Who would have thought New York as a Buyers Market?

It is now. I recently read a Crain's New York Business article quoting numerous hoteliers as "feeling the pain" through declining vacancy rates. They lay the blame directly at the door of Wall Street, but seriously, does the stock market solely run your company's meeting budget? If it doesn't, then right now is the best time of all to be in New York. The forecasters who predict a 20% increase in the cost of rooms for Europeans are forgetting the law of supply and demand. The power of the Dollar and Euro may be in question, but the power of negotiation is reaching peak value. The market adjusts and just yesterday, while walking back to the office, I saw the same restaurants I know so well do the same business as always. Why? They, like all of us, adjusted for the times and are providing more value to their customers than ever. The strengths of New York have always been its diversity and resiliency. Wall Street's struggles will never put the city that never sleeps to bed.

Merry Merry Manhattan

New York's most beloved Christmas tree is on its final course to Manhattan today. A 74-foot tall Norway spruce was hand chosen to decorate Rockefeller Center this season, where it will remain through the New Year. While the official lighting isn't until December 3rd, crews will be 'pining' away through the upcoming weeks to 'spruce' up the 8-ton tree.

Congrats, Mr. President

In a historic moment, on November 4th Barack Obama has been elected to be the 44th President of the United States of America. Having spent 4 years at Columbia University on the Upper West Side of New York City, he is no stranger to the Big Apple and what it has to offer. Officially taking office on January 20th, 2009 we would like to congratulate him on his success.