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28 Dec, 2011

Bangkok, Singapore Top New Year’s Party Spots in Asia

NORWALK, Conn. and SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) and agoda.com today released their lists of top destinations for ringing in 2012. New York City’s Times Square is the #1 destination for U.S. revelers, and it marks the first time in seven years that New York City has edged Las Vegas for the top spot on priceline.com’s list. Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangkok and Singapore are the first and second-choice destinations for New Year’s party-goers.

Priceline.com’s top destinations list is based on thousands of hotel booking requests made by customers of its Name Your Own Price® hotel service for the New Year’s weekend. Agoda.com’s list is based on hotel reservations made for the upcoming holiday.

In the U.S., there were some big winners in the battle for New Year’s tourists. New York City neighborhoods took seven of the top 10 spots, and 14 of the 50 spots on the list, followed by Las Vegas, which took six spots. “It appears that New York City will be helped this year by a weather forecast that calls for warmer than usual temperatures over the holiday weekend,” said priceline.com’s in-house Travel Ekspert, Brian Ek. Florida destinations (Miami and Orlando) took nine spots on the list.

Priceline.com’s Top 50 New Year’s Destinations for U.S. Travelers

#1 New York City, Times Square/Theater District

#2 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South

#3 New York City, Midtown West

#4 Las Vegas, Strip North

#5 New York City, Midtown East

#6 New York City, Central Park South

#7 New York City, Madison Square Garden/Convention Center Area

#8 New Orleans, French Quarter

#9 New York City, Empire State Building Area

#10 New York City, Chelsea Area

#11 New Orleans, Downtown Area

#12 New York City, Hell’s Kitchen

#13 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North

#14 Chicago, North Michigan Avenue/River North Area

#15 New York City, Upper East Side

#16 San Francisco, Union Square East

#17 Chicago, Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park Area

#18 San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill

#19 New York City, Upper West Side

#20 Orlando, Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista

#21 Las Vegas, Near Strip West

#22 Las Vegas, Near Strip East

#23 Miami, South Beach/Collins Avenue Oceanfront

#24 Miami, South Beach/Ocean Drive

#25 New Orleans, Convention Center and Warehouse/Arts District

#26 Las Vegas, Convention Center Area

#27 San Francisco, Financial District/Embarcadero

#28 New York City, Queensborough Bridge Area

#29 Orlando, Sea World/International Drive/Convention Center

#30 Miami, South Beach/Central

#31 Miami, Downtown

#32 San Francisco, Fisherman’s Wharf

#33 New York City, Soho/Tribeca

#34 Philadelphia, Downtown

#35 New York City, Downtown/Financial District

#36 Atlanta, Downtown

#37 Los Angeles, Hollywood

#38 Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort Area/Int’l Drive North

#39 Orlando, Disney/Maingate/Celebration

#40 Nashville, Downtown/Vanderbilt/Metrocenter

#41 Minneapolis, Downtown

#42 San Francisco, SOMA/Moscone Center

#43 Miami, International Airport Area

#44 New Orleans, Garden District

#45 San Francisco, Fremont St. Vicinity

#46 New York City, Lower East Side

#47 San Diego, Downtown/Harbor Island

#48 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim South/Orange/Garden Grove

#49 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim North

#50 Toronto, Downtown South

In the Asia-Pacific region, agoda.com President Robert Rosenstein commented, “Thailand remains our top New Year’s destination. This is due to a deep supply of high-end product at steeply discounted rates, and the resilient spirit of Thai people, who embrace the holiday season with events, decorations, music and a cheerful attitude.”

agoda.com’s Top 10 New Year’s Destinations for Travelers in Asia

#1 Bangkok

#2 Singapore

#3 Hong Kong

#4 Kuala Lumpur

#5 Phuket

#6 Bali

#7 Chiang Mai

#8 Taipei

#9 Seoul

#10 Macau