The biennial World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) conference is taking place in Fukuoka, Japan. We thank all the GANYC members in attendance. In particular, we want to congratulate our own Emma Guest-Consales for her election to the next Executive Board of the WFTGA!

GANYC members received a guided tour of 'Niyū Yūrk'. The tour was led by Hiba Amid, the NYPL Curator for Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies. Niyū Yūrk explores the oft-overlooked history of Middle Eastern & North African (MENA) immigration, from the first waves in the late 19th century to present.

As part of GANYC's Certification Course, participating guides create their own unique walking tour. Joseph Knipper's tour was: "How Catholics Became New Yorkers". Certification graduates are encouraged to give their tour to fellow members as a FAM tour, and we thank Joseph for doing so yesterday.

Thanks @gaofnyc.bsky.social for inviting me to speak last eve at Bklyn’s American Legion lodge about Chief James H. Williams and the Red Caps of GC Terminal. The venue gave poignancy to Wms’s special relationship w/vets, like the Harlem Hellfighters! To view, cue to 52:20: youtu.be/y1pBrrjuy18?...

The February 2026 GANYC membership meeting took place at Michael A Rawley Jr. American Legion Post 1636. Our first speaker was Norm Goben, Revolutionary War re-enactor. Our second speaker was Eric K. Washington, historian and guide. Video is on our YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1pB...

The proposed new screening rules threaten to deter visitors before they book a flight to the US, and will push them to visit other countries. Professional licensed tour guides who are members of GANYC have already reported a major downturn in bookings from international inbound visitors.

Guides Association of New York City (GANYC) urges the US Government to halt the proposed requirement for visitors to turn over years of social media, email and phone records to enter the United States. Read our statement, and our call to action: www.ganyc.org/blog/guides-...

GANYC is sad to learn of the passing of long-time member Prudence Wright Holmes. We offer our deepest condolences to her family and friends. And we will treasure her many great contributions to the NYC guiding community.

The 11th annual ceremony is coming on Monday March 9. Tickets are on sale now, and we are accepting sponsorship applications! All nominees are listed on the GANYC website. 🍎 We look forward to celebrating with you then! www.ganyc.org/2026-ganyc-a...

GANYC held its annual post-holiday party at Planet Hollywood! This is our annual celebration, after the busy holiday tour season, to unwind and rejoice with our fellow members and guests. Thanks to all who came.

As the city prepares for a World Cup finale this Summer, Ann McDermott led a FAM centered around a soccer legend! ⚽️ Edson Arantes do Nascimento, known to an admiring world as Pelé, exploded on the New York soccer scene in 1975 when he joined the New York Cosmos team. The tour told his story.

The January 2026 GANYC membership meeting took place at Ripley-Grier Studios. We had the President's report, and reports from several committees. In lieu of a guest speaker, we had an open forum on pressing guiding industry issues. Video on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=aK4E...

Mark Mandel gave fellow members a great FAM to start the year, "Our Mass Transit City". The tour explored how well over a million people commute into three main transit hubs—Penn Station, the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Grand Central Terminal. (photos by Efren Olivares + Jared Goldstein)

Thank you all for a wonderful and productive 2025 for GANYC, and we look forward to serving the guiding community in 2026! 🎉

Ann McDermott’s FAM tour in Prospect Park centered around the The Battle of Brooklyn, in August 1776. As America celebrates 250 years of independence next year, we look forward to more great tours recognizing New York’s role in the revolution! 🇺🇸

Merriwether Williams led members on a Central Park film tour. She shares two captivating behind-the-scenes stories about the movies filmed at each spot. The twist: one story is completely true, while the other is cleverly fabricated movie “mumbo jumbo.” Each guest's mission? Spot the nonsense.

Jeremy Wilcox led his fellow GANYC members on his annual Dyker Heights FAM to explore the best of the Christmas lights extravaganza that brings thousands of visitors a night to this residential neighborhood in southern Brooklyn. 🎅🏼🎄 Thanks to all who joined the tour. (photos by Kat Scaglione)

GANYC held elections among its membership for the 2026-2027 Executive Board. Winners— President: Michael Morgenthal Vice Presidents: Katherine Hill & Rosemary Shmavonian Treasurer: Sara Lyons Secretaries: Daria Walcott & Jose Raudales Members-at-Large: Cherie Davis, Gary Dennis, Christina Hansen

The December 2025 GANYC membership meeting took place at the Aloft Hotel - Long Island City. Or guest speaker was Stephanie Azzarone. She presented her newly released book, "Fabulous Fountains of New York." Video on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB_i...

John Semlak offered a unique familiarization (FAM) tour this week: “New York in Old Photographs: Mathew Brady and beginnings of photography in the Big Apple”. 📸 The tour traced the early history of photography in New York.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at the Guides Association of NYC! 🦃 🗽

Daria Walcott led a new tour for fellow members the other day: "Grand Palaces of Retail: Ladies’ Mile & The Fascinating History of NYC’s Gilded Age Department Stores, 1846-1910". The tour explored the Gilded Age history of department stores, their jaw-dropping architecture, & more.

The four most recent GANYC presidents at the IATDG Tour Connect 2025 conference in Maryland last week! The International Association of Tour Directors and Guides (IATDG) is the professional organization for trained and experienced tour directors worldwide.

GANYC member Joseph Pizzingrillo led a FAM tour this weekend: “7 Train - The Ultimate Authentic NYC Experience” 🚇 The tour used this subway line to explore several NYC areas, mixing historic areas in with some of the city’s biggest new developments.

