Broadway Review of "Disaster!": Quite the opposite. It's hilarious!

All of those "disaster" movies from the 70s would probably have been box office "disasters" if they were released today for obvious reasons.  We have found an off-Broadway musical named after the same adjective that has found a clever way to spoof all of them. 

But "Disaster!" is no disaster.

The production takes you back to the 1979 opening night of Manhattan's first floating casino and discotheque. With huge crowds gambling and dancing, no one knows that the owner has skimped on the safety measures. Unlike "Towering Inferno", which it obviously spoofs, this place is about to trigger an earthquake.  There is one scientist played by Seth Rudetsky, who issues dire warnings that lots of boogieing will lead to lots of shaking.  But it's very funny he is on the boat in the first place!

The rest of the characters are a motley group that includes a lounger singer diva, child-star, creepy-casino-guy, a quirky married couple, twins and a degenerate gambler-turned-protester. 

Shackman Associates New York regularly provides corporate meeting, association conventions and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences that includes off-Broadway productions.  Attendees frequently are provided with backstage tours where they can interact with key performers.

Destination Incentive Hotels: Westhouse to open in Midtown

Another boutique hotel is opening in New York City, and instead of Chelsea, the Meatpacking District or Nolita location, the Westhouse is right in the middle of Midtown Manhattan on 55th Street.

The product of the award-winning design firm Jeffrey Beers International, The Westhouse has both stretched the imagination architecturally and provides a cozy atmosphere of a residence.  With 172 rooms, the Westhouse is ideal for a corporate destination incentive group seeking sophistication and superior level of services and amenities.

 

View of Central Park for the Westhouse

Edgy corporate events with an intimate look, sound and taste of pop-ups

While a new wave of apps are driving explosive growth in pop-up events for consumers, corporate meeting attendees can get the same kind of experiences in unique settings.  This kind of event zeroes in on passion points that can re-create events of yesteryear, "salons", dinner parties and "living-room" concerts by undiscovered bands. 

Shackman Associates New York has previously blogged about celebrity chefs providing unique dining experiences for intimate corporate incentive groups, but we are seeing increased demand for dinner parties from up-and-comers.  Because there is an expectation that New York City weeds out the contenders from the pretenders, attendees simply love the element of surprise at a "pop-up" dinner party.

The same is true for music.  Because new apps are bringing undiscovered talent to music enthusiasts in living-room settings, we can do the same for corporate meetings.  Record labels are asking these app companies to find the 10 most popular unrecorded artists in a specific, and this provides meeting planners with booking opportunities because these artists in New York City for longer blocks of time. 

Finally, using a pop-up strategy to book corporate events is very budget-friendly, especially if your meeting is loading up financially on a major gala or team building event on a different day while in New York.

Broadway Review: Rafe Spall incredible in "Betrayal"

We checked out the much-hyped production of "Betrayal" on Broadway, and the play is even better than advertised.  Daniel Craig, who plays the lead as Robert, is simply one of the best actors of our time and sadly, few would have known it if he hadn't appeared on the big screen as 007.  His wife in real life, Rachael Weisz, was spectacular in her Broadway debut.  Her performance as Emma was full of emotion that still left you wondering where her character was really going or what was in her mind at the end of the play.  In entertainment, that is gold.

But we were blown away by Rafe Spall's performance as Jerry.  You could sense tension in the entire theater as his role playing the quintessential "man in the middle" had everyone personally feel the conflict between relentless desire and overwhelming guilt.  Born in London,  Spall is the son of Timothy Spall, who played the rat in the "Harry Potter" film series.  Rafe has followed in his father's footsteps. Named after the protagonist in "The Knight of the Burning Pestle", both Rafe and Timothy have played this role.

However, Rafe Spall's most notable performance prior to "Betrayal" was as Ian in the movie "One Day".  This movie and Spall's performance in particular have been known to make grown men cry, so you can imagine how good he is on stage.

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting, association convention and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences that have included backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Ellis Island Re-opens Today

One year after Hurricane Sandy left Ellis Island with major damage, the iconic landmark will re-open today.  Shackman Associates New York has been closely following the repairs and can quickly add a customized trip to Ellis Island to your New York corporate meeting.

