Author: Fitzpatrick

The High Line is a grand example of New York ingenuity. Formerly an abandoned freight rail line elevated above Manhattan’s West Side, the High Line is now one of NYC’s most popular parks offering scenic views that no other green space can provide.

Currently the High Line is only open between from Gansevoort Street to 30th Street. All visitors must enter at the corner of Gansevoort Street and Washington Street, or at 23rd Street, and move northward. One-directional movement is in place to allow for social distancing on narrow paths and stairs.

About the High Line
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Saved from demolition by neighborhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hybrid public space where visitors experience nature, art, and design. We always recommend a visit to the High Line when you’re in New York, you get to see the city from a whole new perspective

After walking the High Line, visit Chelsea Market, an indoor marketplace renowned for its wide variety of eateries and shops.

Or why not head to Hudson River Park?
This strip of waterfront park stretches from Battery Park to 59th Street, allowing you to walk, bike or skate while looking at the Hudson River and New Jersey. There are flowers, benches, piers and lots of programs—including youth sports and kayak rides in the river.

Don’t forget to pay a visit to Hudson Yards
Hudson Yards is one of New York’s newest areas to explore! With shops now open, you can pick up some treats for yourself! The Vessel is also now open and we highly recommend a visit (book your tickets in advance!) The Vessel is comprised of 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs (that’s almost 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings) The vertical climb offers remarkable views of the city, the river and beyond so make sure it’s on your list!

 

To Our Friends in Health Care,

Before anything else, thank you for everything you are doing to help us all get through the current health crisis – we very much appreciate all of your efforts.

Fitzpatrick Hotels is proud to be partnering with the City of New York, Northwell Health and other health systems to offer comfortable and safe hotel accommodations at very special rates to health care professionals. The details of what we can offer are as follows:

Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel
141 East 44th Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues)
New York, NY.

Room Types and Availability
Deluxe Rooms (consisting of oversized sleeping room with bath)

Rates
A special rate of $95 plus tax per night (unless tax exempt) for all room types will be made available to health care professionals. For stays of two weeks or longer, or for group blocks, that rate would be decreased, as our cost factor would go down and we would pass those savings on to you. Free WiFi for up to five devices per room is included

Reservations Process
We recognize that the nature of this situation is very fluid and constantly changing. To meet the needs that presents, please simply email us directly at reservations@fitzpatrickhotels.com with any inquiries, or to reserve space.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Protocols
Our first priority at Fitzpatrick Hotels is the well being of our guests and our employees, and towards that end, we have instituted the following operating procedures for the prevention and spread of COVID-19:

· Ensure that all areas of the workplace, including guestrooms and public spaces, are clean and hygienic.

· In public spaces, ensure that surfaces including entry doors and handles, the front desk, tables, desktops, chair handles and rails, house phones, lobby elevator buttons, internal elevator buttons and rails, restaurant bar tops and table tops are sanitized every two hours.

· In guestrooms, on top of regular cleaning protocols, ensure that all surfaces including the room door handle, internal doorknobs, desk and table tops, chair handles and rails, furniture tops and drawer handles, telephones, remote controls, television buttons, lamp switches, light switches, and all bathroom surfaces (including toilet, seat and toilet handles, vanity top, faucets and hairdryer) are sanitized daily. Linens and towels are changed regularly, and cleaned at high temperatures with sanitizing products including bleach.

· Frequent handwashing is essential. All employees and guests are being asked to please practice frequent handwashing. Signage has been created to promote it to all associates and customers. Ensure that hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content is available in public places for guest and associate use.

· Advise all associates to stay home if they are sick with fever, or any other symptoms of COVID-19, even mild ones

· Monitor flow of information from CDC and share new information with associates

Covid-19: Temperature checks for guests planned for Fitzpatrick Hotels in New York
Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick set to spend $250,000 on measures to counter Covid-19 and allow his hotels in Manhattan open.

Irish hotelier John Fitzpatrick is planning a series of changes to how his two hotels in New York operate in preparation for the lifting of lockdown restrictions currently in place to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

These include an electronic thermometer at its front door that will take the temperature of workers, guests and other visitors to his hotels. He is also trial a robot that would help sterilise bedrooms, and is putting together a “welcome pack” for guests, to include hand sanitisers, face masks, gloves and wipes for hygiene purposes.

