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June 2010
As summer approaches and "heats up", most people think about getting out of town. We at The Manhattan Club are always thinking about what's "hot and happening" in town. New York City is still one of the top travel destinations in the world. Whether you are staying overnight or coming into the city for the day, The Manhattan Club is here to serve!
The Manhattan Club Concierge Staff
As a member of The Manhattan Club, you have the inside scoop on Summer Concerts, Street Fairs and Festivals, Movie Premieres, Museum Events, Fine Dining, Theatre and other Summer Specials. Our concierges, Carmi, Xiomara and Debra offer the best blend of expertise, access, and good value to plan either an entire stay, a night on the town or even a day trip into the city. Please do not hesitate to contact them at (212) 453-8266 or concierges@tmcny.com. They are standing by and would be pleased to make your next visit one of your most memorable.
Status of Capital Improvement / Refurbishment Projects
The Manhattan Club Timeshare Association's Management Company, New York Urban Ownership Management, LLC, issued a progress report respecting the Capital Improvement and Refurbishment Projects as of June, 2010.
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Our Annual Owner Suite Preventive Maintenance and General Clean Program is almost complete. This detailed enhancement of the suites includes, but is not limited to, re-grouting bathroom marble, wall paper repair, painting, replacing air filters, carpet and furniture shampoo.
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We are in the process of replacing 37 additional suite carpets.
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New Guest Directories are in the suites ready and refreshed for your use.
New Uniforms
You may notice our Lobby and Lounge staff are now sporting new uniforms. We have contracted with I. Buss-Allan Uniform Company. I. Buss-Allan has been outfitting establishments since 1892. With the likes of the NYC Police Department, Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center and the Empire State Building, The Manhattan Club employees are in good company.
Owner Services and Owner Events
The "Dynamic Duo" of Ritika Bhasin and Heather Gries, our Owner Services Managers are located on the 26th floor in the Owner Services office right by the Owner's Lounge. Please come and visit them during your next stay. They can also be reached for assistance at (212) 453-8514 or by email - ritikab@tmcny.com or heatherg@tmcny.com. In addition to their numerous duties, Ritika and Heather also organize Owner Events.
All Owners who already have a reservation for the date of the planned event are notified in advance of the event and their participation is solicited.
On March 31, 2010, Ritika and Heather took a group of Owners to a "Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey", circus event. It was a two hour performance, which showcased an eclectic mixture of characters as they entertained the audience with their incredible live performances. It was a celebration of P.T Barnum's grand return which left the crowd in amazement!
On April 28, 2010, Owner Services accompanied a group of Owners on a "Multi-Ethnic Eating Tour". It was a two hour walking tour, which highlighted the historical beginnings of the Jewish Lower Eastside, Chinatown and Little Italy. The group had the pleasure of sampling a variety of foods native to these ethnic hotspots.
As spring began to bloom on May 12, 2010, Ritika and Heather adventured with the Owners at the "NY Botanical Gardens", located in the scenic grounds of the Bronx. This relaxing afternoon was highlighted with an all-inclusive trip to its newest exhibit inspired by Emily Dickinson. The tour included an all garden pass for exploration of the conservatory, rock garden and library, a private outdoor tram tour of the grounds followed by a reception in the Visitors Center Café with assorted finger sandwiches, petite sweets and a selection of Tea Forte.
Rounding out the month of May, on May 26, 2010, our "Dynamic Duo" took a group of Owners on a journey through history to learn the mysterious story of King Tutukanum. This insider look at the new scientific findings of King Tut included an exclusive look at his golden canopic coffinette and the crown discovered in his tomb. Guests also learned about the religious beliefs and funeral processes of ancient Egypt!
Comment Cards (Reminder)
We have recently changed the form of our comment cards. The comment cards now incorporate a 5 point scale instead of the old 4 point scale. We have also included more specific categories allowing us to more fine tune the feedback that we obtain from our Owners and Guests. We have incorporated this new scale into our Operations verbiage with a maxim of "Strive for Five". The Executive Office, under the auspices of Salvatore P. Reale, Executive Director of Operations, supervises communication with Owners who have filled out a comment card.
Hospitality Training
As mentioned in our last newsletter, the Management Company, in a collective effort with Operations Management, created a new measuring tool of Quality Assurance called "Gold Crown Service Standards". These standards will help our staff achieve a score of "5" in our efforts to "Strive for Five". (See Comment Cards, Above.)
In support of these new standards, a comprehensive training program has been developed for our Department Heads and Management Staff. Again, BHR Training Inc. is facilitating these training sessions.
We are happy to report that all departments have successfully completed the following four modules of Gold Crown Service Standards:
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"Strive for Five" - Understanding the power of perception.
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"Service Essentials" - Understanding nonverbal communication and how it impacts Hospitality.
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"Creating Memorable Moments of Service" - Focusing on the basic standards of service.
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"Handling Critical Moments of Service" - The use of listening and empathy skills in the art of Hospitality.
By the end of the third quarter all departments will have completed training in Creating Memorable Service Moments: Moving from Ordinary to Extraordinary and Becoming a Service Sleuth.