We have run multiple events and gala that have incorporated the historic elements into events at Liberty State Park, which connects Ellis Island to the mainland New Jersey.  These events have included period actors who greet meeting attendees when our chartered ferry lands.  

Broadway Cocktail: Mix Homeland, Gene Kranz, Field of Dreams and a Drag Queen

While big stars by themselves will always be major draws on Broadway, this Fall's lineup of shows features pairing of actors that could be more interesting than a debut by a Hollywood name.

One such pairing is Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac in "The Last Two People; An Apocalyptic Vaudeville."  Patinkin is an established Broadway performer, but in 2013, he is becoming best known for his role as the CIA Director in the Showtime mega-hit series Homeland.  Mac, meanwhile, has been performing Downtown in "Good Person of Schechwan", which is one of his many roles in drag.

The other notable production pairing, running Off-Broadway, is Ed Harris and his wife of 30 years, Amy Madigan, in "The Jacksonian".  Most people recognize Harris and Madigan from their roles in very high-profile films. "Failure is not an option," which Harris boomed as "Gene Kranz" in Apollo 13 might be one of the best movie lines of all-time.  And Madigan's role of "Annie Kinsella" in the 1989 film Field of Dreams has probably been watched by even the most casual movie fan dozens of times. 

But both Harris and Madigan have decades of Broadway experience and it's great to see them together on the same stage. And don't forget to add Bill Pullman to the mix, who has a little experience shooting down aliens as President.

Shackman Associates provides corporate meeting, association meeting and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway and Off-Broadway experiences that have included backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

        Stage of Dreams: With and Harris and Madigan, "Failure is not an option" for your meeting group!

Rockefeller Center's Rainbow Room to Re-open in 2014

New York City’s Rainbow Room, where music greats such as Tommy Dorsey and Guy Lombard performed, will reopen to the public in the fall of 2014.

The Rainbow Room first opened as a supper club in 1934 after the repeal of Prohibition and it became the first art-deco venue of its kind long before art-deco became cool and trendy.  The iconic nightclub closed in 2009 because of a landlord-tenant dispute, but Tishman Speyer, which operates Rockefeller Center, announced on Tuesday that the Rainbow Room is on its way back!

                                                 Photo courtesy of Elena Bachman Schmidt; barstory.blogspot.com

Teambuilding for Sushi: Kayak from Manhattan to Japan, sort of

Kayak tours on the Hudson River have become incredibly popular for corporate meetings and destination incentives, and we recently found a new twist on this trend that includes some of the best sushi on the East Coast of the U.S.

This new kind of kayak tour takes meeting attendees from Midtown West across the Hudson River to Edgewater, NJ, which has become a major Japanese culinary destination and boasts one of the most vibrant Japanese-American neighborhoods anywhere.

Whether your attendees go for the craziest of rolls or the taste of elegantly prepared fresh sushi, it's a trip that combines a little adventure, spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, and an incredible meal that will give your meeting plenty of energy for the row home.

Just steer your kayak for the left tower of the George Washington Bridge and enjoy how the current takes you to your destination!

Corporate Events: Manhattan Skyline Views and Foliage all at once on the Hudson

Corporate meeting attendees love the Manhattan skyline, but it often requires a cruise on the Hudson River to acquire a truly panoramic perspective.

Just 12 miles north are new and exciting event venues that are right on the river, and looking South, offer a truly unique skyline view of Manhattan that is tucked between the hills of the Palisades and behind the George Washington Bridge.  They also feature breathtaking views north to the Tappan Zee Bridge and beyond to 20 miles of foothills.

In the Spring and Summer, event venues in the "River Towns" provide a breath of fresh air and cool breezes off the Hudson.  But we think the miles if foliage attendees can see in the Fall could be something special for your next New York meeting. 

The "River Towns" are also an ideal option for a corporate retreat or off-site lunch for executives attending large association conventions.  Shackman Associates New York has previously blogged that these kinds of retreats are often an hour or more north of Manhattan.  Meeting planners now have much closer options that offer the best of both worlds.

Look north at the Husdon Valley

 Turn south an take in the Manhattan skyline.

