Category: Featured

Featured

9/11: Marking 2 Decades…

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It’s almost impossible to believe that it’s been two decades since the devastation of the twin tower terror act, taking thousands of innocent lives and breaking families forever.  Truthfully it’s hard to believe it ever happened at all. 

Here we take a look at some of the ways people in New York marked this day.

Every year there is a National September 11 Memorial event in Lower Manhattan.  This year was no different and was attended by President Joe Biden and former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. All 2,977 victims’ names were read aloud and the tribute featured musical performances from Kelli O’Hara, Bruce Springstein and others, in the midst of silence reflection.

Biden also went to speak with first responders and their families at the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department. In Westchester – at the Kenisco Dam Plaza – a new memorial was unveiled to the public in a ceremony held at 3:30pm on that day.  It was to honor those who passed away as a result of illnesses related to 9/11.

In the evening, the Tribute in Light at Battery Park (which were installed six months after the attacks at the end of a tribute spanning an entire month) shone across the entire area, focusing on where the twin towers once stood. There was a commemoration ceremony organized by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum as well as its online exhibition, September 11, 2001: The Day That Changed the World.

And of course, all throughout New York – and indeed the nation and world at large – people gathered and memorialized those who perished at the hands of terrorists 20 years ago.

We will never forget.

Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Restaurants, Tourism, Triumph Hotels

Writers Taking Up Residence at New York City Hotels

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New York City’s hotels have long been a spot of inspiration for writers and authors. Arthur Miller and William S. Burroughs were known to do their most creative work while living in and working from the Chelsea Hotel; Kay Thompson’s Eloise series features life from the top of the Plaza hotel; Maya Angelou always rented a hotel room to focus on her poetry and prose.

The coronavirus pandemic, for all its hardships, tragedies, and chaos, has many of the City’s creatives adopting this habit. Hotels are thirsty for business, the writers are desperate for reclusive spaces– it’s a win/win situation.

Writer Stan Parish, for example,  has always been fond of hotels. Now, he says, he has been using them as ad hoc home-office space while simultaneously enjoying the amenities. For Parish it is the “neutrality” of the hotel environment that is most enticing. With minimal distractions and maximum simplicity, he can get a lot of writing done.

The restrictions on indoor seating at restaurants and coffee shops had many writers scrambling for space. Other authors point to the quiet as their primary reason for booking a hotel room. With most living rooms turning into classrooms and homes becoming makeshift offices, the serenity of a hotel room can be critical to the creative process.

Entertainment, Featured, NY Environment, NY News, Restaurants, Shimmie Horn, Tourism, Transportation, Triumph Hotels

How to Help NYC’s Tourism Rebound This Holiday Season

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2020 presented many paths to virtue and kindness; simple acts, once considered frivolous, took on added aspects of virtue. Staying home was how we helped ease the burden for healthcare workers and frontline responders. Social distancing kept our family and loved ones safe. Ordering dinner was a way to support a struggling local eatery.  And as the year winds down, New York City’s tourism industry is encouraging residents to plan a “staycation,” including overnight accommodations at hotels, and safe visits to museums and venues.

Places like the Empire State Building, the September 11 Memorial Museum, and the Met are open with modified visitation regulations. In the past, New Yorkers tended to avoid these places, particularly during the holiday season, because of the long lines and overload of tourists. But now, city dwellers have the chance to explore the best of New York, learn about local attractions, and support city-run businesses.

Another good way to take in the Big Apple this season is on Big Bus Tour New York’s double-decker buses. The open-top transportation is both COVID-safe and an effective way to see over 40 famous locations.

The buses have been equipped with plexiglass dividers to protect employees and passengers; capacity is limited to 30 passengers. All riders are required to wear face masks and seating is designed to adhere to social-distancing regulations.

Environment, Featured, NY Environment, NY News, Tourism

New Greens and Grounds at Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

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The Brooklyn Botanic Garden reopened to visitors in August 2020. In September, Adrian Benepe, the former commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, came in as the Garden’s new president and chief executive.

The newly refurbished Brooklyn Botanic Garden still includes all the taxonomic detail and vibrant floral displays. The 52 acres of plant life are randomly categorized, with insects, birds, and a constantly-changing floral setup scattered throughout. The new Robert W. Wilson Overlook is constructed on a 1.25-acre slope of land that was left unkempt and deserted for too long. The slope was discovered in the 20th century when digging began on the adjacent Brooklyn Museum. The path also doubles as a ramp for disabled visitors.

While the Garden is open to visitors, the robust scholastic activities for children and adults are only available virtually. Children can register to have plants sent to their homes and gardening enthusiasts can consult with Botanical staff online.

Environment, Featured, Fitness, NY Environment, NY News, Technology, Tourism, Transportation

Another Way to Traverse New York City: Electric Scooter

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New York City’s Department of Transportation published a tender for “expressions of interest” for a pilot initiative which would bring electric scooters to the Big Apple. The initial plan is to introduce the scooters in all the boroughs except Manhattan in May 2021.

So far, big names in urban transportation have shown interest in the program. Bird, Lime, Voi, and Lyft have all taken steps to participate in the bidding process.

“We applaud the City and Commissioner Trottenberg for taking this crucial next step in making New York a global leader in environmental travel, micromobility, equitable transportation, and street safety.”

