Behind The Scenes Of The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The Fall season in Manhattan has in many ways become synonymous with the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® (http://www.macysparade.com), which has sparked a family tradition in many homes where we watch the balloons and floats march down Broadway in New York City, bringing fond memories for me as well of watching “The Miracle on 34th Street” for the first time several decades ago.
I am happy to note that The New Yorker Hotel also engages in a tradition with Macy’s, and in 2008 the hotel is celebrating 10 years of hosting more than 5,000 performers the night before and the morning of the annual Parade.
While many people are aware of how the Parade balloons are filled the evening before on the Upper West Side, few know the role of The New Yorker Hotel (located one block west of Macy’s) in helping the Parade (figuratively) get off the ground each year for the past decade. Since 1998, The New Yorker Hotel has welcomed a hard-working and dedicated team of volunteers who stay the night before the Parade and transform the property’s rooms and hallways into a huge dressing room with colorful costumes for balloon handlers, clowns, musicians, make-up artists and other performers.
Parade performers wake up as early as 4 am to prepare for the festivities. The New Yorker Hotel provides the group of more than 5,000 with a healthy and hearty breakfast before the performers head out to entertain people of all ages.
The New Yorker Hotel is very proud of its “behind the scenes” role in helping the performers get ready and energized for the Parade. This experience is a holiday season highlight for us, and we hope to continue the tradition for many years into the future.
Playing a role in the Parade also makes us feel even more endeared to what I believe is one of the greatest, most inspiring, creative and dynamic cities in the world – New York City.
You’re Welcome
Friday, April 11th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The New Yorker Hotel, Re-Imagined
There’s something to be said for the way you’re welcomed somewhere. First impressions leave lasting impressions for a reason! Your welcome at a hotel sets the tone for your experience there, which is why we’re taking our lobby renovation to heart. As part of the New Yorker Hotel’s $65 million renovation, we’re going to transform our lobby – our guests’ first impression and welcome – into something grand and spectacular that will bring the New Yorker Hotel back to its art deco heyday when it first opened in 1930.
Highlights of the lobby remodeling include: restoration of the original marble floor, which is currently carpet-covered; the addition of lounge seating as well as an expanded sitting area for guests; installation of a dramatic chandelier and art deco-inspired wall sconces; a gold-painted ceiling in the double-height lobby; brand new check-in and concierge desks; a mirrored wall by the Tick Tock Diner; new signage throughout the public space; and a new, automatic revolving door.
We’ll also be opening the entire lobby window line offering guests a full view of Eighth Avenue from 34th Street to 35th Street and providing passersby a full view of the newly-remodeled New Yorker Hotel. It’ll probably take about six weeks to complete the lobby remodeling, and then we’ll continue with the rest of our massive and ambitious renovation.
Now, don’t take me wrong – the cosmetics of the ‘welcome’ concept in the hospitality industry is only part of creating a truly spectacular impression for guests. Without a superb staff, which the New Yorker Hotel is fortunate to have, including our well-trained and highly-motivated front desk personnel, concierge and bellmen, we’d be just another pretty face. Once the lobby is finished, though, we’ll be so much more than that – we’ll be dressed to impress on a whole new level.
Travel Trends
Wednesday, March 12th, 2008 | Uncategorized, travel | No Comments
According to a recent survey by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) on the top domestic destinations, New York dropped to number 7 on the list after 5 years at number 3. I wonder why. How much has the worry of recession, the weak dollar and the high price of gas impacted the number of domestic visitors to New York City?
These forces are certainly affecting every aspect of the hospitality and tourism industries, but will people still find ways to take a leisure holiday? Americans may be slowing down, but the soft dollar is definitely still bringing the international visitors to the city, and as a result, we may see less impact here due to the sluggish economy than many other destinations.
NYC & Company says New York City experienced a record-breaking year in 2007, and they expect 2008 to bring further growth. That’s great news for those of us in the New York City hospitality arena, and a confirmation that international travelers are impacting our industry here positively.
Regardless of whatever statistics look good or bad, I’m confident that New York’s appeal will never wane for long. New York City is the epicenter of rich culture, great food, museums, attractions, trade and commerce and so much more, and the New Yorker Hotel is proud to be a part of this amazing city.
Room 3327
Monday, March 3rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Have you ever heard of Nikola Tesla? Based on my own experience of asking that question, the odds are slightly less than 50-50 that you have heard of him. Or, it might just be that you don’t remember being taught about him because his name isn’t as recognizable as Edison or Einstein. However, have you ever wondered how we ever started using AC electrical power? It wasn’t Edison’s creation – he invented DC power. No, it was Nikola Tesla. How about wireless transmission of energy, as we use in radios and TV broadcasts, cell phone communications and remote controls? Tesla again. Our modern civilization would look drastically different if not for the genius of this man.
