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Visit New Haven: 203 777 8550

Info New Haven: 203 773 9494

New Haven Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism: 203 946 8378

Connecticut Office of Tourism: 860 256 2800

Arts Council of Greater New Haven: 203 772 2788

The recent expansion of Avelo Airlines’ service from Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) has generated free media coverage, promoting Southern Connecticut as an excellent tourist destination. With the addition of Breeze Airways, which launched in December 2024, Greater New Haven is becoming an increasingly attractive travel destination. Announcements of new routes to cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Tampa have garnered attention from major outlets, such as Travel + Leisure, the Houston Chronicle, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reaching audiences across the East Coast and beyond. This free publicity, which would otherwise be cost-prohibitive to achieve through advertising, showcases Southern Connecticut as a vibrant and inviting destination. With the addition of new destinations, Tweed’s passenger volume is projected to exceed 1.4 million in 2025. Currently, 20% to 25% of passengers come from outside Connecticut, resulting in an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 visitors over the next year. As the service expands, the number of out-of-state travelers is expected to increase. In collaboration with airlines and regional stakeholders, Tweed is increasing its investment in destination marketing.

The proclamation naming Connecticut the “Pizza Capital of the U.S.” has fueled a surge in earned media coverage that spotlights New Haven’s legendary pizza scene and its cultural vibrancy, drawing national and international attention to the region. Outlets like The New York Times, Food & Wine, and Lonely Planet have highlighted the city’s renowned apizza, while USA Today, TravelPulse, and The Telegraph (UK) have celebrated New Haven as a must-visit destination. This wave of free publicity positions Greater New Haven as a culinary and cultural hotspot, showcasing its unique charm and amplifying its appeal to visitors. The earned media reinforces Greater New Haven's reputation as a premier travel destination, making it a key driver for visitor attraction and economic growth in Connecticut.

Connecticut's hospitality sales tax revenues have surged past $1 billion annually, with the prepared meals surcharge hitting $100 million in fiscal 2023, doubling initial projections. However, tourism metrics show declines, with visits to the state's tourism website down 37% and overall tourism traffic down 4.4% over the past year. These trends are setting the stage for a contentious debate over tourism spending as the state prepares for a challenging 2025 budget cycle.

2025 Report Milestones & Accomplishments

• HVN welcomed more than 1.1 million passengers in 2024, an increase of more than 903% over 2019. With the addition of Breeze Airways alongside Avelo Airlines, it is the first time since 2007 HVN has served more than one airline. Direct, nonstop service has also expanded to more than 33 destinations.
• The Yale Center for British Art reopened after a two-year renovation project.
• Earned media coverage from New Haven Pizza, Avelo, Breeze Airways, and the Yale Peabody Museum has elevated Greater New Haven’s profile.
• A Hampton Inn at the Cinemark site in North Haven is slated to open in fall 2025.