Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is Here!

New York Business Travel Ready for a Quick Recovery from Hurricane Sandy

The New York City area had a rough week and our hearts go out to millions of wonderful people throughout the East Coast, especially in coastal areas of New Jersey, Staten Island, Rockaway and Long Island, who have suffered unimaginable loss. 

 

The business travel industry, while hit hard last week, is prepared for a quick recovery.  Most, if not all of our hotels have weathered the storm, and with power fully restored in Manhattan, are ready to accommodate business travelers and corporate meetings with the world-class service and amenities people expect in New York.

 

We had two meeting groups in town last week and everyone worked around the challenges with a positive attitude.  More importantly, our attendees witnessed first-hand the never-quit spirit of New Yorkers, who not only overcame a major natural disaster as individuals, but also made it a priority to help their neighbors in a time of need.

 

New York will be back better than ever.

World's Biggest Ferris Wheel Gets Approval for NYC

We previously blogged that the World's Larget Ferris Wheel was being planning for New York City in Staten Island.  We are happy to report that the project has been approved by the city government and here is a latest rendering of what it will look like:

Morning Mimosas at the Statue of Liberty

Cruising around the Statue of Liberty does not have to an evening-only event.  Destination corporate meeting and incentive attendees are choosing morning excursions that are equally spectacular and often sail through much calmer water on the Hudson River.

Shackman Associates New York can develop morning cruises that include extravagant breakfasts, amenities for business component or speakers, and even a mimosa or two. 

"The Heiress" Returns to Broadway

Broadway's newest production,"The Heiress", has a rich stage and film history.

Die-hard movie fans might remember "The Heiress" as the Academy Award-winning 1949 movie starring Olivia de Haviland and Montgomery Clift.  But the film was adapted from a 1946 Broadway production of the same story.  The Broadway production was then remade in 1995 and another movie was released in 1997. 

The play follows the story of Catheine Sloper, a wealthy woman who can never please her father.  When she meets the man of her dreams, Catherine's father thinks her new love is only in it for the the money.  Instead of proving everyone wrong, the charming Morris Townsend is a no-show for a planned elopement, runs off to California, and returns to New York to find that Catherine has inherited a massive estate.  He again turns on the charm, but Catherine has other plans - revenge!

Acclaimed actess Jesica Chastain makes her Broadway debut as Catherine, and the play opens this month at the Walter Kerr Theatre. 

Shackman Associates specializes in providing unique Broadway experiences for corporate destination meeting and incentive groups that have included backstage tours and interaction with leading talent.


Jessica Chastain stars as Catherine Sloper in "The Heiress".
Photo courtesy of BroadwayWorld.

UN Week or Oyster Week? It's always a "week" in NYC

Whether it's hundreds of countries with diplomats for the annual UN General Assembly or 11 oyster restaurants, there is always a "week" going on in New York City.

This week, the two have merged.

Many meeting planners try to send corporate groups to cities when a special event is happening because it's a great option for after-hours entertainment.  In New York, special events are happening all the time, which provides meeting planners more flexibility to plan meetings for "off-season" periods to save money. 

And if you are curious who is hosting "Oyster Week", here are the 11 venues:

Grand Central Oyster Bar; Lure; Bluefin; Atlantic Grill - Upper East Side; Blue Water Grill; Ocean Grill; Atlantic Grill - Lincoln Center; Monument Lane; Ulysses Folk House; Wild Edibles; and the City Crab and Seafood Company.

Shackman Associates New York has helped corporate groups get exclusive access and amenities at leading venues like these and New York raw fish offerings are so plentiful and delicious, Oyster Week can really be any day of any week you want!

Christopher Columbus gets "Discovered"

Discovering Columbus, a new skyscraping exhibition by Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi, is open for visitors, and poised to be the talk of the city for months.

Nishi and the Public Art Fund have built a fully decorated living room — six stories up — around that very famous marble likeness of Christopher Columbus that sits in his namesake Circle.

The controversial exhibit opened on Thursday, September 20 and runs through Saturday, November 18
at Columbus Circle.

 

New on Broadway: Scarlett Johansson

Another Hollywood A-lister is on her way to Broadway.

Scarlett Johansson will play the role made famous by Elizabeth Talyor: sex-starved Maggie in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”

Previews begin December 18 and the show officially opens January 17, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre.  The production, which will be directed by Rob Ashford, marks Johansson’s second turn on Broadway. In 2010, she won a Featured Actress Tony Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge.”

