New York vs Seattle
New York leads Seattle by 7 points on the TRAIL Index, 80 to 73. New York grades better on 7 measures, Seattle on 4; the same 37 measures from public sources for both.
Scores by each organisation's criteria
- TRAIL Index: New York 80, Seattle 73
- OECD: New York 81, Seattle 69
- UN Tourism: New York 81, Seattle 71
- UNDRR: New York 75, Seattle 65
Theme by theme
- Demand and seasonality: New York 90, Seattle 58
- Economy and jobs: New York 100, Seattle 92
- Climate and hazards: New York 75, Seattle 65
- Water and environment: New York 75, Seattle 63
- Community and housing: New York 75, Seattle 63
- Access and continuity: New York 75, Seattle 79
Where New York is stronger
- Largest foreign market: 8.5 % of international arrivals or nights (NYC Tourism + Conventions / Office of the Mayor of New York City, 2024). At or below 15: grade 4/4.
- Hotel bed or room occupancy: 84.2 % average annual occupancy (New York City Tourism + Conventions, 2025 Annual Report (via ILoveNY), 2025). At or above 75: grade 4/4.
- Economic diversity: 81.3 % of employment outside accommodation, food, retail and transport (New York State Department of Labor & NYC Economic Development Corporation, 2024). At or above 80: grade 4/4.
- Flood hazard: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Wildfire and storm hazard: medium (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 2/4.
- Municipal waste per resident: 404.6 kg per resident per year (NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY), Draft Solid Waste Management Plan 2026, 2023). Between 350 and 450: grade 3/4.
- Short-let density: 0.1 short-term rental listings per 100 dwellings (NYC Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement / U.S. Census Bureau 2024 ACS, June 2026). At or below 0.5: grade 4/4.
Where Seattle is stronger
- Tropical nights: 0.4 nights a year with a minimum at or above 20°C (last 5 full years) (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 2021–2025). At or below 10: grade 4/4.
- Water scarcity: very low (region figure) (World Bank GFDRR ThinkHazard, current (retrieved 2026)). Grade 4/4.
- Rent growth: 0.7 % change in rents over the last 12 months (Zillow, What's it like to live in Seattle, WA?, September 2025–September 2026). At or below 3: grade 4/4.
- Dedicated tourism funding: A dedicated source such as a tourist tax or levy (City of Seattle, Seattle Tourism Improvement Area (STIA) Ordinance, 2023–2024). Grade 2/4.
Country context (World Economic Forum)
- United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
- United States: #2 of 110 in the WEF Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026
New York in full · Seattle in full
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