The City of Boston has announced in a media release that the city will delay most of the reopening guidance for the State of Massachusetts by 3 weeks, setting back full reopening to 22 August.

Consequently, capacity limits will remain at 50% and other restrictions on business will remain in place in the city through essentially all of the 2021 summer tourist season.

Adding to the problem for tourism-dependent Boston businesses, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that he plans NYC to be fully open for business by 1 July.

Greater Boston CVB President and CEO Martha Sheridan reports that because the city's meeting capacity limit of 50% or 200 persons will be remaining in place, meeting planners have begun to cancel summer 2021 deals with Boston hotels, potentially resulting in millions of dollars' worth of losses.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement that what happens with COVID-19 between now and the end of May will determine whether or not reopening dates can be moved up.