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Heat Up Corporate Cocktail Hours with Charred Ice

One of the hottest drink trends in New York City is charred ice cubes in summer cocktails. If you choose to serve bourbon or anything that features honey or lemon, try adding a one of these cubes.

They are as black as you would think they would look!

Mixologists are using smoke guns to burn wood chips and they are then hosing the smoke into plastic bags half-filled with water. The bag then sits for about 12 hours to infuse the water. Add in a little burnt sugar, and your attendees will enjoy a unique summer drink experience!

Add Spice to White and Red by Serving Orange Wine at Corporate Events

Orange wine might sound like someone overthought the room with a new trend, but these varietals are ironically centuries old, and are becoming a hot drink idea in the US.

Orginally founded in the Republic of Georgia, orange wines are like nothing you might imagine. We tried a few and our favorites are one that tastes a little smokey and one that hits with flavors of honey that transform into a grapefruit. Wow!

The critical component to these wines is pairing them with the right food, ideally cheeses and cured meats. We have found multiple venues in New York that are specialists in this category, and at the very least, this is an event idea your attendees will certainly talk about!

The Spotted Pig Owners Scale Up in Downtown Manhattan

What a difference seven years makes! The infamous AIG Tower, one of the symbols of the 2008 financial crisis, has been overhauled into luxury rental apartments. And more. It now has top chef April Bloomfield from the Spotted Pig as the operator of an ultra-dining and drinking venue on its top four floors.

Besides its incredible gourmet burgers, The Spotted Pig, located in a very quiet area of the West Village, has been a regular establishment for celebs. Bloomfield and her partner, Ken Friedman, also operate The Breslin and John Dory Oyster Bar at the Ace Hotel.

The new restaurant will feature 7,500 of indoor dining space and around 2,500 square feet of terraces. The venue will also operate a 1,000 square-foot lobby bar. We expect this to be an incredible venue that will accommodate destination meeting groups of all sizes.

Nitro and Bottled Cocktail Hours: Explosive Flavors From Science and Speed

We are seeing two big trends in New York City mixology that are transforming cocktail hour events at destination corporate meetings.
 
Bottling cocktails. Hate standing in line forever at an event? Bottled cocktails cut down on time and produce quality cocktails in seconds when attendees are thirsty. The key to a good bottled cocktail is creating something that has the perfect balance between alcohol and citrus or sugar that’s added.

Nitro Infusions. A Nitro Infusion is molecular mixology where bartenders are becoming deliciously mad scientists! They are manipulating shakers to create new flavors, textures, and unique cocktail presentations that enhance the overall drinking experience.  Some of the most popular infusions include the use of foams, gels, mists, heat, and solidifying liquids.

These drinks can get a little crazy. They include cocktails with suspended elements, cocktail gums, paper cocktails, solid cocktails, cocktail marshmallows, flavored ice spheres, frozen ‘nitro’ cocktails, cocktail popsicles, and even cocktail glasses filled with cotton candy!

The secret formula is really about equipment, especially among mixologists who work at molecular gastronomy restaurants. They are piggybacking on the the expensive items used by the chef to create incredible cocktail experiences!

Hotel News: Marriott Goes Boutique in NYC with Edition

Marriott's first New York City boutique hotel, Edition, is opening in the renowned Clock Tower by Madison Square Park. This is part of a trend where major hotel chains are either opening their own boutique properties or acquiring independent ones.

Edition offers approximately 2,100 square feet of flexible meeting and event space that ranges from an executive boardroom to studio space.  It also has three 1,350 square foot penthouses that feature views of the city and are ideal tor private events and gatherings.

Under the direction of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton, The Clocktower restaurant can accommodate  larger events and galas. The decor includes mahogany wood paneled walls and specially curated art.
Your destination meeting attendees can enjoy a fresh experience at boutiques like Edition while leveraging the advantages of loyalty programs. 

Make Your Cocktail Hour a Rooftop Jazz Event

New York City's rooftops are always a hot idea for the destination meeting happy hour. The challenge is finding one, especially on short-notice, that isn't packed or booked well in advance.

