About 150 Tristate residents will travel to New York City for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to support local companies Federated Department Stores Inc. and Delta Air Lines.

        Led by Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken, the contingent will get discounted seats on a Delta flight, discounted hotel rooms and parade tickets from Federated, which owns Macy's.

        The public may register for the first-come, first-served tickets by calling (513) 762-3730. The New York economy has been reeling from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Federated and Delta have taken huge hits from a slowing economy that has chilled consumer spending.

        A group of governors traveled to New York in September to demonstrate their faith in air travel and support for the New York economy. A group from Portland, Ore., has taken a similar trip.

        “The Macy's parade is probably the biggest thing Federated does all year,” said John Fonner, the Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce official organizing the trip. “As important as Delta and Federated are, we need to support them wherever they operate.”

        Delta's second-biggest hub is at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Delta andits Comair subsidiary, offerdaily flights to New York.

        Federated's two highest-profile stores are in Manhattan, Macy's at Herald Square and Bloomingdale's on 59th Street.

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