Broadway Update: Denzel Washington back in 2014

(via Deadline.com) Denzel Washington will star opposite Diahann Carroll in the Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s classic A Raisin In The Sun. Previews begin March 8, 2014, with opening night on April 3, 2014 at the Barrymore Theatre where the original production opened 55 years ago. Set on Chicago’s South Side, A Raisin In The Sun revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family: son Walter Lee (Washington), his wife Ruth (Sophie Okonedo), his sister Beneatha (Anika Noni Rose), his son Travis and matriarch Lena, called Mama (Carroll). Rounding out the cast are Stephen Tyrone Williams, Jason Dirden, and Stephen McKinley Henderson. Washington won a Best Actor Tony for his performance in 2010′s Fences. The Kenny Leon-directed A Raisin In The Sun is a limited engagement, running 14 weeks only through June 15, 2014.

Hotel Trends: Long Island City the next Brooklyn

While the word is out on how hot Brooklyn is for corporate meetings and destination incentives, its neighbor just few miles to the north is start to heat up as well.

Long Island City is in the middle of a renaissance, and the once gritty industrial neighborhood known mostly for its cab garages is becoming a mod oasis for business travel, meetings and events.  Boutique hotels are finding Long Island City to be the perfect location outside of Manhattan while providing spectacular views of the skyline and iconic bridges.  One rooftop venue is next to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge and provides a corporate event group with an exciting pan-Asian experience.

And finally, Long Island City has the advantage of being a 10-minute subway for cab ride to Midtown East!

Lincoln Center Update: Ethan Hawke to star as Macbeth

Broadway isn't the only entertainment venue heating up as the weather gets colder.  Ethan Hawke will reunite with director Jack O'Brien in a new production of Macbeth at Lincoln Center.  Limited showings will begin on October 24.

According to a recent interview with E!Online, Hawke said he has always wanted to play this part.  He and O'Brien previously worked together in Henry IV.

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting, association meeting, and destination incentive groups with unique entertainment experiences on Broadway, off-Broadway, and at other spectacular venues like Lincoln Center.  This is frequently included backstage tours and interactions with key performers.

Association Meetings and Conferences: Consider private technology to filter out endless social media updates

While there is continuing debate on how to use social media during business components at conferences and large association meetings, we recently came across a firm, QnA, via Twitter (@NYCmeetingDMC) that figured out how to create a hyper-intelligent, private system to deliver very targeted results.

The key is to provide moderators with more control than ever over questions, answers and even who gets asked the questions. 

With this kind of technology, your association meeting attendees can now ask unlimited questions, and moderators can quickly filter out ones that don't make sense or disrupt the flow.  Furthermore, because speakers can clearly see the questions being asked, they do not get lost among the noise of status updates.

Need to export data into a spreadsheet or pdf format?  It's a one-click process.  Moderators and speakers can also create components for live polling, discussion capture and event feedback.  And finally, we are seeing an opportunity to run meetings without requiring attendees to download apps that might work differently on the iPhone versus a Galaxy. 

Photo courtesy of QnA, @QnA_Event_Tech

Broadway Update: Fantasia Barrino and Wynton Marsalis a dream team in After Midnight

It seems like so long ago when Fantasia Barrino became the Season 3 winner of American Idol.  Since then, she has become a Grammy Award-winning R&B vocalist and Broadway star.

Director Warren Carlyle and superstar fashion duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo are teaming up with  Barrino and nine-time Grammy Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars in After Midnight, which recreates the days of a hip Harlem nightclub to a new generation of theater fans.

In 2007, Barrino made her Broadway debut in the lead role of Celie in musical The Color Purple.  The musical was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning 1982 novel by Alice Walker. After appearing on American Idol and The Oprah Winfrey Show to pitch her upcoming appearance, the musical rolled in over two million in pre-ticket sales in one week.  The Color Purple had sold 6.5 million tickets before Barrino first took the stage on April 10, 2007.

Shackman Associates New York provides unique Broadway experiences for corporate meeting, association meeting and destination incentive groups.  The experiences have included backstage passes and interaction with key performers. 

With previews beginning on October 18 and the show's projected run to end in February 2014, we are expecting After Midnight to be a very high-demand production.

Photo courtesy of Rickey.org

Food at Corporate Meetings: Turn Cocktails into Cupcakes!

Cupcakes, mini-cupcakes, and many other versions of this delicious treat are already a big trend at corporate meetings and destination incentives.  But we've found a new take that just might take the cake!