Plan Your 2013 Golf Meeting or Incentive Now

With the New York area having just hosted the first leg of the FedEx Cup at Bethpage Black, you might be thinking, "Let's include championship golf as part of our next corporate incentive trip." 

It's a great thought, but you need to start planning for next year and beyond right now.

While Bethpage Black is one of the most exclusive courses in the world to book, Bethpage Red - also part of Bethpage State Park - has been called by the PGA Tour's official site "a strong number two pitcher" to its sister course.  It's so challenging that the USGA was close to using the 18th on the Red Course as the finishing hole of the 2009 US Open. 

But with so many options, why worry about going all or nothing for one course?  The New York City area boasts hundreds of tour-level golf courses, and visitors may not realize that most venues feature beautiful rolling hills or ocean-front links on multiple holes.  The spectacular views, including that of the Manhattan skyline from several of the area's top courses, speak for themselves.

It's not a surprise that Golf Digest has ranked 13 venues within a 2-hour drive of Manhattan in its 2011-2012 list of America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses.

Watching Major Champions

The Barclays is held is each year in late August at a New York-area golf venue and two upcoming major championships - the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol and the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock - are great opportunities for groups to see the best players in the world compete up-close.


Fria's Head Golf Course on Long Island

Tavern on the Green Gets a New Life

The slow and sad and demise of Tavern on the Green is over!

The famed restaurant's, new owners, The Emerald Group, are plan to revitalize the venue with outdoor seating up to 300 people and a reputation of serving the best French crepes on the East Coast 150 miles away in Phildelphia's bustling South Street district. 

The executive chef will be a seasoned New Yorker, Katy Sparks, who has worked at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Bolo and the Quilted Giraffe and was the executive chef for catering company Great Performances.

It's good to see an iconic venue springing back to life with a bright future!

New on Broadway: Jake Gyllenhaal

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal is coming to Off-Broadway for a limited engagement of If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet.  The show began over the weekend at off-Broadway's Laura Pels Theatre. Directed by Michael Longhurst, the play will officially open on September 20, and is set to play a limited engagement through November 25. The cast also features Annie Funke, Michelle Gomez and Brian F. O’Byrne.

If There Is I Haven’t Found It Yet is the story of Anna (Funke), a teenager who is bullied at school because of her weight. When Anna’s mom transfers her to the school where she teaches in order to protect her daughter, it only makes things worse. Just as Anna is suspended for retaliating against her bullies, her estranged uncle Terry (Gyllenhaal) arrives unannounced. Terry, a heartbroken drifter with the mouth of a sailor, connects with Anna in a way no one else ever has.

Heard the Brooklyn Buzz?

Heard the Brooklyn Buzz? Shackman Associates has and we bring to you the latest on the fall opening of New York’s newest landmark – the Barclays Center – located in the vibrant borough of Brooklyn, home of the new Brooklyn Nets and host of over 200 live entertainment and sporting events each year. 

Jay Z will hit the stage with a series of eight (sold-out!) concerts – and upcoming acts this fall include Barbara Streisand, Justin Beiber and Andrea Bocelli to name just a few.  On November 1st the Brooklyn Nets will go head to head with their new rival, the New York Knicks as their first game of the season.

With multiple event space options, this entertainment and sporting arena is New York’s new versatile venue in the hip borough of Brooklyn. Let Shackman Associates guide you in hosting your next event at the new Barclays Center.

Dear Politicians: Don't Let the GSA Scandal Devalue Meetings

It’s ironic that the same politicians who have, since 2009, attacked corporate meetings paved the way for the GSA to spend freely at a minimum of 77 conferences.

This blog isn’t going to discuss the legitimacy of GSA meetings, but the venues that host them are a vital part of the economy.  The Meetings and Conference industry adds billions of dollars to the US GDP and employs millions of hospitality workers.

According to a recent study by the Financial and Insurance Conference Planners (FICP), the annual collective-buying power of FICP member organizations ranges between $659 million and $913 million. The study of 91 FICP planner members, which was conducted in March, also reveals that 95 percent of those polled have average annual meeting budgets of $3 million, spend $900,000 for their largest annual event and planned approximately 95 meetings in 2011. In other findings, 95 percent of respondents expect their budgets to increase or remain flat in 2013, and 21 percent expect an increase in the size of their meeting planning teams next year.  (Meetings and Conventions Magazine – July 8, 2012) 

The $800,000 the GSA spent in Las Vegas is about average for a large conference.