Maurice Henderson, Bird’s director of government partnerships
Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Restaurants, Tourism

Hotel Design of the Future

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On a national level, hotel occupancy is down 50 percent. And yet, some analysts believe that tourism will be one of the first industries to pick up immediately after a vaccine is introduced. After months of no travel, people will be eager to explore new cities and pamper themselves at new hotels.

Hoteliers across America are planning for a future that accounts for new outbreaks and heightened sensitivity to hygiene. Hotel executives, designers, and suppliers shared how they are envisioning the post-corona hotel experience. Right now, enhanced housekeeping is a priority. These are just a few new practices and projected procedures:

Zero-Contact Room Controls: Self-check-out is not new in the hotel industry. Neither is keyless guest-room entry via cellphone.  COVID-19 has only heightened the necessity for these features as customers are more aware of what they touch and who they come in contact with. Google Assistant recently introduced an app for hospitality for its virtual assistant Google Nest Hub. Some New York City hotels are already using Nest Hub’s voice-command interface to get information about hotel services, set wake-up calls, etc.

Google Assistant recently introduced an app for hospitality for its virtual assistant Google Nest Hub. Some New York City hotels are already using Nest Hub’s voice-command interface to get information about hotel services, set wake-up calls, etc.

Robots for Room Service: Many New York City hotels are not equipped to offer outdoor dining options all year-round. Most hotel restaurants depend on far more business than is regulated by social distancing regulations. So many hotels have pivoted to serving meals in the entire facility, with the added bonus of having robots serve the food. Meeting rooms, ballrooms, and conference spaces are also being repurposed to be dining halls or pick up spots.

Letting the Outdoors In: Designers and architects have always recommended biophilic design: incorporating outdoor elements in indoor spaces. In the hotel world, more greenery is finding its way into the communal spaces, offering visitors nature’s calming effects. Boardrooms and event venues are including more plants, digital projections, and outdoor views that simulate nature’s movements. Cross breezes and anti-septic lights are produced by state-of-the-art air-filtration systems.

Entertainment, Environment, Fashion, Featured, NY News, Restaurants, Sports, Tourism

New York City’s First Tourism Initiative Since Pandemic

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If there is one thing that the coronavirus pandemic has taught us, it is that things change constantly.

Over the last few weeks, we have learned about the cancellation of the live Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, the closure of Century 21, and the removal of many states from New York’s mandated quarantine- list. Indoor concert and comedy spaces remain closed, but protocols have been set in place for indoor dining.

And now, for the first time since March, New York is introducing a new tourism initiative designed to recharge the city’s economy, stimulate local travel, and bring back the appeal of the Big Apple.

All In NYC: Neighborhood Getaways offers more than 200 deals and specials in hotels, museums, eateries, parks, and facilities across the five boroughs. Aimed primarily at New Yorkers looking for fun staycation opportunities at reasonable prices, All in NYC is the city’s most robust and varied tourism platform ever.  

Social distancing, health recommendations, and safety protocols are observed at all sites.

NY galleries go to the hamptons
Entertainment, Fashion, Featured, NY News, Tourism

NY’s Galleries Go to the Hamptons

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New York City’s art culture has changed dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. Museums are closed, swanky galleries are seeing less foot traffic, and the recession is curtailing sales. Many New Yorkers fled the city to their outlying vacation homes, and their favorite New York art houses, galleries, and artists followed them.

This development is a win for collectors who say that online and virtual exhibitions are not the same as personal, visual interaction with the art and artists. More gallery options also means additional venues for emerging artists to showcase their talent; in crowded city spaces, it was hard to compete with famous names.

In the Hamptons, for example, collectors are coming out of lockdown to explore the newly opened gallery options popping up along the tidy, quiet streets. While the area used to be where the city’s dealers, artists, and collectors vacationed, now that they have spent most of the pandemic living here, there is much to discover. Since early June, five major art shops, headquartered in New York City, have set up spaces: Pace, Skarstedt, Van de Weghe, Michael Werner and Sotheby’s.

Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Restaurants, Tourism

New Coalition Set to Recharge New York

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The city has announced the creation of the Coalition for NYC Hospitality & Tourism Recovery together with NYC & Company.

The coalition is being co-chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Restauranteur and hospitality leader Danny Meyer is also involved.

All 24 steering committee members are active in New York’s hospitality industry. The group’s members come from all five boroughs and have a mission to “revitalize and reaffirm the city’s brand positioning around the world following this most challenging time.”

Entertainment, Featured, NY News, Shimmie Horn, Tourism

What Hotels Are Doing to Reopen

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When travel resumes again, in New York City and beyond, places offering overnight lodgings will be very different. Whether it is camping vehicles or live-in yachts, hotels or home rentals, the hospitality industry is trying to figure out how to regain customer confidence.

Among the many ideas industry professionals are suggesting, the most evident is the need to adhere to the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness; these will be the newest branders of quality accommodations.

For their part, hotels are tapping professional and industrial-grade cleaning supplies and services. Housekeeping staffs are being trained in new cleaning requirements and being equipped with proper personal protective gear. Some hotels are working with big-name companies in the health and hygiene industries to ensure safety. Other hotels have introduced “room seals,” similar to those found on food products, attesting to clients that no one has entered the room since it was last cleaned. Disinfectant wipes are being placed in frequently touched areas like elevators and passageways.

The American Hotel & Lodging Association issued “Safe Stay” “ guidelines for member hotels, including expanded cleaning routines using stronger chemicals and social distancing measures in public spaces.