One New York City bake shop is flavoring cupcakes like your favorite cocktails.  There is real alcohol in the frosting and filling and feature flavors like Old Fashioned, White Russian, Margaritas, Car Bombs, and Sex on the Beach.  They cater events and are the perfect dessert or treat for a quite filling cocktail hour!

Major Events: Brooklyn continues to boom with Video Music Awards

With the Video Music Awards (VMA's) being held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on August 25, New York City is proving once again that it is a top destination for major events and conventions.  In fact, the Barclays Center is now the #2 grossing arena in the world. 

Shackman Associates has been accommodating increasing requests by corporate meeting and destination incentive groups to hold major components of their trip to New York in Brooklyn.  The borough has a rich history and culture that does not exist anywhere else.  When the Barclays Center first opened, the area surrounding it was still a little raw from the massive construction project.  What a difference a year makes!

Event attendees can choose from multiple shopping venues around the arena and we are seeing new restaurants and coffee shops popping up that provide the hipster look and feel people love about the borough.

Photo courtesy of Sports-Kings

Off-Broadway Update: Be the star of the worst remake ever

The movie "Point Break" was a huge when it was released in 1991.  It also launched the career of Keanu Reeves as undercover FBI agent Johnny Utah, and had Patrick Swayze and Gary Busey in roles that now all seem kind of laughable.

But Alcorn Entertainment decided to order a remake a few months ago, which has led to an explosion of YouTube parodies.  It has also led to the birth of a very unusual Off-Broadway show: "Point Break Live."

This show travels around New York City doing its own remake of the movie and has an interesting catch: the part of Johnny Utah is selected from the audience!  Shackman Associates thinks this is a great way for corporate incentive groups to have a little fun at the expense of an good-sport executive who might be selected as the next Keanu Reeves.

It doesn't take a real actor to make a good Johnny Utah because as the show's producer noted to the New York Times, "In the movie, it looked like he just received his lines, so feeding them on a cue card to a volunteer won't look that much different."

Shackman Associates New York develops unique experiences for corporate meetings, association meetings and destination incentives that often include backstage passes, interaction with key performers, and off-Broadway shows that attendees won't find in other cities throughout the world.

Corporate Team-building: Use Foursquare for Four-day Scavenger Hunts

Here's a new team building idea that is turning the corporate scavenger hunt on its side: Foursquare for scavenger hunts that can last as long as four days.  Think it sounds impractical?  It's not.  Especially when a corporate meeting has heavy business components that last most of the day.

Here's the real kicker: museums love these kinds of events because they know they can promote new exhibits and pad visitor statistics while helping a meeting group incorporate other items they need to find. 

Of course, an organized scavenger hunt that lasts for hours is easier to manage than something that requires days self-discipline and a version of the "honor system".  But that is why Foursquare is the equalizer.  If your team as to check-in, it keeps everything even.  And it helps meeting attendees find a cool way way to manage their down time.

CSR at Meetings: Event venues become the give-back

We were recently inspired to learn that the founder of one corporate event venue in Manhattan is redefining CSR.  George Faison, the first African-American Tony Award winner for his choreography of the Wiz, has founded a fantastic venue in Harlem that is ideal for a major destination meeting event or a simple cocktail hour.  Working with Tad Schnugg of the American Performing Arts Collaborative, Inc., Faison's vision for a community based arts organization has brought together the artistic and business communities and takes an active role in mentoring the youth of Harlem. 

 

This is truly a win-win for everyone, and most importantly, Harlem's vibrant youth community.

 

Shackman Associates New York helps destination corporate meeting clients develop exciting and unique CSR programs.  Some of these team-building activities have included sustainable meeting components and bike-builds for youth in economically challenged neighborhoods.

 

 

Opening Receptions at Corporate and Association Meetings: Try a Sunday Rooftop

Shackman Associates New York is seeing a new trend in rooftop venues that provides an opening for meeting planners to book Sunday opening receptions without reinventing the wheel.

One rooftop venue is taking a very unique approach: it is booking weddings during on weeknights and opening up its schedule for other "private events" on weekends.  Weeknight weddings are exploding in popularity because of the exponentially increased cost of getting married.  This is putting less financial pressure on venues to book weddings on Saturday and Sunday.