Why am I asking about Tesla? Well, he lived the last 10 years of his life, from 1934 to 1943, in the New Yorker Hotel, in room 3327! By the way, 3 cubed is 27, and I wonder if that is why he chose that suite.
We have been asked to turn that suite into a museum for Nikola Tesla, but it seems to me that more in keeping with his sense of discovery, invention and excitement, we should make that room the New Yorker’s guest room laboratory. We’ll put in that room the latest and most interesting guest technology and services and see how our guests respond. The Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals association (www.hftp.org) created Room 2010 and has displayed such trappings for hoteliers to see, and now I want to take that to the next level – for our guests.
Some features of this room will include a closed-circuit TV to replace the eye peep-hole in the door, perhaps a wall mural that becomes a flat-panel HDTV at the touch of a button or an Internet Protocol telephone. Actually, suggestions would be welcome.
We’re certainly not the only hotel to come up with this idea or be influenced by the HFTP Room 2010, so I can’t claim that level of originality, but it sure seems like it will be a lot of fun and rewarding at the same time.
The Heart of the Matter
Monday, February 11th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
On Valentine’s Day, most people focus on the spirit of the ‘romantic heart,’ but this year, the New Yorker Hotel is adding a new dimension to its celebration of ‘matters of the heart.’
The New Yorker Hotel has joined with St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan to celebrate “the heart” of Valentine’s Day by offering free blood pressure screenings and nutritional counseling at our hotel on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008 from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm. Nurses and a nutritionist from St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan will be set-up in our lobby (located at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue) to conduct the free blood pressure screenings as well as provide informational pamphlets on heart healthy foods.
This is the first time we have joined with St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan for the free blood pressure screenings, and hopefully it will become a new tradition. If you’re going to be in the New York City area, we encourage you to stop by the New Yorker Hotel and get screened. ‘Matters of the heart’ never grow old.
Behind the Scenes of Our Renovation
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The New Yorker Hotel is solid – literally. Designed by Sugarman & Berger, the building was constructed in 1929, and it was built to last. A massive number of steel I-beams were used in the construction, ensuring that the bones of this building are among the strongest in New York City, even to this day. So far, as part of the remodeling and our general maintenance, the New Yorker Hotel has spent some $8 million on the roof, the pointing of the bricks and limestone, the signs on the roof, electrical and plumbing upgrades, and even renovations in the four basement levels
We are over halfway through our $17 million installation of a central heating ventilation and air-conditioning system. This will allow us to remove over 2,000 window air conditioner units, a tremendously ‘green’ move, both in terms of air quality and power usage, because there is no more expensive way to cool a room than a window unit. This effort has involved installing over seven miles of copper pipe. We’ll also be de-commissioning all the steam heating systems throughout the building, replacing more than a mile of steam pipes with new, copper hot water pipes.
The remaining $40 million of our renovation undertaking is what New Yorker Hotel guests will see, feel and experience the most – completely restyled guest rooms with new carpet, soft goods, paint and wallpaper, in addition to pillow-top mattresses, flat-panel HDTV’s and packaged bathroom toiletries. Rooms on the Suite and Tower Floors will also feature iPod docking stations and computer/TV jackpacks. Included in this budget is a remake of our spacious lobby and chandeliers, plus new cladding on our marquees and blade signs, with brand new lighting all around. The New Yorker Hotel will truly shine after the renovation is complete, and we’ll be prouder then ever to call it home.
A Third of the Way Done
Monday, January 14th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The New Yorker Hotel is ushering in the New Year 2008 with great news – we successfully completed the remodeling of 360 guest rooms, amounting to one-third of our room inventory. We’re keeping pace with the schedule of our $65 million renovation and are proud of it! The pointing work on the façade is almost complete, and with the façade cleaning we have done, the outside brick work and limestone are now clean and bright. Plus, the street shed covering the sidewalk on Eighth Avenue has been taken down, meaning the presence and attractiveness of the New Yorker Hotel is steadily growing.
So far for me, the best part of this renovation process has been seeing the results of hard work and creative vision come to fruition. This massive renovation is truly a rebirth of a storied treasure in the heart of New York City. As a result, a growing percentage of our guests are experiencing a ‘new’ New Yorker Hotel, in the best shape it has been since it was built. We know this for sure, because a growing percentage of our guests are returning and making sure we know it.
