Committed to a vibrant tourism industry locally, for nearly six years Tisch served as chairman of NYC & Company, the City's official tourism agency, and was chairman of New York Rising, established to bring back visitors and revive the economy after 9/11. Crain's New York Business named him one of the "Top Ten Most Influential Business Leaders," and inducted him into their Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have transformed the City in both their professional work and in their civic and philanthropic activities.

Tisch is the author of three best-selling books: The Power of We: Succeeding through Partnerships; Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing the Customer Experience; and Citizen You: Doing Your Part to Change the World. He was the host of the Emmy-nominated television series Beyond the Boardroom.

Tisch is a champion of corporate responsibility and active citizenship. More than 25 years ago, he initiated the Loews Hotels Good Neighbor Policy, a recipient of the US President's Service Award. He is vice chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater Tufts University, and is also the naming benefactor of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts. And last year he was honored by the NYU School of Professional Studies with the naming of the Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, of which he has been a driving force for years. He is a founding board member of The Shed, New York's new arts center designed to commission, produce, and present all types of performing arts, visual arts, and popular culture.