There’s always something new in New York, a constant that helps inspire a million Canadians a year to visit, says senior city tourism exec Reginald Charlot.

Speaking with Travel Industry Today at the Toronto stop on New York City Tourism + Conventions’ three-city Canadian sales mission this week – an event that included an outing at the ballpark to see the Blue Jays take on the New York Yankees – the Sr. VP of Tourism Market Development said the Big Apple is a perfect balance of new and familiar experiences and attractions, with the latter always reinventing themselves as well.

The iconic Empire State Building, for example, has put on a brand-new face over the past few years, including introducing timed ticketing, which has eliminated the attraction’s least loved facet – long lines.

On the other hand, Hudson Yards is NYC’s newest neighbourhood, offering more than 100 shopping, dining, and attraction options, including The Edge observation deck and City Climb, the highest building ascent in the world.

Charlot was joined on the mission with close to 20 NYC partners, ranging from Broadway Inbound, which is a one-stop shop for the trade to buy theatre tickets, to the new black-owned Big City Tours, offering a new take on traditional river sightseeing with its “Freedom Liberty Tour.”

But beyond its famous attractions, both new and emerging, Charlot says the best way to experience the city is to “explore, explore, explore,” adding, one of the best things to do in NYC is to “get lost on purpose.”

And doing so in the boroughs beyond Manhattan is even better, he says, as visitors will discover a world that locals know, but visitors often don’t, not to mention the huge diversity of cuisine for which New York is known.

The Brooklyn Museum, for example, is “the best New York Museum you’ve never heard of,” says the venue’s John Marshall.

The Bronx is home to Yankee Stadium, which offers stadium tours in addition to baseball games 81 times a year for the iconic team.

The cultural melting pot of Flushing is another emerging tourism hotspot and boasts several new hotels.

NYC has a over a dozen beaches (including the famed Coney Island), and “no one knows you can go fishing and sailing (on City Island),” Charlot continues.

Put on the spot to come up with just one suggestion for a new visitor to the city, and another for a repeat visitor, Charlot suggests that newbies explore lower Manhattan – an often passed through on the way to the ferry for the Statue of Liberty.

But, it also has also Battery Park (with view to the Statue); One World Observatory (on the site of the former World Trade Centre), Performing Arts Centre, Brookfield Place (shopping centre and architectural gem), and the Tin Building (unique market and food hall), among other things to see.

As for the NY veteran: Harlem – a unique neighbourhood tripping with history (back to its origin as a Dutch village), music (including venues like the famous Apollo Theatre, and amazing restaurants (not least soul food, reflecting its African-America residents).

Serving as both a fly and drive market, New York attracts Canadians for both short and longer stays, Charlot notes, and with extensive flight connections, weekend getaways are popular and people could even come for a day.

But however long they do stay, he says, there is always something new to do.