However, since the financial crisis of 2008, corporate meetings have found creative ways to stretch budgets and even add serious business elements to destination incentives.  This category of meeting is traditionally a luxury experience reward for top company performers.  For example, destination meetings we have managed in New York saved thousands of dollars by piggybacking food and AV with other meetings at a hotel.  They sometimes cut luxury itineraries in favor of open downtime.  

Most notably, corporate meeting attendees have not shown up on YouTube sipping top-shelf champagne in Las Vegas penthouses.  In fact, the opposite is true.  At Shackman Associates, we have helped meetings appropriately stay under-the-radar during the challenging financial climate and include economic development tours and “give-back” programs in the local community in New York City.

Destinations like Las Vegas and New York have finally bounced back after several years of unhelpful and uneducated criticism by politicians in Washington.  Let’s hope that going forward, government meetings use some of the cost-saving strategies corporate meetings have been using for the past 4 years.

New on Broadway: "Bring it On!"

"Bring It On!" is a high-energy musical opening this fall on Broadway.  If the name sounds familiar, it should be.  The musical is based on the cheerleader movie series that mostly went straight to video, but that is where the similarities end.

The Broadway production of "Bring It On!" features exciting live cheer routines, great music, better acting and the energy of 30 people debuting on Broadway at one time.  It's an ideal show for meeting and incentive groups traveling with spouses. 

Shackman Associates provides corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees with unique Broadway experiences that have included backstage passes and interaction with the productions stars.

New on Broadway: "Chaplin"

Fresh off of winning the San Diego Theatre Critic's Award for Best Musical during its run at The LaJolla Playhouse, "Chaplin" is headed for Broadway in New York City.

The musical, which chronicles the story of silent film icon Charlie Chaplin as he moved from London to become a Hollywood film star, will begin previews on August 21. 

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees with unique Broadway experiences including backstage passes and interaction with the stars of the production.

Only in New York City: Vegan Donuts!

Shackman Associates has another meeting food idea you'll only find in New York - Vegan Donuts.

In our continuing series of posts about healthy, savory food ideas for your destination meeting, several companies with locations around Manhattan, are leading a renaissance of the entire concept of eating donuts. 

Any good vegan can finally know how to appreciate fresh doughnuts daily with few flavors made from seasonal fresh and sometimes organic produce.  For example, Organic Orange, Fresh Raspberry,  Pistachio, Almond Marzipan, Pomegranate and Fresh Apple Cinnamon.

Here are the common denominators you won't find in your meeting break pastries:

No Trans fat.
No Preservatives.
No Artificial Flavorings.
No Eggs.

Some donuts are also gluten-free. 

3 Ways Your Meeting Can "Beat the Heat"

The US can get quite hot in the summer and 2012 could the hottest yet. 

So how can your corporate meeting and destination incentive attendees beat the heat?

Shackman Associates has 3 ice-cold ideas in New York City:

1. Ice rink in a ballroom.  We recently ran a gala event at a major hotel with a temporary ice rink in the middle of the ballroom.  Included was a live performance by professional skaters and an opportunity for meeting attendees to join in .

2. Sub Zero Ice Cages.  If your group is looking to cool off on the wild side, downtown features sub-zero ice cage bars with a vodka drinking room.  One venue is ideal for groups with a gypsy party trolley from your hotel and back.

3. Polar at the Marcel.  With fluffy and furry while pillow and icy mirrors, your group can indulge in the venue's unique menu of mixology including:  The Tundra; and Operation Highjump, featuring "42 below" vodka.

Meeting Break Idea: Gourmet Greek Yogurt Bars in NYC

Tired of the usual pastry and coffee at your destination meeting?  Are food trucks yesterday's news? In New York City, an exciting breed of "Yogurt Bars" have opened in Manhattan near many major hotel venues.

Greek yogurt, with thicker consistency than more sugary competitors found in many supermarkets, has become increasingly popular because it's low in fat and high in protein. 

Chobani and Dannon have opened stores in SoHo, which is close to multiple new boutique hotels, and at Grand Central Station in Midtown, a five minute walk from the Waldorf and Hyatt.  Like New York's gourment coffee houses which attract tens of thousands of tourists, yogurt bar menus include items you can't get anywhere else in the US - for example, yogurt featuring chopped figs and walnuts with honey drizzled on top, or yogurt with cucumbers or olive oil.

Katie Holmes Returns to Broadway

Fresh from her divorce settlement with Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes is wasting no time getting her career back on track and her first stop will be Broadway. 

