Your head of New York tourism has defended its controversial decision to name Taylor Swift as the city's Global Welcome Ambassador.
Fred Dixon, President and CEO associated with NYC & Company, said that the Pennsylvanian-born, Nashville-raised pop star was a appropriate choice given that it is a 'city of immigrants'.
The official marketing and tourism organisation for first time York last week announced a year-long campaign starring the 24-year-old's song Welcome to Ny.
'Starry-eyed optimism': NY Tourism has hit back at critics of Taylor Swift as Global Welcome Ambassador
The move was met with widespread criticism with many New Yorkers giving voice their disappointment that somebody who has lived in the city less than a year would be chosen becasue it is ambassador.
But Dixon, who is in the UK this week to attend London's World Travel Marketplace, told TTG that traditional New Yorker's view of the city has 'been done'.
Swift was chosen because of her newcomer status, not in spite of this, Dixon said.
'New York is a city of immigrants, not many of us were created in New York - we’ve all followed our dreams there. '
Dixon revealed that Taylor's new role came about after he met her manager through chance, which led to an invitation to the singer's recently-purchased $20m (£12m) Tribeca apartment, where he first listened to her song dedicated to New York.
'[Taylor's] song Welcome To New York is written from the perspective of a newcomer, which starry-eyed optimism and overwhelming energy you feel when you first come to New York, and the girl wanted to share that.
'It’s like we wrote it for our own brand, ' he said, adding that Swift's reach on social media and her 'authentic' engagement with her huge following is something that money can't buy.
The Get rid of it Off hitmaker is donating her time to the campaign for which she seems in a series of videos sharing her enthusiasm for the city.
During an look on Good Morning America to mark the start of the campaign, Swift said: 'When I love something, I'm very vocal about it, I'm vocal about it with the music.
'I just go around like, "Everybody! New York is amazing! " And so i believe they just picked up on that and gave me a title. '
With the campaign videos the singer explains some common slang words, such as 'stoop' (commonly known as a porch) and 'bodega', the 24-hour corner shops which sell 'almost anything'.
In another video, she assures visitors that in New York, 'people are extremely friendly and there's also a lot of heart here. And it's easy to get around. People can help you if you ask for help. '
Following the announcement last week, the decision was attacked by Brand new Yorkers, who felt the singer was not suitable for the role.
'I'm incensed! It's insulting, ' said Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider, who was created in Queens.
He told the New York Daily News: 'She doesn't have any kind of life experience here, or connection to the town.
'There's so many others - Jerry Seinfeld, for instance, if you want a big name, ' Snider added.
'But Taylor Swift may be the pop culture queen, so she moves into town, and she's the actual ambassador. '
The NYC Go Facebook page was flooded with unfavorable responses.
'Taylor Swift has nothing to do with NYC, she is a bad representation. Get a real NY'er instead, ' commented Ilana Vickers.
'Seems like a truly ridiculous ambassador, ' wrote another poster, Kiersten Kehrer.
'We couldn't have asked for a better synergy between Taylor and NYC & Company to tell our story about what can make New York City, New York City, ' NYC Go told MailOnline Travel last week.
'This is really a campaign targeting visitors to New York City rather than locals.
'There's a separate campaign encouraging local people to explore their own city that celebrates the views of locals. '
Fred Dixon, President and CEO associated with NYC & Company, said that the Pennsylvanian-born, Nashville-raised pop star was a appropriate choice given that it is a 'city of immigrants'.
The official marketing and tourism organisation for first time York last week announced a year-long campaign starring the 24-year-old's song Welcome to Ny.
 |
| 'Starry-eyed optimism': NY Tourism has hit back at critics of Taylor Swift as Global Welcome Ambassador |
'Starry-eyed optimism': NY Tourism has hit back at critics of Taylor Swift as Global Welcome Ambassador
The move was met with widespread criticism with many New Yorkers giving voice their disappointment that somebody who has lived in the city less than a year would be chosen becasue it is ambassador.
But Dixon, who is in the UK this week to attend London's World Travel Marketplace, told TTG that traditional New Yorker's view of the city has 'been done'.
Swift was chosen because of her newcomer status, not in spite of this, Dixon said.
'New York is a city of immigrants, not many of us were created in New York - we’ve all followed our dreams there. '
 |
| Head of tourism: Dixon is CEO of NYC & Company |
'[Taylor's] song Welcome To New York is written from the perspective of a newcomer, which starry-eyed optimism and overwhelming energy you feel when you first come to New York, and the girl wanted to share that.
'It’s like we wrote it for our own brand, ' he said, adding that Swift's reach on social media and her 'authentic' engagement with her huge following is something that money can't buy.
The Get rid of it Off hitmaker is donating her time to the campaign for which she seems in a series of videos sharing her enthusiasm for the city.
During an look on Good Morning America to mark the start of the campaign, Swift said: 'When I love something, I'm very vocal about it, I'm vocal about it with the music.
 |
| I heart NYC: Taylor Swift, pictured enjoying the sights in August, is a passionate New York fan |
With the campaign videos the singer explains some common slang words, such as 'stoop' (commonly known as a porch) and 'bodega', the 24-hour corner shops which sell 'almost anything'.
In another video, she assures visitors that in New York, 'people are extremely friendly and there's also a lot of heart here. And it's easy to get around. People can help you if you ask for help. '
 |
| No stranger to the bright lights: The singer performed on New Year's Eve 2013 in Times Square |
'I'm incensed! It's insulting, ' said Twisted Sister singer Dee Snider, who was created in Queens.
He told the New York Daily News: 'She doesn't have any kind of life experience here, or connection to the town.
'There's so many others - Jerry Seinfeld, for instance, if you want a big name, ' Snider added.
'But Taylor Swift may be the pop culture queen, so she moves into town, and she's the actual ambassador. '
The NYC Go Facebook page was flooded with unfavorable responses.
'Taylor Swift has nothing to do with NYC, she is a bad representation. Get a real NY'er instead, ' commented Ilana Vickers.
'Seems like a truly ridiculous ambassador, ' wrote another poster, Kiersten Kehrer.
'We couldn't have asked for a better synergy between Taylor and NYC & Company to tell our story about what can make New York City, New York City, ' NYC Go told MailOnline Travel last week.
'This is really a campaign targeting visitors to New York City rather than locals.
'There's a separate campaign encouraging local people to explore their own city that celebrates the views of locals. '
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