|
February 2010
Dear Owner,
As we enter a new decade, we at The Manhattan Club are looking forward to new challenges, refurbishment projects and a more optimistic economic outlook for all. As is my usual practice, I would like to take this time to inform you of the status of projects and events occurring at The Manhattan Club.
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 January, 2010.
-
As previously described, work on the facade of the building is complete. The progress reports received from the contractor indicate that the Yankee Gutter work needed to comply with Local Law 11 is also completed. With respect to the latter undertaking, the contractor was reporting directly to New York Urban Ownership Management, LLC who re-bid several aspects of the repair process and provided construction management services to the Association. All of the foregoing work will prevent potential infrastructure damage due to water leaks by repairing, updating and redesigning the building's gutter systems and roofs.
-
We have begun our Annual Owner Suite Preventive Maintenance and General Clean Program. 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.
-
We will be replacing 37 additional suite carpets.
-
New Guest Directories are currently being printed and will be in the suites by the end of the first quarter of this year.
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 solocited.
For Example, on December 2, 2009, Ritika and Heather took a group of Owners on a Radio City Backstage Tour. It was a one-hour walking tour, which showcased the inner-workings of Radio City Music Hall. Led by an experienced tour guide, they explored the beautiful art-deco interior designs, learned the secrets of the Great Stage and caught a glimpse of a live Radio City Christmas Spectacular performance. This tour ended on a high note with a meet and greet with one of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes!
On December 16, 2009, Ritika, Heather and a group of Owners journeyed to Madison Square Garden to see a unique performance of Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk. The show brought the audience through an exhilarating winter journey about a boy's quest for snow intertwined with thrilling acrobatics, theatrical effects and unforgettable songs.
January 2010 Events
A Lincoln Center Tour took place on January 20, 2010. Our Owners had the opportunity to experience the Arts at Lincoln Center with a one hour guided tour of the spectacular theaters, featuring the New York State Theater, Avery Fisher Hall and the Metropolitan Opera House. In addition they were able to catch a glimpse of a live rehearsal in progress.
A tour of Carnegie Hall took take place on January 27, 2010. Our Owner's explored the history of our neighbor, Carnegie Hall. They learned the background of Andrew and Louise Carnegie and were enlightened by the story of the Hall's rescue from demolition in 1960. In addition, they experienced a century-long performance tradition that has showcased the world's finest artists—from Tchaikovsky to Mahler, from Horowitz to Callas to Bernstein, even Judy Garland and the Beatles.
Comment Cards
You may have noticed that 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 fine tune the feedback that we get 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
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. By the end of the first quarter our entire Management Staff will have completed training in Goal Setting and Accountability. As programs continue to unfold, they will provide all of our employees with the tools necessary to reinforce Service Essentials.
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 through the 25th floors and 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 room, hallway and public area quality, which our Owners deserve.
Member Services
As previously mentioned, the Member Services Department has been contacting waitlisted Owners and Owners whose unused annual time was about to expire. In 2009, this endeavor enabled Member Services to reach out to over 5,000 Owners to determine their interest in reserving suites for available nights, which resulted in 1,629 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 the New Year's Eve event that took place in the Owners Lounge. February lounge events include The Super Bowl and Valentine's Day.
Annual Owners Meeting
Please note that the minutes of the Annual Meeting are online and may be seen at
tmcny.com/assocBrd-owners-2009.html. A "Thank you" to all of the Owners who were able to attend the meeting and to those Owners that voted for the Non-Sponsor Board Members and permitted the Annual Meeting to achieve a quorum.
2010 Budget Briefing (Reminder)
The 2010 budget has been transmitted to all Owners. Please refer to the Owner's website for complete letter and budget:
www.tmcny.com/budget-2010/coverletter.htm
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
|