Elevators (Reminder)
In our constant and ongoing effort to provide excellent service to our Owners we upgraded all four of our elevators in 2008. We currently have four passenger friendly elevators that provide vertical transportation to the suites on the 2nd and 12th to the Club area on the 26th floor. Two of the elevators are located in the main lobby and the other two elevators are located just off the front desk through the sliding glass door to the left. As a point of information, the elevators are equipped with a "weight limit bypass" mechanism. When the elevators are loaded to capacity, they are programmed to bypass floors. Instead of having a full elevator open on a floor only to waste time as no one could enter, the elevator goes "express". This allows for more efficient and expeditious elevator usage overall.
We are advised that there are occasions when Owners/Guests push both "up" and "down" call buttons irrespective of their travel destination. This practice actually slows down elevator service. Being mindful of The Manhattan Club's high occupancy levels and leaving a few minutes earlier can avoid getting caught in congestion during peak usage times (i.e. check in, check out, theatre etc).
Heating / Air Conditioning (Reminder)
The environmental HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) at The Manhattan Club is controlled on a seasonal basis.
In the winter months, the system produces heat only. Switching the thermostat control to cooler will only bring less heat into the suite, not cool air. In the event the suite is too warm, it is recommended that you turn the fan to the off position. This will stop the flow of heat into the suite.
In the summer months, the system produces air conditioning only. Switching the thermostat to warmer will only bring less cool air, not heat. It is recommended that you turn the control to the off position if you are too cold.
In the transitional months, neither heat nor air conditioning is flowing through the system. Air is available through the system by selecting a desired fan speed.
If you find the temperature in the suite to be uncomfortable, please contact our Front Desk at ext. 4150, all attempts will be made to make your stay as comfortable as we are able.
The Manhattan Club Smoke-Free Policy (Reminder)
On October 31, 2008, The Manhattan Club Timeshare Association Board of Directors voted unanimously to make The Manhattan Club a completely smoke-free building. This change was in response to the overwhelming feedback that we received from both smoking and non-smoking Owners who requested that there be no smoking anywhere on the property. A non-smoking environment will help preserve the quality of the room, hallways and public areas, which our Owners deserve.
Member Services
As part of our continued efforts to provide Owner access to the Club, the Member Services Department has been contacting waitlisted Owners and Owners whose unused annual time was about to expire to apprise them of available occupancy. Year to date, this endeavor enabled Member Services to reach out to over 2,328 Owners to determine their interest in reserving suites for available nights, which resulted in 733 suite nights being used. It is a win-win situation every time we are able to procure a reservation for an Owner.
Lounge Events
Take a moment to look over some pictures from a few of the informal events that took place in the Owners Lounge.
On March 7, 2010 the Lounge was an evening for the stars. Owners were invited to watch the Academy Awards. It truly was an entertaining night!
By mid March the Lounge was alive with the "March Madness" tipoff, as Owners cheered on their favorite college basketball teams through out the NCAA tournament all the way into the final rounds in early April.
Owners came dressed in their finest green attire for the St. Patrick's Day celebration. Everyone was in good spirits!
As spring sprung into action, so did the horses of the Kentucky Derby who sprinted for the title on May 1, 2010. This was followed by the Preakness Stakes which took place on May 15, 2010.
May was a month of celebration! Owners enjoyed an afternoon of festivities with Margaritas, chips and salsa on Cinco de Mayo. Take a look at the pictures below!
On Mother's Day, Owners were invited to enjoy a relaxing evening with their mothers with a sparkling cider and truffles. Take a look at the pictures below!
As the summer approaches, we are looking forward to and preparing for Father's Day and various other sporting events including the US Open Golf, World Cup Soccer and Wimbledon!
Annual Owners Meeting
Please note that the proxies for the Annual Meeting have been transmitted and mailed. To view complete resumes of the 4 Nominees, please go online and click on the
following link:
www.tmcny.com/timeshareboardnominees.htm
The Manhattan Club encourages ALL OWNERS to vote. Please understand that given the expenses incurred in soliciting your proxy, it is imperative that we are successful in obtaining the number of ballots which enable us to reach the 15% quorum required for the balloting process to be binding. We can only achieve this result with your active participation.
2011 Budget Briefing
The 2011 budget has been transmitted to all Owners. Please refer to the Owner's website for complete letter and budget.
www.tmcny.com/budget-2011/
New Traffic Regulations in New York City (Reminder)
New traffic regulations are in effect around The Manhattan Club. A five-block stretch of Broadway in the Times Square area has been converted into a pedestrian mall for the rest of the year as part of a City traffic experiment. Owners and guests need to be aware of new turning lanes on Broadway and 7th Avenue. In addition, 56th street, between Broadway and 7th Avenue, has lost metered parking spots that many of our Owners have used for years. As always, when arriving at the Club, please stay with your vehicle until you have turned the keys over to the Owner Valet.
I want to thank all of you for your continued support. We look forward to continuing to ensure that your stay at The Manhattan Club is everything you expect and all that you, as Owners, deserve.
Respectfully,
Joshua A. Wirshba
General Manager
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