U.S Armed Forces
Monday, November 19th, 2007 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Most people know someone who has either served in or is currently an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces. With Veteran’s Day here, we are reminded of the contributions and sacrifices an uncountable number of individuals have made to defend our freedoms.
Some honor veterans in a private and intimate way, while others go bolder. We at the New Yorker Hotel decided to take the more ambitious route with our recognition. So, as our ‘thank you’ to the brave and courageous men and women who comprise the U.S. Armed Forces, the New Yorker Hotel has created a year-long Armed Services Appreciation Program to honor active and retired members of the U.S. military.
Our program has two components. First, we’re offering 50 FREE weekend stays at the New Yorker Hotel plus breakfast through a promotion on our website at www.newyorkerhotel.com. Second, we’re providing a 20 % discount to all military personnel (active and retired) who stay at the hotel now through 2008. Click here for more details and to enter to win one of the free 50 trips.
We envision this program as the springboard for a larger nationwide campaign where members of the hospitality and tourism industry recognize our troops and their families with discounts and other amenities. It’s a great way to thank these extremely worthy, dedicated and valiant men and women.
The meaning of Veteran’s Day took on a greater depth for me at the end of our 9/11 memorial service this year, with the return of one of our employees, Carlos Pena, from 18 months serving in Iraq and being awarded three Purple Hearts. He came up to the podium and handed me the flag that had been flown over his camp, thanking me for all the support. I was deeply honored, and somewhat embarrassed, as I didn’t know what support I had really offered him (other than keeping his job open, which I would have done regardless of the law requiring it). I was particularly very humbled to be thanked by someone who earned three Purple Hearts.
As a result of this experience, I decided to do something a little more proactive in terms of supporting our brave men and women of the armed services. So, if you start seeing the “Support our Troops” ribbons with numbers in the middle, those locations are supporting our troops with that much of a discount on their goods and services.
If you have your own Veteran’s Day stories, please share as I’d love to hear from you.
‘Location, location, location’
Monday, November 19th, 2007 | Uncategorized | No Comments
‘Location, location, location’ is not just of paramount importance to leisure vacationers – it is essential for business travelers, along with various conveniences such as Wi-Fi access and a fully-equipped business center. Well, if NYC is where you’re headed, the New Yorker Hotel fits the bill on every level.
We’re located at 34th Street and Eighth Avenue – three blocks from the Jacob Javits Convention Center and across from Penn Station and Madison Square Garden. Our location on the West Side of Manhattan makes us very accessible to JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.
Whether heading to the Javits Center or one of the many nearby companies for a meeting, our hotel location is enviable. In New York City, you can walk back to the New Yorker Hotel quicker than if you took a taxi!
Corporate rate programs are available so business travelers can benefit from additional savings and the best personalized service. Our price point for accommodations is practically unrivaled when you compare our product offerings, especially post-renovation, to the per night rate.
As part of our $65 million renovation, we’re improving free guest Wi-Fi (with more bandwidth to increase speed of access) and upgrading dining options (including the 24-hour Tick Tock Diner). We’re also looking into purchasing ‘jack packs’ that feature iPod docking stations, since iPods and BlackBerrys go hand-in-hand with today’s business traveler.
Word of mouth is a powerful tool, so we welcome comments from business travelers who we’ve been fortunate enough to host at the New Yorker Hotel.
Renovation Update
Monday, October 22nd, 2007 | Uncategorized | 2 Comments
Great news! We’re keeping pace with our renovation schedule and have already completed 195 brand new fashionable guest rooms and suites on eight floors of the New Yorker Hotel as part of our $65 million renovation.
Guests have started staying in the new rooms, and the reviews have been exceptional with particular praise for the chic furnishings, some of which were custom-designed. Amenities such as plasma televisions and extra-soft beds in every room are also proving to be very popular. We even got rid of those bulky bedspreads and are triple sheeting the mattresses – so much better all around for guests and our housekeeping staff.
We are working with NYC-based Stonehill & Taylor (www.stonehilltaylor.com) for the architectural and interior design. The company’s designers have spectacular vision and they really embraced our idea of remodeling the New Yorker with a combined art deco/modern-edge concept.
The design is great – geometric patterns, skyscraper-style bookcases and desks, customized lighting, and a color palette of gold, silver and chocolate against dark wood furnishings. S&T is the ‘cream of the crop’ with an impressive client roster including Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Affinia Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton Hotels.
No renovation as major as the one we’re doing will run 100 percent smoothly – that’s not the nature of the hotel business or the world in general. There are always hiccups along the way, but we’re pleased that the bumps have been minimal thus far, and the hotel is truly starting to look terrific from the inside out. If you’ve recently stayed in one of our brand new rooms, we’d love to hear your feedback.