We have previously blogged that opening a corporate, association or incentive meeting on a Sunday in Manhattan is a great way to save costs.  It's becoming easier than ever in New York City.

Corporate Event Venues: Art showrooms offer flexibility, style and space

Art studios in Manhattan were once primarily used for, well, art shows.  The are now becoming exciting venues for corporate meetings, cocktail receptions, and even galas because of their unique design elements. 

The key is choosing a studio that offers the right size, look and feel for your company's sense of style.  Some studios are offered 100% bare and provide AV components such as hanging projectors that create powerful videos on the walls.  Other studios include fashionable wall designs, unique lighting and hip furniture that provide a lounge feel for your event without having to rent out one in a club.  If you like SoHo or Tribeca, the neighborhood has event studios that are converted industrial sites and have exciting entry options such as modern, glass-centric garage doors.  They can remain open as late as November and provide fresh air if your event is packed.  And finally, Manhattan has art studios that are over 5,000 square feet, which is large enough to accommodate over 300 meeting attendees. 

Flotillas on the Hudson River Go All-Glass

The days of the Circle Line tours for New York City meeting groups have been replaced with sleek all-glass options that provide spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and items like the Statue of Liberty.

More importantly, these views can provided in all weather elements and during dinner, which is a huge advantage over requiring people sitting inside to bundle up and crowd on freezing decks to briefly catch a glimpse of their favorite building or neighborhoods.

Shackman Associates New York recently ran a 10-boat flotilla on the Hudson River for a meeting group that ended with a fireworks show by the Statue of Liberty. 

New York Corporate Meetings and Citi Bike

There is lots of talk about Mayor Bloomberg's Citi Bike program.  If your corporate meeting is thinking about using them for your attendees, we can help.

Citi Bike is really for residents who pay $95 per year to use them, and we have seen mixed results.  In some cases, people who use Citi Bike drop them off in one location and can't use them in another.  More importantly, your attendees need to understand where the bike lanes are in Manhattan.

Shackman Associates regularly coordinates bike tours for corporate meetings and destination incentives.  If you want the best experience, we can help you find bike professionals who know the ideal routes around Manhattan, create customized tours and teambuilding activities, and can recommend the best options for a uniquely peaceful ride.

Broadway Update: "First Date" to open on August 8

Whether sparks fly on stage almost not important because there is plenty of buzz about Broadway’s new musical comedy "First Date: which begins preview performances at the Longacre Theatre on July 9. The show opens officially on August 8 starring Zachary Levi and Krysta Rodriguez.

Chuck’s Levi (in his Broadway debut) and Smash alum Rodriguez star as two strangers who go on a blind date. Their quick drink turns into an eventful dinner served with hilarious sides of Google background checks, fake emergency phone calls and a slew of bad boy and uptown girl exes.

Shackman Associates New York regularly provides corporate meeting and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences that have includes backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Brooklyn Tech Triangle Will Geographically Alter Corporate Meetings

New York City is already the #2 tech hub in America.  The Brooklyn Tech Triangle will make it #1.  A new plan for downtown Brooklyn was released this week and calls for changes meant to attract high-tech businesses, startups and thousands of employees.  The Tech Triangle will include new transportation corridors, bike paths and footbridges, re-energized and pedestrian-friendly streets, and a host of new green spaces.

It will also geographically alter corporate meetings in the tech industry. 

Shackman Associates New York has frequently blogged about the growth of trendy boutique hotels in Brooklyn.  With 800 rooms and many more coming soon, their innovative, sustainable culture and sense of style are a perfect fit for the Brooklyn Tech Triangle.  And improvements to public transportation that are already underway will open up more tech meeting attendee hospitality options throughout Manhattan. 

 

Photo courtesy of NY1

Corporate Events: The Silent Disco

The speeches are over and it's time for your attendees to get their groove on. You can now pack the dance floor of a ballroom or venue without any music. 

 

Well, no music out loud because it's a Silent Disco! 

 

Here is how it works.  Attendees grab a pair of hipster headphones. pick their own beats and genres of music, and then dance with their colleagues. In some cases, the headphones include LED lights that create a club-like atmosphere.

Some of the most influential companies in Manhattan are all over this trend as an an event idea, including Bloomberg LP at its 2012 corporate party.

