Blake Lively wows in a scarlet mini dress as she celebrates the end of the US travel ban after 20 months at Empire State Building event
Blake Lively looked utterly glamorous as she celebrated the end of the United States travel ban on Monday November 8 at an event held at the Empire State Building in New York City.
The 34-year-old actress wowed in a scarlet mini dress fashioned by Georges Chakra with a dramatic shoulder bow and ruby red heels for the event hosted with British Airways, NYC & Company and the British Consulate General in NYC.
On Monday the US ended a pandemic travel ban that was in place for more than a year and a half, which now allows international travelers to come to the country with proof of full vaccination.
American classic: Blake Lively wowed in a scarlet mini dress as she celebrated the end of the United States travel ban on Monday November 8 at an event held at the Empire State Building in New York City
The Gossip Girl alum looked a pretty present in the beaded cocktail dress which glistened bright and showed off her phenomenal legs.
Her hair was styled in a half ponytail and adorned with a big red bow and she paired the look with garnet earrings and a series of rings.
At the celebratory event — which focused namely on UK travelers — Blake gave a welcome speech where she spoke about her joy at the end of the ban.
‘It’s an honor having you all here, just as like a mama and a human, and a New Yorker,’ she said. ‘I’ve never felt more like a New Yorker than I do tonight, so thank you all for giving me this feeling — selfishly this is what I’m taking out if it,’ she continued to joke.
Welcome! At the event Blake gave a welcome speech as she celebrated the arrival of UK travelers and the allowance of international vaccinated travelers back to the US
Big honor: She along with others had the honor of flipping the switch which controls the building’s lights which were set to red white and blue in honor of the British flag for the evening
Ready, set go! Blake was pictured with (left to right) Sean Doyle (CEO of British Airways), Emma Wade Smith (Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Her Majesty’s Consul General New York) and Fred Dixon (President & CEO of NYC & Co.)
Additionally she had the honor of flipping the switch which controls the lights on the Empire State Building.
She was joined by Sean Doyle (CEO of British Airways), Emma Wade Smith (Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America and Her Majesty’s Consul General New York) and Fred Dixon (President & CEO of NYC & Co.) as all four lit up the skylight.
To commemorate the end of the travel ban, the iconic city structure’s lights on Monday were blue, red, and white with the building even posting about it on their Instagram account.
‘Spilling the tea…the #BritsareBack! Celebrating the return of our friends from across the pond by lighting up blue red and white,’ the buildings official count said.
Overjoyed: ‘I’ve never felt more like a New Yorker than I do tonight, so thank you all for giving me this feeling,’ Lively said in her speech at the event
Cheers: (left to right) Dixon, Lively, Jean-Yves Ghazi (president of the Empire State Building Observatory), Wade-Smith and Doyle were all seen toasting the end of one era and the beginning of another
Celebration: The Empire State Building held event was hosted with British Airways, NYC & Company and the British Consulate General in NYC
After the welcome portion of the event, the iconic building hosted a booming cocktail party and afterwards attendees were allowed up to the top of the building to take in the skyline.
Blake slipped a matching scarlet coat over her dazzling dress and even took a few selfies on the observation deck.
Dixon announced during his welcome speech that in honor of the ban being lifted NYC & Co. — New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization — would be launching a new partnership with British Airways.
As a way to spur travel from the UK’s main hub London, the airline would be scheduling up to eight flights daily to NYC’s LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports.
Skyline selfie: She slipped a matching scarlet coat over her dazzling dress and even took a few selfies on the observation deck
Ushering in a new day: On Monday the travel ban — which was first put in place by former US President Donald Trump on account of the COVID-19 pandemic — was lifted by President Joe Biden after 20 months
What a view! Lively was seen posing for a semi-cheesy photo as she pretended to hold balloons on the window of the observation deck
On Monday the travel ban — which was first put in place by former US President Donald Trump on account of the COVID-19 pandemic — was lifted by President Joe Biden after 20 months.
The old rules had barred international visitors from 33 countries, including the U.K., South Africa, Brazil and much of Europe from visiting the US.
The end of the ban comes just before the holiday season — a huge time for tourism recovery, as international travelers account for 50% of all the tourism spending, at 20% of the volume in NYC alone.
Under the new rules, visitors can fly into the US with proof of full vaccination, though there are some exemptions for travelers under the age of 18, and passengers hailing from countries with low vaccine availability.
New rules: Under the new rules, visitors can fly into the US with proof of full vaccination, though there are some exemptions for travelers under the age of 18, and passengers hailing from countries with low vaccine availability; (left to right) Lively, Doyle, Wade-Smith, Ghazi and Dixon
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