New York Business Trip Report! Discover Overseas Creative Offices and the Latest Hotel Trends!
Hello, everyone.
I’m Hattori, Communication Director at the President’s Office.
This time, I’m reporting on my recent business trip to New York.
I headed to New York for a site inspection and preliminary meetings for an event we’re hosting there this month, as well as meetings with M Booth, our sister agency.
M Booth is a New York-based PR agency. While we have no capital relationship, we share the same corporate colors, both have female founders and presidents, and work with similar client brands. They’ve been an important part of our global network for several years. This time, I visited the M Booth office for a new project meeting. As expected from a New York PR agency, the office is filled with creativity as always.
First, we held our meeting on the office terrace in the heart of Manhattan. Is this a poolside? The company culture is free, with people working as they please—drinking coffee, lounging around.
Even the vending machine in the office is designed in-house, with a very creative finish. It’s an excellent system where employees can tap their employee cards to get items like Mac chargers, keyboards, and folding umbrellas for free.
In the kitchen and cafeteria area, client beers and coffees are lined up, all available for unlimited consumption. The hospitality toward employees is outstanding.
The brainstorming room (a space for developing ideas) is such a relaxing environment.
On the screen by the entrance, the corporate logos and videos of clients visiting that day are displayed on a rotating basis. Of course, there’s thoughtful hospitality for clients as well. It’s fantastic. The hospitality-filled office, designed so everyone can always work comfortably, is educational every time I visit. We’re currently working hard on an internal renovation to incorporate these elements into SUNNY SIDE UP’s office.
Now, checking out local hotels is essential on overseas business trips.
With inbound tourism increasing year after year, overseas hotel brands are steadily entering the Japanese market. Even for hotel PR in Japan, researching overseas hotels and gathering information on hotel trends and hospitality standards is an important mission during overseas business trips.
This time, I stayed at three hotels during my three-night stay.
①Ace Hotel New York
A representative American boutique hotel born in Portland. Recently, they’ve been opening locations overseas, including London, and in 2019, they’re set to open in Kyoto, Japan, marking their first entry into Asia. Their policy is to renovate old buildings, and they sell original bags, T-shirts, caps, and more in the lobby. The place is constantly overflowing with fashionable people day and night.
Also, Stumptown Coffee on the first floor, also from Portland, is a must-check.
②Viceroy New York
Another boutique hotel with locations in LA and elsewhere. Located in Midtown, close to Central Park, it has an excellent location. The rooms are on the smaller side, but every detail is carefully considered, making it an extremely stylish hotel. There’s also a rooftop bar on the top floor with a fantastic view. A hotel for adults.
③Free Hand Hotel NYC
A casual hotel brand born in Miami, Florida, a few years ago. The New York location opened in January this year. The rooms feature bright wood furniture and plenty of greenery, creating a casual and bright atmosphere different from Ace Hotel’s moody vibe. It’s very comfortable. This one is highly recommended.
I’d like to write about the event and site inspection, which were the main purposes of this trip, but since it hasn’t been released yet, I’ll save that for the next blog post.