He plans to leave slippers inside the door of each bedroom so that guests don’t wear their shoes around the room, while staff operating in public areas will wear face masks.

The Dublin hotelier is also planning changes to the layout of his bars and restaurants to observe social distancing rules. Room keys will be issued in a sealed protective packet while checkout will be automatic and contactless. And room service deliveries will be wrapped in more protective plastic, with guests given the option of having orders left outside their door.

In addition, Mr Fitzpatrick, who has operated in New York for the past 30 years, is considering letting out some of his bedrooms as offices.

Mr Fitzpatrick estimates that the changes will cost him about $250,000 this year, and about $30,000 a month thereafter to maintain until a vaccine is available.

“Guests are going to want something more than a mint on their pillow when the restrictions are lifted,” Mr Fitzpatrick told The Irish Times. ““Times have changed and we’re working hard to find ways to meet the demands of our new normal while still delivering a warm, personalised service.”

At present, the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel on Lexington Avenue is closed while its hotel opposite Grand Central Station is catering for frontline workers who need accommodation in the city.
The group has availed of a wage subsidy scheme to keep its 120 staff on the payroll. Hotel occupancy rates in New York are currently running at just 10 per cent and Mr Fitzpatrick said it could be September before business gets going again in a meaningful way.

“We are currently using sanitised digital thermometers to take the temperature of every guest, employee and visitor entering the building. We are in talks with a company that manufactures a high-tech system that takes the temperatures of all who enter and leave the hotel as they pass through our doorway without any contact at all. We hope to have this solution in place soon.”

Mr Fitzpatrick said anyone showing a temperature higher than 38 degrees would have to leave the hotel, with guests offered an appointment with a local doctor.

Revenues declined by 24 per cent at Mr Fitzpatrick’s hotels in the year after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “I would be very pleased if I can limit the decline to the same level after this crisis,” he said, adding that his lender, Bank of Ireland, has been supportive of the company since the lockdown was imposed.

This interview was written by Ciaran Hancock and was featured in The Irish Times on Tues, May 5th, 2020.
Link to article: https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/covid-19-temperature-checks-for-guests-planned-for-fitzpatrick-hotels-in-new-york-1.4244826

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

To the family ownership of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, our 155 associates, our supportive and loyal guests, and our community are the heart and soul of our organization, and every effort to support their health and well-being remains of paramount importance to our mission.
Our senior leadership team has meticulously reviewed every facet and area of our operations to implement enhanced safeguards. While some of these are clearly noticeable and others remain invisible to our visitors, all are meaningful with regard to how we deliver a safe work environment for our colleagues and a safe, memorable hotel experience for our guests.
The purpose of this document is to provide information about the precautions that have been put in place. In sharing it, we hope that we have anticipated most of your questions and illustrated that our efforts will meet and exceed all government guidelines and industry recommendations. We will continue to update this program as developments that benefit public health progress, and we continue to learn how to best move forward together.
When the time is right for you, we will be here to warmly welcome you back.

Sincerely,

John Fitzpatrick
President and CEO
Fitzpatrick Hotel Group North America

 

SUMMARY OF ENHANCED HEALTH & SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

The well-being of our employees, guests and community remains The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group’s highest priority. As we closely monitor and adhere to changes in government policy, The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group has enhanced our health & safety precautions to comply with the recommendations and guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the New York City Departments of Health. We will continue to elevate our standards as best practices evolve.

Should you wish to download a copy of our Health & Safety Precautions in Response to Coronavirus, please click here

HEALTH & SAFETY

Guest Reservations & Arrival:
As a condition of making a reservation, guests will be requested to attest that they are free of COVID-19 symptoms and exposures per the Guest Health Attestation posted on the www.fitzpatrichotels.com and within each guest reservation confirmation and pre-arrival email. Guests will be required to wear face coverings on entering Fitzpatrick Hotels and in public areas of the hotel. We will also ask you to process your temperature on entering at our temptature checks at the entrance to our hotels. Should your temperature be 100.4 degrees or higher we will take a seondary reading after 10 minutes. If your temperature is still 100.4 degrees or higher you will be required to go to a medical center for a COVID-19 test.