GANYC is at the National Tour Association (NTA) Travel Exchange event in Ottawa! 🇨🇦 Travel Exchange brings together packaged travel professionals from all over North America and around the world. We are being represented there by GANYC Board member Cherie Davis.

The November 2025 GANYC membership meeting took place at: The Theater Center, in the Anne L. Bernstein Theater. The bulk of the meeting was dedicated to statements from candidates for the upcoming GANYC Executive Board elections. Video on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB6E...

GANYC traveled to Hart Island, just off the Bronx. The remains of more than one million people are buried here. Burials on Hart Island include individuals who were not claimed by their families or did not have private funerals; the homeless and the indigent; and mass burials of disease victims.

GANYC member Suzanne Reisman's detailed tour on the history of garbage and rats in New York has received lots of coverage, this time from CBS. Congrats to her on finding this success! You can watch the full segment on Instagram: www.instagram.com/reel/DQW-pNP...

GANYC President Michael Morgenthal led an encore of his "Stop The Presses!" tour for members, about the history of newspapers in New York. The tour looks at how the history of the city can be seen through its press (predating even the United States), how NYC papers came to shape the world.

Joe Svehlak did one of his "I Remember Lower Manhattan" FAM tours earlier this week. Joe started working downtown in 1956, and also shared family stories from the early 1900s when this family immigrated from Moravia, and at one point lived in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Andrew Neuman led a tour for his fellow GANYC members: "Gin, Jazz and the Golden Era of New York’s Nightlife". This history walk celebrated the city's golden age of nightclubs, hotel bars, saloons, jazz and cocktails - from the swanky exclusive nightspots and beyond.

GANYC members are offering a series of free walking tours to the public on Saturday, October 25, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of New York City. Registration is required. Here is the list of tours: www.ganyc.org/blog/free-to...

GANYC member Asad Dandia is featured in a new article in The Nation magazine. You can find the link in his post:

The October GANYC monthly membership meeting was held at the John Street United Methodist Church, in lower Manhattan. Our guest speaker was Reverend Stephanie L. Bennett. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCbX...

Jason Stein led a unique FAM tour, centered around two bridges... the University Heights Bridge and the Broadway Bridge, connecting upper Manhattan to the Bronx. This corner of NYC has hundreds of years of lesser-known history to discover.

Ann McDermott led fellow members on a FAM tour stroll through historic Prospect Park. In the final part of the tour, members saw parts of the historic Park Slope neighborhood, including a few key local institutions.

This Summer, Joe Svehlak delivered a tour about the Lower West Side and Little Syria... two lost neighborhoods just south of where the World Trade Center now stands. This video compiles the highlights of this tour in 45 minutes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Psje...

Joe Svehlak gave the latest installment of his Lower Manhattan FAM tours... this one covering from Foley Square down to Maiden Lane.

Guide Andrew Kirschner gave members a tour of Greenwich Village yesterday. The tour focused on the impact of historic people and events from the 1620s to the 1960s, and the events that helped shaped our culture. Thanks to all who came out on a lovely September day!

GANYC members had a great day trip earlier this week to Long Island's Gold Coast. We visited the Sands Point Preserve, with a tour of Hempstead House, a 50,000 sq ft Gilded Age mansion, built for Howard Gould and completed for Daniel Guggenheim in 1912. The property includes Castle Gould as well.

GANYC member Asad Dandia ( @asadfromnyc.bsky.social ) is profiled in City Limits, on telling the stories of New York’s past, and helping shape its future. citylimits.org/take-a-walk-...

GANYC members had a unique visit to the historical Lott House, in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. It is an incredible remnant of the Dutch colonial era, appropriate as New York celebrates its 400th anniversary this year, dating back to the settlement of New Amsterdam.

GANYC members gathered yesterday evening on Pier 53 (Gansevoort Peninsula) for a casual networking get-together. We regularly hold events like this to help new and old members alike connect in person. Thanks to all who came out!

GANYC President Michael Morgenthal led a FAM tour for members yesterday, about Klein Deutschland. From the middle of the 19th Century, to the early 20th Century, Manhattan’s Lower East Side and East Village was a thriving German community, the 3rd largest German speaking enclave in the world.

GANYC is currently operating the latest version of its Certification Course. This course is offered annually to members to go beyond the knowledge-based city licensing exam, and to hone skills Yesterday, at the course halfway point, there was a walking tour practicum held around midtown Manhattan.

GANYC held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) yesterday at the Museum of the Moving Image. At the AGM, the President recaps members on the past year, and outlines the association's vision for the year ahead. Each of GANYC's volunteer Committees then present. Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtXE...

It was a genuine shame to see the city largely drop the ball on this historic anniversary. The Guides Association has been celebrating it all year with special tours offered by our members, and social media promotions. Another reason why GANYC is a go-to source for NYC tourism leadership.

GANYC President Michael Morgenthal led his "Stop The Presses!" tour for members, about the history of newspapers in New York. These tours provide our members with great networking and educational opportunities. Many more coming for members in the next month!

A lovely tribute to Hal Weiner, an activist and longtime GANYC member, who passed away last month. gaycitynews.com/hal-weiner-a... We send our thoughts to his family & friends on this recent loss.

GANYC recently began the latest round of its Certification Program. We created this course to enhance and certify skills beyond mere licensing requirements (skill versus knowledge). The 2-month course covers storytelling skills, customer service, logistics, & the creation of a unique tour product.