We have found one of the most unique rooftop venues in Manhattan that provides a sophisticated vibe, amazing views looking both west and east, and a jazz component for a chill experience.

We have previously blogged about the explosive growth of jazz throughout the city, and when we checked out the rooftop venue in Tribeca, one the industry's up-and-coming artists (on Billboard) was performing. This kind of talent is available for your event specifically because Manhattan provides more opportunities to earn money on a regular basis.

Luxury Event Lighting to Keep Earth Day Alive All Year

With warmer weather (hopefully) here to stay, holding a corporate event or gala outdoors is a great idea. We have found a lighting option for these kinds of events that offers both a touch of luxury and sustainability.

After all, it's Earth Day!

We recommend using inflatable solar lanterns and best one is the Luci Lux by MPowerd, located right here in New York City. Its sleek, frosted design creates a brilliant but warm glow for any type of corporate gala or cocktail party. More importantly, Luci solar lights are helping children in developing countries read and study at night!

Event Photos Where Attendees Can Let Loose in Front of the Camera

Photo booths have been increasingly popular at corporate events, and they are getting more creative and exciting than ever.

We are using one next week at an iconic New York City venue, and one of the cool features that sold us was matching backgrounds with the time of day. So if your event is in the evening, photos of attendees against a skyline backdrop will show the early evening sun that is typical in late April.

You can brand the photos with your corporate logo or themes from the meeting, and your attendees will receive a web gallery of images that can be downloaded and shared in 2 to 3 business days. And some of those images can get a little crazy! With tables of crazy hats and wigs by the photo booth, your group can really let loose in front of the camera!

World Trade Center Observation Deck About to Open

The observation deck at One World Trade Center will be opening soon, and we got a sneak peek of its spectacular views and amenities. Incredible!

It will also become a top luxury destination to host special events in New York City. Overall, Lower Manhattan is booming both with hospitality and event spaces.

Think Pink and French All Year for Wine at Corporate Galas

There was a time when wine snobs would thumb their noses at rosé. It was too unsophisticated unless it was an $850 bottle of Garrus.

"A summer-only drink," some would say. Well, not anymore, and it's a F&B  idea to consider serving at your next corporate gala or incentive dinner.

Rosés have exploded in popularity and most every wine-making country makes them. Rosé sales in the US grew by 25.4% last year and the wine has become more diverse, rich and sophisticated than ever. It is also more moderately priced, which makes it work as an option at galas, dinners or other major events.

Also, New York City chefs are coming up with more pairing ideas that make it even work with meat. That's something you might never thought could happen.

And then there are some chefs that are so obsessed with rosé that they are encouraging people to drink it all year with incredibly creative pairings like eggplant ribs and rabbit sausage. One venue, ideal for small corporate incentive programs, is doing just that. They even have "Winter Rosé" categories!

The New Craft Drink at Events is Wine

With every kind of beverage imaginable going "craft", it's about time for wine-makers to join the party.

We have found a venue in New York City that specializes in serving craft tap wine out of the barrel. There is a growing perception that this kind of wine is both fresher, and without the bottles, better for the environment.

It doesn't end there. Your destination corporate meeting group can take team-building classes on how to pair different kinds of craft wines with everything from spicy foods to sweeter ones. The craft beer venues down the street have taken notice and will be soon offering classes like that too!

Happy Spring! Take Your Meeting to the Water

Who cares if it is snowing on the first day of Spring! It's a great season for meetings in New York, and as the days get longer and warmer, we suggest taking your meeting to the beautiful Hudson River.

A few years ago, we ran a 10-boat flotilla for a major association convention that featured LED lighting themes on each boat and a fireworks show by the Statue of Liberty. Whether it is major event of that size, an after-hours cocktail party on floating restaurant, or something more intimate, your destination meeting has more choices than ever for a water event.

Your meeting can even run business components such as confidential presentations, conferences, and product launches on the water!

New York Sports Bars Grow Up for March Madness and Corporate Events

With March Madness only 2 weeks away, New York City's sports bars are getting ready for one of their biggest months of the year.