Health Concerns:
Our Employees have been trained on how to respond swiftly to and report all guest or employee presumed cases of COVID-19 to their Managers and our Health and Safety Department. They will work closely with our Risk Management Department to coordinate operational protocols.
For the presumptive cases, such as if a guest advises or displays symptoms of COVID-19 the guest will be isolated to their guest room where they must stay while awaiting medical transportation. If a positive result is obtained the guest will be required to quarantine in their bedroom for the remainder of their stay or for a period of 14 days.
Isolated guests are prohibited from engaging with others and cannot receive visitors. Hotel Staff will deliver food and other supplies that the guest may require in a contact free manner. Isolated guests will not receive any housekeeping or in-room services; they are prohibited from leaving their rooms and using any of the hotel’s facilities.
Senior Managers will facilitate medical attention as needed as well as medical transportation for The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group.
If we are alerted of a positive COVID-19 case at The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, we will communicate with the New York Department of Health and follow their recommended actions

Medical Services:
Should employees or guests express any health concerns, we will refer them to a medical professional as designated by the New York Department of Health.

Physical Distancing:
Glass partitions have been added to our guest services desks throughout the hotels, providing an extra level of precaution for our guests and employees. Guests and staff will be reminded to remain a minimum six feet apart from each other. We will also provide floor markings to assist with social distancing. We ask all staff and guest to refrain from any physical contact.

Sanitizing Resources:
Hand sanitizer stations, facial tissues and trash receptacles will be in all public spaces and employee entrances, particularly at high traffic areas and key touch points such as reception desks, elevator landings, restaurant entrances and inside meeting rooms.

Temperature Check Point:
On entering The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, all entrances will provide a non-touch temperature check point. This is for the safety of both our customers and employees.

Signage:
Visual reminders of health, hygiene and physical distancing practices will be displayed throughout the hotels, both in public spaces and employee areas.

Staffing Capacity:
Management determines staffing based on business levels while ensuring the highest standards of service. We are revising our operational plans to provide service delivery options to maximize our ability to maintain physical distancing and provide flexibility to our guests who want to minimize human interaction.

EMPLOYEE PRACTISES

Hand Washing:
Proper hygiene and frequent hand washing are vital to combat the spread of COVID-19. All employees have been instructed to wash their hands often with soap and water for a least 20 seconds especially after using the restroom, blowing their nose, coughing or sneezing; before and after eating, going on a break and starting a shift. In addition, employees will use an alcoholic-based hand sanitizer with at least 62% alcohol. Sanitizing stations are available throughout the employee areas.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their roles and responsibilities, and in adherence with the states and local regulations and guidelines. Training on how to properly wear and dispose of all PPE will be provided. Every employee will be issued multiple face coverings and required to wear them as appropriate. Each employee will also wear protective gloves where appropriate.

Physical Distancing:
Employees will be reminded to practice physical distancing whenever possible. This includes seating in all break and dining areas, shared offices workspaces, meeting rooms and other high-traffic areas. Flexible work arrangements, such as remote work and staggered shifts times, will be used to reduce employee density,

Policies:
Safe return to work guidance will be provided to our employees and will include protocols for daily health screenings, personal hygiene, physical distancing requirements, and property and workspace cleanliness standards.

Pre-Shift & Timekeeping:
Daily pre-shift meetings will be conducted in areas that allow for appropriate physical distancing. Larger departments will stagger meetings to employee arrival times to minimize traffic volume in back of house corridors, stairwells and elevators. Hand sanitizer will be provided next to each time clock location.

Shared Employee Space:
The use of shared employee spaces will decrease as we practice social distancing and flexible work arrangements. Social distancing will be practiced in our employee’s cafeterias by only permitting staggered employee breaks to adhere to social distancing regulations. Grab and go food will be provided to our employees to limit contact. All office and break areas will undergo periodic cleaning and disinfecting daily.

Shared Equipment:
Shared tools and equipment will be regularly cleaned and disinfected anytime the equipment is transferred to a new employee or at the end of each work shift.
Examples include work phones, keyboards, carts and tools.

Signage:
Signage will be displayed throughout the work areas to remind employees of physical distancing and personal hygiene practices, such as hand washing.

Training:
Employees will continue to train in all enhanced health, hygiene and physical distancing practices to ensure they are consistently followed. Employees will also be trained to recognize and report COVID-19 symptoms and follow medical care and isolation procedures as recommended by the CDC.

THE GUEST EXPERIENCE

Arrival:
Upon arrival at our hotels, guests will be asked to verify their reservation. On entering the hotels, guests will be asked to pass through our non-contact temperature stations. Luggage assistance will be available upon request and all bell carts will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.