She will star this fall in the new dark comedy “Dead Accounts" by Theresa Rebeck, a Pulitzer Prize finalist whose play, "Seminar", was a big hit on Broadway last year. 

Katie Holmes, who made her Broadway debut in 2008 in a revival of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons", will portray Lorna, a somewhat regular person on a diet, who is living with her aging parents in Cincinnati while trying to pull together her life. 

The Tony Award winner Jack O’Brien (“The Coast of Utopia,” “Hairspray”) is directing the five-character play, which will run at the Music Box Theater this fall.

Shackman Associates New York has provided corporate meeting and destination incentive clients with unique Broadway experiences that include backstage passes and interaction with talent from the production. 

For more information about run dates for Dead Accounts, contact us at dmc@shackmanassociates.com.

4 New Tech Features for Meeting Scavenger Hunts

We have blogged multiple times about uses of QR codes at corporate meetings and destination incentives.  We recently incorporated QR and GPS into a scavenger hunt in Central Park in Manhattan and more advances have been made to make team building activities like this even more exciting.

Among the newest features available for a scavenger hunt are:

1. Mobile optimized web-based applications that will work with all types of mobile devices
2. Synergy to track your group's progress and see how your competitors are doing
3. No need to download a gaming app
4. A platform admin portal, QR window client and other elements such as T-shirts, posters, pillows and pop-up banners.

Not surprisingly, New York City leads the US in venues with QR codes.  This includes most public attractions, hotels and many retailers.  With expanded technology, Shackman Associates can help your meeting group customize any scavenger hunt with efficient scheduling, unique challenges, and enhanced interactivity with locals. 



Photo courtesy of Worldseeker

Why ObamaCare Ruling Justifies Corporate Meetings

Whether you agree or disagree with today’s ruling on ObamaCare, we are still left with a 2,000-page law that few people, businesses and industry associations understand. 

Hospitals, medical device manufacturers, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, technology companies and the health care investment community will need, now more than ever, a forum to discuss how to prepare for new regulations and opportunities and act individually and as industries.

And that’s just in health care.  Virtually every company and industry association will be affected by the health care law and corporate leaders will need to thoroughly discuss continuing compliance strategies.

It makes a powerful case for a corporate or association meeting.   

Here in New York City, we have seen dynamic growth of innovative health care companies and health care technology firms.   We have also managed meetings for international Pharma manufacturers, insurance companies, and large associations with heavy business components.  With over 90,000 available hotel rooms in the city, meeting planners can quickly find the amenities and business components they need to schedule a productive forum.

Let’s hope politicians in Washington understand how important these meetings will be.  MPI recently released a toolkit that helps planners justify the need for meetings whenever the media or Congress claims it’s a waste.

If politicians in Washington continue to stand by behind ObamaCare, then they also need to stand behind corporate meetings that will help it work better.     

AN “EYE” ON NEW YORK!

Seems like New York will be rivaling London with its very own “Eye” Ferris Wheel!  The proposed  Ferris Wheel will be located on the north shore of Staten Island , very close to the ferry terminal from Lower Manhattan – just 25 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of downtown New York.

At a proposed height of 600 feet, this New York Ferris Wheel stands to be even taller than The London Eye, and is estimated to draw some 2 million visitors who regularly take the Staten Island ferry – not to mention a whole new demographic of visitors who stand to enjoy the vistas of New York and beyond.

This means a whole new opportunity for our clients to experience in the not-too-distant future!
Watch this space, we will provide regular updates.

Broadway on a Budget for Meetings and Incentives

Catching a Broadway show is a favorite after-hours activity for meeting and incentive attendees and we have frequently blogged about exciting new musicals and plays that are opening each month. 

Because we look to provide special experiences like backstage access and interaction with leading performers, timing your meeting for Broadway's off-season helps us improve your favorite show with high demand.  Ask us how we can help you ideally schedule your upcoming meeting to take advantage of the off-season for top performances!

BROADWAY NEWS: Billy Ray Cyrus Joins Cast of Chicago

Country singer Billy Ray Cyrus will make his Broadway debut on November 5 in “Chicago.”

Perhaps the world's most famous father - his daughter is Miley Cyrus - the "Achy Breaky Heart" singer is ditching Nashville for now and will take on the role of criminal lawyer Billy Flynn for a seven-week engagement.

Other celebrities to join the “Chicago” cast have included Sofia Vergara, Melanie Griffith, Brooke Shields, Ashlee Simpson, Usher, Huey Lewis, Michael C. Hall and Jerry Springer.