 

 

Corporate Meeting Adventures: 3 Laps as a Race Car Driver

If you are an adrenaline-junkie, then you'll love an opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari F430 or Lamborghini Gallardo and feel the powerful acceleration, grip and brakes.  Just 30 minutes from your New York City corporate meeting or destination incentive, you can drive three laps and hit the last straightaway at high speeds  in one of these two spectacular vehicles and get your photo behind the wheel. 

Shackman Associates provides unique experiences for corporate meeting and destination incentive groups.  With more dynamic venues opening every year in the New York area, your meeting's choices of exciting activities are only limited by your imagination.

Meetings on a Budget: Larger screening rooms, bigger savings

Shackman Associates New York recently gave you the scoop on hotels with screening rooms for corporate meeting groups.  Because some meeting planners need more capacity than 100 seats, Manhattan has three distinctive venues that can seat 140, 187 and 262.  All in unique locations with costs close to or less than hotel screening rooms.

One screening venue is located in the heart of Chelsea and has hosted corporations that include Conde Nast.  It also features an event venue next door that can accommodate a cocktail party or gala for several hundred attendees,

Another potential venue will take your attendees into the heart of New Film history.  Located in the East Village and close to many trendy hotels in SoHo, this screening room is located in an historic brick theater house and features an “old-school” décor you would find during the 1970’s.  But the history moves aside when your group enters the high-tech main theater that is ideal for major association meetings or events.

The third option is located within blocks of Lincoln Center and features a 263-seat theater.  It maintains an intimate vibe and can accommodate any kind of corporate presentation, from Blu-Ray to film.

Summer screening at colleges

New York’s many colleges and universities have auditoriums that mostly go unused during June and July.  It’s an ideal time to schedule a major presentation. 

Recovery from Super-storm Sandy: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island to Reopen

With many beaches officially open in the New York area but some still seen with uncertainty among the public, we are happy to report that corporate meeting attendees will soon be able to schedule opportunities to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Statue of Liberty will reopen on July 4 and Ellis Island is expected reopen around the same time.  Ellis Island in particular has been a favorite of corporate meeting and destination incentive groups and Shackman Associates New York has run major galas that incorporate elements of Ellis Island and its neighboring component, Liberty State Park. 

Overall, the business travel industry quickly recovered from the storm.  While it was disappointing that two of the area's iconic venues were temporarily damaged, more New York City entertainment venues than ever have opened or evolved in 2013 to rave reviews by destination meeting attendees.  

Broadway Update: Evil has never been so "Glee"-ful

In her role as psychotic coach Sue Sylvester on the Fox hit "Glee", actress Jane Lynch was kind of the "Miss Hannigan" of McKinley High School. 

She now gets to play the evil orphan task-master for real in Broadway's production of "Annie".  With appearances running through July 14, Lynch made her first New York stage debut in Off-Broadway's "Love, Loss and What I Wore".  Although her part didn't require the singing she'll be doing with "Annie", loyal fans of "Glee" might remember Lynch singing Miss Hannigan's flagship number on a recent episode.

Shackman Associates New York provides corporate meeting and destination incentive groups with unique Broadway experiences and have included backstage tours and interactions with key performers.  Don't worry, we promise any potential encounter with Lynch will not lead to your  attendees dropping and giving her 30!

Corporate Meeting Food Trends: Lobsters "Rolling" Southward with a Twist

New York City is proving that you don't have to schedule a corporate meeting in Maine to enjoy one of its most famous dishes - the lobster roll. 

As is typical in New York, chefs are not content serving lobster rolls in their most basic version, which is with fresh lobster, mayo, and butter on hot dog bun.  Here are a few new twists that can be catered for your meeting group: a) bacon and avocado with a Bloody Mary; b) Japanese-style, which features dashi, star anise and ginger; c) sweet-potato fries on the side instead of "chips"; and d) as a food truck, which is already a popular meeting component in Manhattan. 

Karen Shackman in USA Today: Data shows face-to-face corporate meetings are profitable

Shackman Associates New York was recently quoted in USA Today as an expert on a new study that found businesses that continued to send employees on the road during the recession were more profitable than those that cut back on business travel.