Check-in & Front Desk:
A maximum of one associate will be stationed at each desk at our hotel reception areas in accordance with social distancing guidelines set out by the CDC.Clear partitions have been added to each workstation to separate the receptionist and guest, A complimentary PPE Kit will be available on check in for your personal use throughout your stay.

Digital Transactions:
Touch-less transactions using email, mobile phone and texts will be implemented throughout the guest experience. Guests will be pre-registered for check-in and guests will be required to input their credit card into the credit card reader upon arrival, which will be sanitized after each use. Guests may call or email guest relations directly for any special requests before or during your stay.

Elevator Use:
Elevator buttons will be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Capacities will be limited to one family or party at a time, up to four people.

Personal Protection Kits (PPE):
On arrival guests will receive a personal protection kit to include disposable face covering, disposable gloves and sanitizing hand wipes.

CLEANING PRODUCTS & PROTOCOLS

Prior to COVID-19 The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group operated extensive health, safety and hygiene measures that adhered to all EPA Guidelines. These operational practices will be continued, and we are implementing additional systems and new technology for cleaning and disinfecting.

Air Filtration Systems:
There will be increased cleaning frequency of our heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

Cleaning Products:
A variety of EPA approved antimicrobial and surface disinfectants are utilized, which will include hydrogen peroxide, alcohol and bleach based solutions. The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group have carefully selected products that meet CDC requirements for use against viruses such as COVID-19, bacteria, and other airborne and blood borne pathogens. We are incorporating electrostatic spray technology for superior disinfectant application as appropriate.

Communal, Meeting & Public Spaces:
The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting all public space will increase. There will be emphasis on high-traffic areas and key touch points, such as check-in desk, elevator landings, house phones, meeting rooms, public restrooms, door handles, stair handrails, trash cans, restaurant entrance, dining surfaces and seating areas. Furniture will be arranged to best allow physical distancing.

Front Desk & Guest Relations:
Glass partitions have been added to service desks; they will be cleaned and disinfected frequently. Room keys will have to be deposited in a sealed container and will be treated and disinfected after each use.

Guest Rooms:
EPA approved cleaning products and disinfecting protocols will be used for the guest rooms with particular attention paid to high-touch items, such as doors, furniture handles, light switches, nightstands, toilet seats and handles, telephones, thermostats, alarm clocks, luggage racks, safe keypads and floor coverings.

TV remote controls will be cleaned and disinfected prior to your arrival and a covering for the remote is included in your personal protection kit. Housekeeping will discard all magazines, paper menus and other collateral upon every guest departure.

Housekeeping:
A guest can accept or decline daytime or evening turndown service, and adjust their preference daily. To minimize contact with guest room attendants, we will not service rooms while the guest is present. Housekeepers will offer to return at an alternate time for rooms occupied by guests. Should housekeeping day service or evening turndown service be desired, housekeeping will wear a face covering and gloves. Disposable gloves will be used for each individual room and will be discarded immediately thereafter. Carts and equipment will be disinfected regularly.

Laundry:
Bed linen and towels will be changed in response to guest preference. All items will continue to be washed at high temperatures with sanitizing detergents and in accordance with CDC guidelines. After departure, all linens and towels, whether they appear used or not, will be cleaned.

Public Restrooms:
All public restrooms will be cleaned and disinfected frequently throughout the day.

Vendors:
Every vendor who enters the property will be subject to a temperature screening and required to wear a face covering.

GUEST SERVICES

Guest Shipping:
For guest packages, our guest relations team will call each guest room to confirm preferred delivery times. Packages will be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure package is retrieved. Alternatively, you may call the guest relations team and arrange to collect your packages at the guest relations desk.

Ice:
Ice will be provided by our in room dining facility and will be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure delivery is retrieved.

Laundry & Dry Cleaning:
Services will be available using physical distancing pick-up. We ask that if you require laundry service, that you call the front desk and place your laundry bag outside the room for a member of our team to collect. For all return deliveries, guest relations will call to arrange a preferred delivery time so that your laundry can be delivered to the room and placed outside of the door. Our team will knock and wait six feet away to ensure that laundry is retrieved.