Shackman Associates New York has provided corporate meetings and incentive travel groups up-close experiences for shows like "Chicago" that includes theatre tours, backstage access and interaction with leading characters.

Another Hotel Grows in Brooklyn

Shackman Associates NYC has become a leading source of meeting trends in Brooklyn and just this week,, we have learned that Toll Brothers and Starwood Capital Group expect to break ground next summer on a 200-room hotel next to Brooklyn Bridge Park. 

The $300 hotel, which will also include 159 condos, is the latest Brooklyn project in wave of hotel development targeted toward corporate meeting and incentive groups.

We recently toured the Wythe Hotel in Williamburg with a destination meeting client.  Hotels in the borough are offering attendees a funkier perspective of New York City, exciting local dining options, unique after-hours group venues and quick access to the booming Lower East Side and East Village. 

Mike and Spike Head to Broadway

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson announced this week that he will team up with director Spike Lee to bring his one-man show, "Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth," to the Longacre Theatre in Manhattan for six nights.  The shows runs from July 31 - August 5

The show features a raw confessional on the highs and lows of Tyson's life and will also mark Spike Lee's debut as a director on Broadway.

Lee is the director behind such films as "Do the Right Thing," "Malcolm X" and "Inside Man," and much of his films make bold statements about race relations in the United States. 

Tyson's show is the latest in a line of one-person shows to hit Broadway, including ones by William Shatner, Hugh Jackman and Kathy Griffin.  We expect this trend to continue and are specialists in providing corporate meeting and incentive groups "unique Broadway experiences."

AND THE WINNER IS...

Last night New York celebrated the best of Broadway, as the city hosted the 66th Annual Tony Awards.
From the many nominees, the following winners were applauded:

MUSICALS

The Gerswhin's Porgy and Bess,
Winner of Best Revival of a Musical
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Audra McDonald)

Newsies
Winner of Best Original Score Written for the Theatre
Best Choreography

Nice Work If You Can Get It
Winner of Best Performances by an Actor (Michael McGrath)
Winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Jjudy Kaye)

Once 
Winner of Best musical, Best Book of a Musical,
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Steve Kazee),
Best Direction of a Musical
Best Orchestrations
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Best Sound Design of a Musical

PLAYS

Clybourne Park
Winner Best Play

One Man, Two Guvnors
Winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (James Corden)

Other Desert Cities
Winner of Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Judith Light)

Peter and the Starcatcher
Winner of Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Christian Borle),
Best Scenic Design of a Play
Best Costume Design of a Play
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Best Sound Design of a Play

Off-Broadway for Meeting Groups: A Wonderfully Chaotic Event

An Off-Broadway production can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. But you haven't really visited New York until you experience one.  With Fuerza Bruta, your corporate group will absorb fear, shame, chaos, serenity, harmony, and peace all in one "scene".  For example, there is a man running on a treadmill who is running from his problems.  Or perhaps the man running on the treadmill is running from fear.  The performers obviously thrive on chaos.  Maybe that's why women and men in the show throw boxes at each other.

But if it was cool enough for Usher to make two special guest performances, Fuerza Bruta is cool enough for your next after-hours meeting idea. 

Shackman Associates just checked it out - you are right in the middle of the experience at Fuerza Bruta.  Originally from Buenos Aires, there is the music, the fun, some confetti, and at times, it feels like you are in the movie Inception.

You won't forget it.

Productions like this are popping up everywhere in New York and Shackman Associates provides meeting attendees with special experiences at these kinds of shows.

2 "Raw" and "Racy" Ideas for Healthy Meetings and Incentives

Executives and meeting planners know that staying healthy on the road  helps attendees stay sharp in meetings.

Shackman Associates New York has 2 ideas to keep your meeting healthy and adventurous:

1. Healthy Menus.  We help develop menus for banquets and galas with a local flavor from produce growers and farmers.  New York is also the home to a boom in "raw food".  Restaurants with catering and event options have been popping up near hot, new boutique hotels and raw food - never cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit - has become a Manhattan gourmet delicacy with fans that include celebrities and former President Bill Clinton.  

2. Park races, active tours and scavenger hunts.   With more park space than any other major city, “active” eventsoptions are abundant throughout Manhattan.  Two attendee favorites are organized bike tours or races and scavenger hunts through Central and Riverside Parks.  During attendee downtime, there are numerous free options – including race walking  programs and 45-minute deep yoga sessions.  Several specialized yoga studios have opened in the Meatpacking District and many of Manhattan’s new hotels boasts state-of-the-art gyms.