The study, conducted by Oxford Economics and commissioned by the U.S. Travel Association, shows how travel can affect a company's bottom line just as businesses are starting to once again spend money on trips to meetings and conferences.

U.S. companies generated $9.50 in revenue and $2.90 in profit for every dollar invested in business travel, which is based on an analysis of government data on 14 industries over an 18-year period.

An accompanying survey of 298 business travelers conducted in November found that 57% believed cutting their travel budgets during the economic downturn hurt their company's performance. Only 4% said it helped.

USA Today noted the importance of face-to-face meetings:

Business travelers believe that they would lose 42% of their customers without in-person meetings, the study found. They said they were twice as likely to get new customers with face-to-face meetings than without them.

Karen Shackman, founder of New York event management company Shackman Associates, which specializes in managing corporate meetings, said she is seeing meetings pick up in New York.

"The trend we are seeing in New York is more business travelers who opt to stay and meet in boutique hotels," she said. "New York is in the middle of explosive growth regarding boutique hotels and many offer amenities that reflect the individual style of business travelers."

Corporate Teambuilding: Be a New York City Chef

Corporate Meetings and Destination Incentives have been choosing New York City because attendees can enjoy cuisine from top chefs who are opening new venues in hot neighborhoods and in some cases, in hotels where are meetings are held.

Dining experiences are now becoming more interactive than ever with launch of “Chef for an Hour” experiences. Examples of these classes include:

 

1. Do-it-yourself Pasta. This experience is taught by one of America’s leading Italian chefs. Your meal is paired with wine and includes a recipe booklet, wheel cutters, and apron and rolling pin.

2. Be a Farm-to-Table guru. Attendees learn how to eliminate processed ingredients from gourmet food and make world-class dishes that are served at Manhattan’s trendiest restaurants.

3. Teppanyaki Table Theatrics. Meeting attendees learn how to wow their friends and co-workers by learning the ins and outs of Japanese cooking. This includes seasoning, dicing, spatula spinning, shrimp-tail flipping and other theatrics that are fan favorites at Japanese steak houses.

4. From Rooftop-to-Plate. With more corporate meetings choosing Brooklyn as a destination, attendees are right around the corner from multiple restaurants where chefs grow ingredients in rooftop gardens above their venues. Planting your own garden and cooking a meal to remember from some of these chefs’ top recipes is a great idea for planners who seek to schedule reoccurring meetings in New York.

Off-Broadway Update: "The Last Five Years" Gets an Extension

"The Last Five Years" is one of those Off-Broadway musicals that struck gold and maintains a huge, almost cult following.

The current production has been repeatedly extended and a movie version is in production.

"The Last Five Years" is unique as it follows a very complex courtship from chronologically opposite ends.  The audience sees Jamie's half of the relationship from the beginning going forward and Cathy's half of the relationship from the end going backwards.  Obviously, the key moment of the production is when their journeys intersect at "the proposal."

People have traveled all over the world to see "The Last Five Years" and it is estimated that thousands of marriage proposals have included the show's lyrics.

Shackman Associates provides unique experiences to corporate meeting and destination incentive groups that include insight into the best Off-Broadway shows, backstage tours and interaction with key performers.

Corporate Meetings at the Ballet

Spring is in the air throughout New York City, and so are many pairs of ballet slippers.

The American Ballet Theatre's Spring Season of performances is a great after-hours option for your corporate meeting.  In 2013, three fan favorites - Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Romeo and Juliet - return to the stage.  However, it is the three new productions - Ratmansky, Le Coursaire and Onegin - that are creating lots of buzz. 

Onegin, with production designs by Tony Award-winner Santo Loquasto, is a fantastic love drama set in Imperial Russia and inspired by Alexander Pushkin's novel. 

Shackman Associates regularly provides unique entertainment experiences for corporate meeting and destination incentive groups that include backstage passes and interactions with key performers.  

Corporate Meetings and Broadway: Motown in Manhattan

"If there ain't no mountain high enough", the cast of new Broadway production of "Motown" sure is serious about reaching any peak they choose to climb.  In addition to offering toe-tapping renditions of favorites from singers Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy and Martha Reeves, "Motown" might be the most extensively costumed show in decades.

It features approximately 350 outfits and 135 different wigs.  For example, with 26 outfit changes, "Motown" follows the career of Diana Ross from ages 15 to 39. 

