shoppers to visit," said Joel Ward, General Manager of the New York Wheel.  "We join our friends in the St. George community in celebrating Staten Island's transformation into the next great tourism destination in New York City."

About Empire Outlets

Empire Outlets, developed by BFC Partners, will be an approximately 340,000 square foot retail complex, comprised of 100 designer outlet retailers and a variety of restaurants and cafes. Plans also include an upscale boutique hotel that will provide extraordinary views of the Manhattan skyline. BFC Partners will also build a 1,250-space structured parking garage below the retail and hotel components to accommodate commuters and tourists alike. Designed by SHoP Architects, Empire Outlets will feature expansive open corridors to the water, contemporary materials reflective of the industrial waterfront, and a sweeping sustainable green roof visible from the harbor. Celebratory vertical circulation elements such as grand staircases, elevators, and streamlined escalators will guide shoppers as they move from the waterfront up to Richmond Terrace, creating a dynamic and easily navigated pedestrian experience. For more information about Empire Outlets New York City, please visit www.empireoutletsnyc.com. Find us on Twitter @EmpireOutlets and on Instagram at @empireoutlets.

About CitySightseeing

CitySightseeing was created in 1999 in Seville, Spain and is now well-known feature in almost 100 locations worldwide which span six of the seven continents. Our bright, cheerful and fun-filled red open top buses are sought after by tourists and visitors to some of the world's top destinations. In addition to operating double-decker busses that carry millions of tourists per year, CitySightseeing New York also City Sightseeing Cruises operates a Hop/on Hop/off sightseeing cruise between their terminal at Pier 78 (W. 38th St.), World Financial Center, Wall St. and DUMBO.  City Sightseeing is owned by Twin America, the largest tour company in NYC. For more, please see https://www.citysightseeingnewyork.com/.

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SOURCE Empire Outlets