Watch the Space Shuttle Arrive and Thrive at the USS Intrepid

On April 27, millions watched in awe as the Space Shuttle Enterprise flew up the Hudson River and over Manhattan on its way to JFK airport.  It will open on July 19 at the USS Intrepid Museum.

But the shuttle's journey isn't over.  Its final arrival is scheduled for sometime in June, and will involve another spectacle: The Enterprise will sail up the Hudson River and be hoisted, via crane, to the deck of the legendary carrier Intrepid.

The shuttle's "flight" over Manhattan lasted for seconds.  Its sailing will last hours and is a great idea for spending some downtime during your meeting. 

Shackman Associates New York has managed spectacular corporate events and galas on the USS Intrepid and the addition of the shuttle will make this a more attractive venue than ever. 

Photo courtesy of Wired.com

Meetings go Bump, Grind and Shimmy with Burlesque Events

Burlesque is making a huge comeback in movies, closets, fitness and mixology venues.  It can be also be a creative addition to your next corporate destination meeting.

Shackman Associates New York is on the cutting edge of this trend and your group can customize the burlesque experience.   This is an especially attractive option for spouses during incentive trips.  If you're not a performer, but if you want to learn to perform, burlesque classes help meeting attendees learn from some of the most experienced, fun-loving, and successful people in the industry.

Classes teach multiple forms of the art and your experience can end there or continue by watching your instructors perform live on stage later in the evening!

Corporate Incentive Shopping Experiences Evolve in NYC

Shackman Associates has coordinated special shopping experiences for incentive travel clients, and while a few glasses of champagne at Saks 5th Avenue remains popular, this is an experience that has become exponentially more imaginative throughout the city.

Want something funky?  Boutiques in the Lower East Side and SoHo are pushing the envelope with the latest designs from Italy and independent designers.

If you want to completely bypass the showroom, we recommend "Behind the Scenes Tours" with manufacturers in the Garment District.  You'll get the first crack at hot fashion before the retailers do and manufacturers are providing comfort at the level you'll see at any storefront on 5th Avenue.



Destination Incentive shopping tours today provide the shoes you'll wear at the beach this summer.



Private shopping tours are providing the same comfort you'll get at major retailers.

A Very "Cheesy" Meeting and Incentive

Many business travelers visiting New York make a point of trying the city's world famous pizza and bagels.  We have arranged pizza tours for meeting and incentive groups and they are wildly popular with attendees.

In 2011, business travelers sought food trucks for every occasion.

In 2012, a new dish might be surpassing all of them - Gourmet Mac and Cheese.  The New York Post recently reported thMac and Cheese is the #1 ordered food in Manhattan and some of New York's top Chefs are taking an old classic to new and delicious levels.   For example, if you haven’t tried NYC’s  buffalo chicken Mac and Cheese, we know who makes the most unique versions - perfect for extended meeting breaks, cocktail reception buffets  and working lunches.

The New "King" on Broadway

"The Lion King" has officially become the #1 all-time grossing production on Broadway, surpassing "Phantom of the Opera".  According to the show's producer, Lion King has taken in $853,846,062. It's an incredidle accomplishment because "The Lion King's" run on Broadway has been 10 years shorter than "Phantom."

Shackman Associates New York has provided corporate meetings and incentive travel groups up-close experiences for shows like "The Lion King" that includes theatre tours, backstage access and interaction with leading characters.

Magic and Bird: The Broadway Show the Guys in Your Meeting or Incentive Group Will Love

If your next destination business meeting is shaping up to be "guy-centric", Magic-Bird opens this Wednesday on Broadway and groups of men who have seen the preview together say it might be better than the product you'll see down 7th Avenue at Madison Square Garden.

The production is a celebration of one of basketball's storied rivalries between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.  Magic and Bird met in one of college basketball's most revered championship games, again 3 times as professionals in the NBA finals, and lastly as teammates for the first Olympic "Dream Team" in 1992.   

The show also covers Magic Johnson's stunning revelation that he had the HIV virus - and according to what we hear, it will send a tear down the face of the most hardened corporate CEO.

Basketball has exploded in popularity around the globe and international meeting attendees are likely to recognize the main characters.  Even if they don't, Magic-Bird is riding a new trend of transformative Broadway productions that are making "catching a show" more popular than ever while in New York City.