Shackman Associates New York provides unique Broadway experiences to corporate meetings and destination incentive groups that has included back-stage tours and interactions with key performers.

Yo Adrian! Rocky headed to Broadway

The cast hasn’t been announced, but Rocky, after a well-received world premiere last fall in Germany, is headed to Broadway in 2014.  We're hoping it includes a great dance production to “Eye of the Tiger”!

Brooklyn Update: New Hotel on the Way by London Olympic Park Designer

The culture district that includes the Brooklyn Academy of Music has become so hot that a new hotel is now on the way.  Construction will begin this fall on a 200-room hotel in Downtown Brooklyn and will be complimented by multiple cultural projects.

The hotel is being designed by Thomas Leese, who has received rave reviews for the London 2012 Olympic Park.

Meeting Food Trends: A French Twist in New York

French food has never been hard to find in New York City.  However, a generation of hotel chefs and venues that cater to corporate meetings are taking the cuisine to new and exciting levels.

Traditional dishes such as Paris-Brest, a which is a ring-shaped pate a choux pastry stuffed with hazelnut cream, are being treated to unusual additions like Snickers Bars.  Meat-studded cassoulets are being replaced with beans as the principal ingredient, sweet bread medallions are taking the form of tasty nuggets, and the traditional French rack of lamb is getting an Asian infusion by celebrity chefs that features the neck as a key delicacy.

Additionally, some French-themed hotels are offering meeting groups options to incorporate healthy menus in meals for attendees that are usually served to dinner patrons.  The major shift we are seeing in French cuisine at meetings also includes creative new versions of fan favorites like French Toast and Pommes Frites.

Finally, all of the changes are creating more competition among venues, hotels and chefs, which is providing meeting planners better prices for galas, meeting breaks and off-site breakout dinners for destination incentives. 

Pier 57 Restoration on the Way!

If your corporate meeting is looking at hotel accommodations in Chelsea or the Meatpacking District, it will soon have 425,000 square feet of retail and restaurants with in walking distance at Pier 57 on the Hudson River.  The new restaurants will be built from repurposed shipping containers.

The renovated pier will include an amphitheater that will be constructed from old airplane fuselages..  The Tribeca Film Festival will use 100,000 square feet as a permanent outdoor venue. 

Pier 57 will also feature cooking schools, art galleries and music recording studios.  We have recently seen major interest from meeting planners for these kinds of venues. 

New York Botanical Garden Welcomes 7,000 Orchids

More than just a spectacular venue for events, The New York Botanical Garden is one of the truly special urban utopias in the world.

The garden's Annual Orchid Show, which runs through April 22, 2013, features 7,000 orchids that are on display in the country’s largest curated event of its kind.  The show dramatically transforms the landmark Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into a tropical rainforest.  Even without the orchids, the conservatory is a unique corporate and incentrive destination meeting venue accomodating 120-300 attendees for a variety of event ideas.  For example, one could easily imagine Victorian or Edwardian ladies and gentlemen enjoying an afternoon or evening "amongst nature" once upon a time.

In 2013, Hurricane Sandy storm-damaged trees from the Garden's grounds will be incorporated into the show as a design element. Nearly 300 of the Garden’s specimen trees were either uprooted or otherwise destroyed. 

As one would expect, scheduling an event at the New York Botanical Garden is quite competitive and Shackman Associates New York's network of contacts help incorporate venues like the botanical gardens into destination meeting galas and group intineraries.

Macy's Herald Square Now a Food Destination Too!

Shackman Associates New York has frequently scheduled exclusive shopping experiences at top Manhattan venues, but many meeting attendees still love checking out Macy's because it's the flagshop store from what they know at the mall and see on TV every year on Thanksgiving.

However, it hasn't been known for its food.  Until now.

The opening of Stella 34 Trattoria is transforming the 6th floor at New York's most famous department store into its own destination dining experience.  The venue features homemade pasta, multiple seafood plates, a Prosecco bar with Bellini's, three wood-burning stoves and a very sleek vibe that features a modern decor with lots of windows.

Stella 34 Trattoria, which is becoming it's own "Eataly", is one component of a $400 million renovation project at Macy's 111-year-old store and seats 180 people.