Nya Bowman

Hi, I’m Nya (pronounced Nai-yah) I am a native New Yorker hailing from the vibrant Lower East Side, with over two decades of experience as a licensed NYC Tour Guide a professional Dancer, Actor, and Educator. Becoming Tour Guide was a natural progression born out of my deep-rooted passion for New York City, storytelling, and love for putting on a show.  My journey began in 2002 when I ventured into tour guiding as a side hustle job to supplement a stream of income stream while pursuing my dream of becoming a Professional Dancer. Little did I know that this seemingly temporary gig would ignite a profound desire to redefine the tourism landscape of NYC. While working for various tour companies, meeting people from all over the world, sharing the typical touristy spots and neighborhoods, I noticed a glaring gap—a lack of representation of the Black/African American, Hispanic/Latine, and Indigenous communities and stories that contributed to the development of NYC too.  This realization inspired me to birth my own tours and hospitality company, NYC STAR HOSPITALITIES envisioning it as a platform to celebrate the city's rich diversity, transcend conventional tourism by highlighting often-overlooked stories and cultures, while fostering inclusivity and equity through meaningful connections between travelers and local communities with meticulously crafted tours, workshops, and events that embodies “edutainment”. I love this job. I love making people feel well-taken-care of. To make people feel like they belong, to feel like a Star. My tours and services are more than just a venture; it's a labor of love dedicated to educate, entertain, and inspire by spotlighting overlooked stories and cultures. As a Tour Guide and small business owner, drawing from my background in the performing arts, teaching, and intimate knowledge of the city my mission is to connect people through creativity, performance arts, and education, celebrating inclusivity, cultural exchange, and the magic of storytelling. 

Mason Gross School of the Arts -Rutgers University

TOURISM & HOSPITALITY ENHANCEMENT CERTIFICATE FROM NYC & TOURISM AND CONVENTION FORMERLY NYC & COMPANY