Priceline.com has released their lists of top destinations for ringing in 2012.  New York City’s Times Square is the number 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.  Hotel room reservations are still available on priceline.com www.priceline.com and agoda.com www.agoda.com for the New Year’s weekend, including many at substantial savings.

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.

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’s top destinations include Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket, Bali, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Taipei.