Destination Downtown NYC: The New Conrad Hotel

BATTERY PARK CITY (BPC) is boasting a new arrival! Set to make its formal debut this week is The Conrad, a brand new incarnation of a former property strategically positioned to offer sweeping views of the Hudson River and beyond.

Considered to be a sophisticated sanctuary of modern elegance in the Financial District, this 16 story, 463-suite property with a dramatic lobby brings to the neighborhood approximately 30,000 sq.ft. of event and meeting space, and some pretty unique artwork which is dotted around the hotel. A rooftop terrace, opening later in the season, will provide 360 degree views of the New York City skyline and the Hudson River.

Just to add another dimension to this new area to explore, three restaurants owned by renowned restaurant, Danny Meyer, flank The Conrad – Blue Smoke, Shake Shack and North End Grill. So, if you need your fix in BPC, this is the place to go

.

The Speakeasy meets Mixology: NYC's hottest new corporate meeting and incentive event

They are sexy, classy, warm, vintage, and just a touch mysterious.  Welcome to the world of the 2012 Speakeasy in New York City. 

In the 1920's, Speakeasies were born throughout New York as hidden sections of a respected  establishments that were used to illegally sell alcoholic beverages during Prohibition.  You don't need a password to gain admittance, but it's a good idea to plan ahead if you want to hold an event at one. 

Shackman Associates New York has tapped into the Speakeasy boom in New York and unlike their predecessors a century ago, today's Speakeasies are combining the world's best mixologists with top chefs, luxury, and jazz entertainment similar to what you would find in 1925. 

Here are 3 liquid reasons - attendee favorites - to consider a Speakeasy event for your next meeting:

1. Sloe Gin Ginger Sling, made of Beefeater Gin, Plymoth Sloe Gin, Cherry Heering, Orchard Apricot Liqueur, Fresh Lime Juice, Ginger Extract, Cane Extract and Chilled Perrier.

2. The Green Fairy, made of Green Chartreuse, Luxardo Marschino Liquer, Raw Egg and Nutmeg.
3. The Dark & Stormy, made of Goslings Black Seal Rum, Falernum, Fresh Lime Juice, Fresh Ginger Extract, Angostura Bitters, Cane Syrup and Chilled Perrier.

3 Big Changes at South Street Seaport

The South Street Seaport has been a hotspot of New York City visitors for 27 years, but the facility hasn't been looking so hot - until now.

3 big changes are coming to the Seaport's 90,000 sqaure-foot complex:

1. Windows, lots of them!  The Seaport looks like a barn right now, and that will be replaced with 3 levels of floor to ceiling windows, offering sweeping views of the East River.

2. A rooftop park.  Looks to be the East Side's version of the popular High Line.

3. New, high-end tenants.  While tourists have frequented the souvenier and T-shirt shops, the venue's top retailers - JCrew, Victoria's Secret and Express - have performed quite well and similar stores are coming soon.

 

Eat the Centerpiece too!

Edible centerpieces have become incredibly popular at corporate meetings and events.  A crowd-favorite here in New York City are cupcakes and we paired demand with the city’s first-ever Broadway-inspired cupcake! For example, we can develop a pistachio cupcake centerpiece based on the stage musical Priscilla, Queen of the Dessert's trademark dancing cupcake costumes. Pistachio meringue butter cream topped with a meringue kiss, bright edible confetti and iridescent "disco dust" also saves the environment!

Fashion Week Reinvents Major Trade Shows

Amid the debate about whether New York needs a massive convention center in Queens comes another successful February Fashion Week in 2012.

New York's Fashion Week is considered the premier event in its industry and has stayed on top by boldly evolving, improving the experience for visitors and attendees, and taking advantage of the hospitality venues that speak to its audience.  Manhattan has become a transformative hotel market and properties are continually opening that combine design, convenience, excitement, comfort, and technology. 

When Fashion Week organizers decided to move from makeshift tents at Bryant Park to the renovated elegance of Lincoln Center, they were met with some groans of nostalgia.  That was for an event held in September, which is widely considered the nicest weather month of the year in New York.  Despite a mild winter, the contrast between the February version built over grass that can get icy, cold and sloppy versus at an iconic venue with more controlled atmospheres is more pronounced. 

New York offers so any choices of venues for holding a show, it's not hard please specific attendees at one or multiple unique locations that suit their style, mobility, business requirements, and thirst for entertainment.  In our opinion, this is the true future of major events. 

