So NYC & Company (www.nycvisit.com), the official New York tourism promotion organization, is rolling out the red carpet for all tourists, foreign and U.S. citizens, offering 20% discounts at 44 hotels for overnight Sunday-to-Monday stays. The Hartford Courant reports that in addition to this steep discount, many hotels are offering room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and other amenities.

Participating hotels include The Algonquin, the Grand Hyatt, the Hilton and others. Also, 10 luxury hotels, part of the Signature Collection group, are offering a “Third Night” promotion, in which you get the third night free after purchase of two nights, through Feb. 29. Participating hotels include the Hotel Plaza Athenee; Jumeirah Essex House; Loews Regency Hotel; Mandarin Oriental New York; The London NYC; The New York Palace Hotel; The Sherry-Netherland; The St. Regis Hotel, New York; The Waldorf Towers; and Trump International Hotel and Towers.

And in addition to the sweetheart hotel deals, the Courant says that New York is also trying hard to seduce visitors with a variety of discounts on tickets for Broadway shows, discount shopping coupons and reduced rate passes which help you skip the line when visiting tourist attractions and select restaurants and NYC nightclubs.

Not surprisingly, a Voice of America article by Victoria Cavaliere points out that a report released by New York City tourism officials this month found that a record number of visitors came to New York City in 2007. More than 46 million people vacationed in the “Big Apple,” spending around $28 billion last year. NYC & Company, the tourism arm of the city’s government, says total foreign travel to rose about 20 percent in 2007. Christopher Heywood, the Director of Travel and Media Relations for NYC & Company, said Europeans are at a special advantage. “We’ve seen a tremendous momentum from European markets as a result of the weak dollar,” he said. “We’ve seen a particular increase in markets like the U.K., which saw a 25 percent increase in 2007, and Spain which saw an increase of about 37 percent and Italy which went up 36 percent.

From what I can make, New York is walking a fine line between comparatively over-priced accomodation and an expensive holiday on one side, with a weakened dollar, world famous attractions, a vibrant and safe city, great nightlife, fancy restaurants, amazing shopping and smoothly functioning public services on the other hand.

And these holiday discounts, special passes and travel deals on hotel rates offered by NYC & Company are just the ticket to convince someone who’s a bit put off by the cost factor of a New York holiday.