New York City’s horse-drawn carriage rides, a Central Park fixture for more than 165 years, are coming to an end after city lawmakers voted Thursday to wind down the industry by June 2028.
Carriage rides have long been sold to tourists as quintessential New York, but a decades-long push to end the trade gained traction after a teenage tourist died in an incident involving a runaway horse.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal counted 96 “serious” incidents and 40 horse deaths near the park since 1982. Other destinations like Philadelphia and Chicago have already banned the rides.
The Central Park Conservancy doesn’t expect a visitation hit, with the nonprofit’s leaders saying the park’s roughly 42 million annual visitors aren’t coming just for a carriage ride.
Transport Workers Union Local 100, which represents drivers and owners, says it will challenge the bill in federal court.
MARKETING MOMENT
Wanderlust is highlighting one standout travel marketing campaign each week. Know one we should feature? Email me at [email protected].
Turku Archipelago, located on Finland’s southwest coast, has named itself the best-smelling destination in the world. Now it wants someone to check the claim.
Visit Turku Archipelago earlier this month launched a global search for its first official “Nose,” a job that involves exploring the region’s roughly 40,000 islands and skerries by scent. The winner will travel to the archipelago in 2027 to build an official scent guide covering everything from pine forests after rain to sauna smoke and fresh dark bread.
The recruitment film stars French actor Lambert Wilson, best known from “The Matrix” films and — according to a press release — “his great nose.”
Women Leading Travel Leadership Exchanges
Where should travel leaders place their bets for the next five years? Senior women work it out on stage and across the table, off the record.
Montréal on October 26 digs into leadership and the road ahead with VPs from Air Canada, VIA Rail, and Destination Canada. Las Vegas on December 8 takes it to the casino floor with the sales chiefs of Wynn and MGM.
SPONSORED · ARDA
At Skift Global Forum 2026, ARDA and Hilton Grand Vacations explored how exclusive access and personalized experiences can strengthen customer loyalty.
Headlines
Saudi Strikes Spill Over Into Gulf Tourism, Operators Say
October 22, 2026
Corporate Travel to Saudi Arabia Freezes as Riyadh Airport Stays Restricted
October 21, 2026
Third of Saudi Flights Canceled As High Profile Events Postponed
October 19, 2026
The Riyadh airport closure freezes Saudi corporate travel and pushes a flagship investment conference to 2027, United cuts its profit outlook as fuel costs eat into booming demand, and Airbnb tells hosts to stop handing guests a checkout chore list.
On today’s Skift Daily Briefing, Bailey Schulz breaks down why the longer Riyadh stays cut off, the harder it gets to sell Saudi Arabia as a reliable business events host, why United’s strong revenue still isn’t enough to offset a fuel bill up 62%, and what Airbnb’s first-ever cleanup rules mean for hosts who say “we are not hotels.”
