At IPW 2026 and during the Media Marketplace held in Fort Lauderdale, ABC Mundial spoke with Brock Talbot, Director of Public Relations for Empire State Realty Trust, who presented the latest developments at the iconic Empire State Building, one of the most recognized tourism symbols of New York and the United States.

During the interview, Talbot highlighted that the landmark building is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year since opening, accompanied by a major transformation that completely modernized the visitor experience.

“The Empire State Building is celebrating 95 years since opening, but over the past few years we completely transformed the experience with an approximately $165 million renovation from top to bottom,” he explained.

Among the main upgrades, the executive highlighted the creation of a new dedicated observatory entrance and two fully renovated museum-style exhibition floors showcasing the history of the building’s construction and its impact on global popular culture.

“Visitors can now discover the entire history of the Empire State Building, from its construction to its role in movies and pop culture today,” he said.

The building continues to offer some of the most breathtaking panoramic views of New York City from its famous observatories located on the 86th and 102nd floors, the latter standing more than 1,250 feet high with 360-degree views reaching up to six states on clear days.

One of the most important announcements made during IPW 2026 was the series of special activities linked to the upcoming international soccer tournament taking place across North America.

“This summer we are celebrating the World Cup with special photo opportunities, displays of historic jerseys and other surprises for fans visiting New York,” Brock Talbot revealed.

The Empire State Building is also preparing special events for the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States next July 4, including exclusive tickets with premium viewing opportunities for the historic ships that will sail along the Hudson River and New York Harbor.

In addition, the company continues expanding its premium visitor experiences with new ticket options and exclusive tours.

These include:

• Private tours focused on the building’s 95-year history
• Sunrise tickets with early morning access before sunrise, including coffee and pastries
• Sunset tickets to enjoy Manhattan’s best skyline views
• AM/PM tickets allowing visitors to experience the observatory both during the day and at night to witness the city’s dramatic transformation after dark

Talbot explained that visits now operate under a timed-entry reservation system designed to improve guest comfort and reduce long waiting lines.

“We want to manage visitor flow to ensure a comfortable, high-quality experience,” he stated.

Thanks to its renovations and visitor experience improvements, the Empire State Building was recently recognized for the fourth time as the number one attraction in the United States according to TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice rankings.

“TripAdvisor collected millions of traveler reviews and once again selected us as the best attraction in the country,” he noted.

The tourism experience also includes dining and entertainment options within the building. During the summer, renowned New York brands such as Magnolia Bakery and Eataly will offer special products at the observatory.

Additionally, the building features restaurants including State Grill and Bar, Tacombi and Starbucks Reserve, many offering special promotions for observatory visitors.

With new experiences, multimillion-dollar renovations and a special schedule tied to the World Cup and the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Empire State Building reaffirms its position as one of the world’s leading tourism icons in 2026.