And if you think New York's most conventional exposition venue - the Javits Center - has somehow lost its mojo, think again.  It's book solid for the next few years.

BROADWAY UPDATE: Catch Philip Seymour Hoffman for 16 Weeks

Philip Seymour Hoffman is headed to Broadway for 16 weeks as the star of Death of a Salesman.

Previews begin on February 13 and the supporting cast includes; Linda Emond, a Tony Award nominee and the actress who played opposite of Meryl Streep in "Julie and Julia"; and Andrew Garfield, who played "Eduardo" in the 2010 film, "The Social Network."

Shackman Associates regularly provides corporate meeting and incentive groups with exciting Broadway experiences that have included backstage tours and themed events based on popular productions. 

3 More Ways to "Heat" up Outdoor Corporate Events in the Winter

Shackman Associates New York recently published ideas on how to hold outdoor corporate events in the winter that included retractable roofs and sophisticated snuggies. 

In 2012, we're shedding the robes and focusing our eyes in the opposite direction:

1. Heated Floors.  Some of New York's top rooftop venues will keep you on your toes with spectacular views and keep them warm too with floors that automatically heat up when the temperature drops to 32 degrees Farenheit.

2. Fire Pits and Pitas.  It's no longer impossible to find a fire pit east of the Rockies!  Legal ones, that is.  "Porch" style venues are incorpating a touch of the wild west with other amenities like the ever-popular food truck.  If your event is in the evening, the city's numerous taco and greek food trucks can be added to a fire-side teambuilding chat.

3. Wind-resistant heated tents.  Heated tents aren't necessarily a revelation, but if you can erect one that withstands 100mph winds, now you're on to something.  Ok, New York City winter winds aren't that bad, but they can sure whip around a corner in January and February.  Event venues with heated, flapped tents are now offering a truly outdoor experience with wind-chill-supplanting room temperatures.

Still cold?  New York City's mixologists are creating new drinks in the New Year including ginger juleps, honey and tobacco-infused rum, tequila spiced with chili.

LED Events Illuminate 2012

LED is taking lighting and digital video anywhere for any kind of event.  Whether it is taking lighting under water to light flowers, lighting trees without needing wires, and even putting LED lighting in fabric  - do not worry about starting a fire, the possibilities are endless.   Here's an example of how far lighting has advanced – Shackman Associates New York organized a 10-boat flotilla a few years ago for 2,500 meeting attendees on the Hudson River with each boat lit in a different color.  This was an enormous, laborious project that would take a fraction of the time to pull off today.

Video lighting has advanced to the point where a meeting can feature paper-thin video screens and walls of steam for videos.  Events can replicate things in real life you used to only see in movies.  With enough creativity, events can do almost anything with lighting.

BROADWAY NEWS

“Spider-Man  Turn Off the Dark”  reigns supreme!.After it’s on again off again start, Spider-Man has now achieved the distinction of the highest single-week grossing show in Broadway history!  Nine shows during the Christmas/New Year period yielded almost $3 million dollars.  Who would have thought this show would have soared to such great heights after such a bumpy start!

“The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” is back on Broadway featuring the one and only Audra McDonald.  Ms. McDonald’s significant fan base can catch her in the title role stirring up a storm with Norm Lewis in this dramatic new staging of the classic musical.  Not to be missed!!

“Harry Potter” makes way for “GLEE” in “How to Success in Business Without Really Trying” .Or, should we say, Darren Criss (aka Blaine in “GLEE”) has taken over the role of  J. Pierrepont Finch from the venerable Daniel Radcliffe, who opened in the role of this new production.  Following in their footsteps (or dance shoes) is Nick Jonas (of The Jonas Brothers) who will take the stage on January 24.  As you can imagine, tickets are selling like hot cakes!

Happy New Year from SANY!

As Times Square 2011 winds down, we at SANY have been actively gearing up for the busy-ness of 2012. New York is proud to host the following annual events, and SANY is happy to be providing customized services for clients participating in many of these events.




Jan 15-18          Nat Retail Federation Annual Convention & Expo
Jan 28- Feb 2    New York International Gift Fair
Feb 9-16           New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2012
Mar 2-4             New York Times Travel Show
Mar 22-25         International Vision Expo
Apr 6-15           New York International Auto Show
Apr 22-24         International Beauty Show
June 5-7           Book Expo America
June 16-24       Pride Week
July 4               Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular
Oct 11-14         New York Comic Con
Nov 4               ING New York City Marathon
Nov 22             Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

See you in New York in 2012!