NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - Despite the economy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg says New York City might top last year’s record of 48.8 million vistors this year.

WCBS 880′s Rich Lamb On The Story

Bloomberg thinks the city might even top 50 million.

He says the number of hotel rooms in New York City has increased by half since he took office.

“There are now seventeen hotels in this vibrant Queens neighborhood alone, including eight built in the past two years, representing a total of 1,500. And this exciting growth puts us firmly on target to reach a record 90,000 hotel rooms by year’s end,” Bloomberg said on rooftop of the new Z NYC Hotel in Long Island City on Monday.

At 85 percent, the mayor says New York’s hotel occupancy rate is the highest in the nation.

“New York is the happening place and if you get that mo going, you gotta be careful not to lose it,” said Bloomberg.

Have you experienced New York City as a tourist? What do you think? Sound off in the comments section below…