But if you think they are simply loading up on plastic cups, cheap beer and white ping-pong balls, think again. Sports bars are growing up, and the tipping point might have just happened at one of the city's flagship venues in this genre. It is leaving it's longtime home on Amsterdam Avenue to move to a larger, more upscale location around the corner.

With 4,500 square feet of space (and a lot more spare room between you and the next table to eat amazing spare ribs), it's not just an after-work option; it's an after-hours idea for your destination corporate meeting attendees.

Other bars are going even further with fusion concepts that include sophisticated event spaces, amenities for charity fundraisers, and private dining rooms. These venues are creating a vibe where the only Madness you will experience while watching March sports is in your attendees' brackets.

Event Menus and After-Hours Dining: Try a New Twist on Fusion

With the explosive growth in Asian Fusion, chefs in New York City are trying versions that have are including Chinese-Mexican tapas and Mexican dim-sum. Additionally, one of the most successful fusion venues in New York, Mama Sushi, is expanding into new locations throughout the city. We would equate it to a mix of Dominican cuisine and your favorite sushi roll!

Shhh! Book an Artistic Secret Room for Corporate Events

Some of the best event venues in New York are under-the-radar. Others have taken it to a new (or should we say quieter) level. That's because they are secret.

Our favorite in Manhattan is a secret room behind a rotating bookcase. Located in a very trendy hotel, this event venue provides meeting planners with plenty of space for live entertainment and increasingly fresh, original art throughout the space.

It's just another angle on a trend where experiential art is the kind of decor destination meeting attendees seek because it fits their personal senses of style.

Corporate Galas and Events: Fall in Love With Falling Off the Bone

One of the hottest and tastiest menu items you can offer at corporate gala is short ribs. Chefs in New York City are finding new ways to serve it, and we would argue it has become the equivalent of hand-crated beer for foodies.

If you are a meeting planner with an international group coming to New York, experiencing the creativity behind some of the best short ribs is really an experience that is most unique in the United States.

Short ribs are made from large, lean meaty ribs, are braised, and then slow-cooked for hours so they fall off the bone when you eat them. Some of our favorite versions we are seeing are fettuccine short ribs, short ribs mixed with mushrooms and Holsin or Guinness, short-rib and potato pizza, and of course, the traditional southwestern-style version.

Short ribs are also incredibly versatile with wine and beerpairings, so your attendees will be able to customize the dinner's complete experience!

Jean-Georges' Daughter Launches a Unique Dining Experience in NYC

We blogged yesterday about how exciting it will be to see a new Hotel featuring world-renown chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Meanwhile, his daughter Louise, has launched one of the most creative dining venues in New York.

She has developed an incredible concept that brings in visiting master chefs to a "studio" kitchen environment where they try out crazy new plates on those who are lucky enough to taste them. That's where we come in. They like groups, and from what we can tell, your attendees could potentially have an opportunity to taste and cook.

And it obviously helps when your master-chef and entrepreneurial father can drop in as a guest in the studio.

The "Great Gatsby" and Roman Empire Meet at NYC's Newest Event Venue

What happens when you drop 55,000 pounds of marble into a steakhouse? You get the newest, luxury dining and event venue in New York City.

Launched by four of the top minds in the city's restaurant scene, you will feel like you are in the middle of a scene in "The Great Gatsby." Or with it's highly artistic murals, the Roman Empire. It's kind of the classic vibe you don't see anymore. Located near Times Square (without the tourists), your corporate meeting groups can choose from a variety of private dining and cocktail options in their venue's "Blue" and "Green" rooms.

The Shots You Should be Drinking at Corporate Meetings

An argument could occasionally be made for downing a few shots after a morning of lengthy presentations and breakout sessions at your destination corporate meeting, and we can help you make that happen.

Not those shots! Instead, we recommend something your body will thank you for later on.

With healthy juicing more popular than ever, offer your attendees delicious energy-driving shooters of superfoods and organic spices during meeting breaks that will turn coffee and orange juice into yesterday's news. Top hotels have rolled out items like C-Boost and Wheat Grass shooters that feature agave, pomegranate, celery root, and (obviously) wheat grass itself.  For meetings at the more evocative venues we have previously blogged out, healthy shooters can get even more creative!