Skip to main content

About Us: Harlem Tourism Board

Welcome to Greater Harlem: A City Within a City

The Harlem Tourism Board (HTB) is the official destination marketing organization dedicated to showcasing, preserving, and advancing the cultural, historic, and economic vitality of Upper Manhattan.

Representing a vibrant ecosystem of nearly 547,000 residents across Manhattan Community Districts 9, 10, 11, and 12, Greater Harlem encompasses Central Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Washington Heights, and Inwood. If Greater Harlem stood alone as an independent municipality, it would rank as the 33rd largest city in the United States—boasting a population and cultural infrastructure larger than Atlanta, Miami, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, or St. Louis.

At HTB, we elevate Upper Manhattan not just as a neighborhood, but as a global powerhouse of history, arts, commerce, and innovation.

Our Mission

Our mission is to position Greater Harlem as a premier global destination while driving sustainable economic equity, community literacy, and cultural preservation for the local businesses, institutions, and residents who make this community extraordinary.

We bridge historic legacies with future opportunities by:

  • Championing “The Third Harlem Renaissance”: Fostering a new era of investment, creative media, international exchange, and institutional growth across Upper Manhattan.

  • Driving Economic Tourism: Connecting global travel trade, group delegations, and visitors directly to Harlem’s 1,000+ local restaurants, historic venues, small businesses, and cultural anchors.

  • Preserving Sacred Heritage: Honoring the living stories, civil rights landmarks, historic brownstone districts, and multi-ethnic roots—African American, African, Latinx, and Caribbean—that shape our identity.

  • Empowering Community & Youth: Building initiatives that promote tenant rights, digital literacy, educational partnerships, and career pipelines within tourism, media, and hospitality.

What We Do

Destination Marketing & Global Partnerships

We promote Greater Harlem across domestic and international markets, partnering with film and media projects, tour operators, academic institutions, and corporate leaders to bring high-impact travel, faith tourism, and group conferences uptown.

Cultural Preservation & Landmark Advocacy

From world-famous stages like the Apollo Theater and National Black Theatre to landmark institutions like the Schomburg Center, El Museo del Barrio, and The Met Cloisters, we spotlight over 50 major historic landmarks and heritage sites that define global culture.

Small Business & B2B Ecosystem Support

Through local merchant promotion, walking tour networks, and membership programs, we direct visitor foot traffic into the heart of our commercial corridors—amplifying small business growth from 125th Street to 207th Street.

Community Initiatives & Cultural Exchanges

HTB leads and supports grassroots programming, heritage walking routes, interactive media projects, and cross-cultural initiatives (such as the Harlem-Ghana Cultural Exchange) that celebrate our global reach.

The Greater Harlem Promise

Whether you come to walk through living history, hear world-class jazz, taste legendary soul food and international cuisine, or host your next global conference, Greater Harlem offers an unforgettable, connected experience.

Come for one landmark. Stay for the neighborhoods, the culture, and the people.

|

NYC’s 4-Day Workweek Pilot Program Nears Conclusion

After the pandemic showed employers and employees that many jobs could be done remotely, there’s been a favorable shift for a hybrid work model (some days in office, other days spent working from home). Many cities around the world have launched trials to track the productivity of employees and businesses as a result of a four-day workweek, spanning London, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and N…
Read more