New York Pudding

Thursday, Sep 09th

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Business Travel

Your Perfect First Stay in NYC: The Casablanca Hotel

jason

CasablancaHotelTimesSquare Planning that first trip to New York City, but don’t know where to stay? Do you have a business trip coming up? Not a problem because the Pudding crew has got you covered. Say hello to the Casablanca Hotel.

The Casablanca is one of the most popular boutique hotels in NYC. It's a hidden gem, located just steps away from vibrant Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. (A perfect location for a business trip or for you NYC first-timers.) The hotel was also inspired by the romance of the movie Casablanca, which always gets the ladies.

Guests that are looking to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and want to relax in front of a fireplace can do just that at Rick's Café, the Casablanca Hotel's warm and welcoming upstairs club room. Rick's Café serves complimentary 024952A refreshments 24 hours a day, including deluxe European-style breakfast each morning and wine and cheese receptions every evening from 5pm to 8pm.

The Casablanca Hotel is basically a cute little high-end bed and breakfast, located in the heart of the liveliest part of the city. Room pricing is average and you will definitely enjoy what you're paying for: great location, an accommodating staff, and a great cup of complementary coffee along with a croissant each morning. (At least, that’s what I remembered the next morning due to the previous night's activities.)

Casablanca Hotel New York

147 West 43rd Street, New York
(212) 869-1212

http://www.casablancahotel.com/

By Jason Holzberg

Hotel Elysée—An Oasis of Luxury and Elegance

jason

HotelElyseeRoyalSuite In the annals of New York’s literary life, few places can hold a candle to the Hotel Elysée. Standing mid-block on East 54^th Street between Madison and Park Avenues, the Hotel Elysée’s low-key graciousness paired with its classic design gives off the ambiance of a private country inn, while still being a high-end boutique hotel.

In addition to its amenities, one-of-kind guest rooms, (some with terraces, solariums, or kitchens) and beautiful appointments throughout, the Hotel Elysée offers its guests perhaps the most outstanding and desirable location in New York City. Its midtown location is within walking distance of the world’s best shopping, cultural landmarks, and some of the best restaurants New York has to offer.

Working on the go

NYP News Wire

1. Take to the air
Denys Shortt runs a $120m-revenue pharmaceuticals distribution empire, DCS Europe. To leap from meeting to meeting he relies on a Robinson R44 Raven 2 helicopter. “It’s the best way to travel,” he says. “No traffic. Easy to park. The R44 flies at 120 miles per hour, so one hour’s flight gets you very far.” Running costs are surprisingly reasonable. “I fill up with petrol, called Avgas, at a cost of $95 per hour. Maintenance costs are $35 for every hour of flight. I reckon the R44 is as cheap as an Aston Martin but does a lot more tricks!” If you are tempted, renting a similar helicopter costs $370 per hour without pilot, or $500 per hour, pilot included. Heli Air is the distributor of Robinson machines: HeliAir.com

2. Get your PA to take the strain
If you want to be efficient while travelling, you need more than the right gadgets. You need a well-briefed backup team. Real Business columnist Peter Knight, founder of marketing firm Phoenix,