Briggs Red Carpet Newsletter



August 2003

Where was Briggs when the lights went out?

Blackout 2003

The Briggs team sprang into action only minutes after the blackout to assist our guests staying at The Plaza Hotel. Before leaving our darkened office, we grabbed all pertinent files, theatre tickets, cash and flashlights! It’s a great advantage to be centrally located in Manhattan; we can walk to all of the hotels and venues. We met with our client who was naturally very concerned about her 250 guests. With our Briggs Emergency Plan Manual, we re-arranged transportation, tours and theatre and most importantly, Briggs was there for our client. What could have been a catastrophe was turned into a memorable team-building event for our guests. Maybe we should offer a "blackout" theme party!

-- Tony Napoli

Away we go!

Don't forget to turn on the lights!

Even the loss of electricity and the absence of traffic lights won’t stop BRCA’s transportation company, TNT, from going that extra mile. Despite our darkened city, our drivers efficiently and safely managed to have six motorcoaches lined up curbside along the Plaza Hotel, anticipating a transfer downtown. In the midst of an unexpected challenge, our air-conditioned coaches were ready to roll. Our drivers put our guests first to make sure that they had a safe means of transportation to their destination. As the following day approached and the power was still out, our dispatcher had the motorcoaches stage nearby overnight in order to ensure that our NYC Orientation tours would depart on time the next morning. And just as we’d planned, our city tours departed safely on Friday morning into the quiet streets for a unique and memorable experience. -- Stephanie Margulies

When the lights when out in New York City, hotels went into emergency plan mode. Their staff worked day and night accommodating guests in various ways, from free cold buffets to blankets and pillows for those who could not climb stairs to reach their rooms. The Plaza Hotel was extremely quick and helpful when they provided our group of 300 guests with a buffet dinner when their current plans were cancelled. The hotel also provided guests with their traditional tea service complete with a harpist. New York City hotels are well equipped for events of this nature with back up generators which can help in keeping the operation of the hotel up as much as possible, restoring back up lights and running water. Even in "the city that never sleeps" our guests did have a place to sleep, thanks to the wonderful hotels in New York City.
-- Brooke Barnes

Times Square in the black

"They say the neon lights are dark ..."

The great white way was thrust into darkness Thursday night along with the rest of New York City in The Blackout of 2003, but by Friday night the lights on Broadway were shining bright again. Actors, dancers, musicians and crew all found ways into their theaters and were ready to entertain eager fans as soon as the power came back on. Ticket holders for Thursday night’s cancelled performances could either exchange their tickets for another performance or receive a refund. Some off-Broadway shows such as STOMP located in downtown New York did not have power restored until late in the day on Friday causing them to cancel a second night of performances. Briggs Red Carpet had 40 guests with tickets to see the Friday night performance of STOMP. As soon as they announced that the show was cancelled Briggs staff mobilized and managed to get everyone into other shows. All 23 Broadway productions proved the old saying, "The show must go on"! -- Tom Borchard

Briggs Red Carpet Associates, Inc. - 1501 Broadway - New York, NY 10036 - 212-354-9440
Email: info@briggsnyc.com Website: http://www.briggsnyc.com

This email was sent to: #email#
To SUBSCRIBE to the Briggs Beat, PLEASE CLICK HERE. To UNSUBSCRIBE from the Briggs Beat, PLEASE CLICK HERE.