Private Car Service Reservations:
Guest relations will assist in arranging private car services. If you wish to limit human interaction, we ask you to call a member of the guest relations team to arrange services. Alternatively, you may inquire at the reception desk, where a clear partition is in place to safely separate the receptionist and guest.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group provides dining in both the Wheeltapper Bar and Restaurant at the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel, and The Fitz Gastro Bar at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan Hotel. We will continue to work with the New York Department of Health to maintain social distancing to ensure our dining and beverage facilities safely adhere to all CDC, local and state guidelines.
We have suspended all buffet and self-serve food options. Our restaurants will only provide a la carte meals and our events department will offer table service or pre-packaged food items.
Condiments and sugar will be served in single use containers ( either disposable or washable after each use). Straws will be available upon request and individually wrapped. Menus, check presenters and pens will be cleaned and disinfected after each use.
We continue to follow the New York Departments of Health’s Food Code recommendations for hand washing and disposable glove use in all food service areas.

SCREENING

All associates, vendors, and guests will be subject to temperature check prior to entering our properties.
Any team member with an irregular or high temperature will be subject to secondary screening. Those confirmed to have a temperature at or over 100.4°F will be required to leave the property and will be given resources to make an informed decision about their medical care. Employees directed to leave the property will not be allowed on-site until they provide clearance by a doctor.
Upon arriving to work all employees will be required to complete a screening questionnaire. This will consist of a series of questions designed to identify if associate is experiencing symptoms and/or is unsafe to work. If they pass the questionnaire they will be allowed to work. If they fail, the associate will be sent home. Human Resources will follow up with the associate to determine when they may safely return to work.

New York is a city filled with museums, there is one to suit the tastes of everyone! Here, we have gathered the top 10 museums we think you will want to visit on your trip to New York! As always, we love to hear from our guests, so make sure you let us know your favorites!

Guggenheim

The Guggenheim Museum is instantly recognizable due to its appearance. It is one of the most significant architectural icons of the 20th century, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2015. As well as its stand out appearance, visitors can experience a number of different exhibitions, including modern and contemporary art, performances and film screenings, occasionally there are also lectures by famous artists and critics! For those wanting to learn a bit more about the art housed there, you can enjoy one of the daily tours of the galleries led by the museum educators! The Guggenheim Museum is ever evolving, often adding new pieces to their collection and is definitely one to visit if you have the time to do so.
For more information or to book your visit, why not visit their site: https://www.guggenheim.org

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

With over 5,000 pieces of art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, or The Met, as it is more commonly known is sure to have someone for everyone to enjoy and experience. Measuring almost a ¼ of a mile in length, with over 2 million square foot of space, The Met is a stand out building on the East Side of Central Park and Fifth Avenue. The Met’s permanent collection consists of works of art from classical antiquity and ancient Egypt, paintings, and sculptures from nearly all the European masters, and an extensive collection of American and modern art.
For more information, please see their website: https://www.metmuseum.org

MOMA

In 2000, The Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center merged, creating the largest platform for contemporary art in the United States — and also one of the largest museums in the world, dedicated to modern and contemporary art! The Modern Museum of Art is located in central Manhattan at 11, W 53rd Street only a short walk from both Fitzpatrick Hotels.
For more information or to book your visit, why not visit their site: https://www.moma.org

The Frick Collection

Located in the Henry Click Frick House, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, The Frick Collection is dedicated to preserving the art collection of Henry Frick. Henry Frick collected a number The museum opened in 1935 and has continued to acquire works of art since Mr. Frick’s death. The collection features some of the best-known paintings by major European artists including Vermeer, Rembrandt and Monet.
For more information or to book your visit, why not visit their site: https://www.frick.org

Tenement Museum

Opened in 1988, The Tenement Museum is located at 103 Orchard Street. The Tenement Museum has carefully and successfully restored 7 apartments and a German Beer Saloon. The aim of the Tenement Museum was to preserve and interpret the history of immigration through the personal experiences of the generations of newcomers who settled in and built lives on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, America’s iconic immigrant neighborhood. It enhances appreciation for the profound role immigration has played and continues to play in shaping America’s evolving national identity.
It is important to note that the Museum can only be seen by guided tour, for more information or to book your visit today, please see their website: https://www.tenement.org

Museum of the City of New York

Founded in 1923, the visit of this museum is to give visitors an understanding of New York by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. Featuring over 750,000 objects, depicting the story of New York, it is a true tribute to the city.
For more information or to book your visit today, please see their website: https://www.mcny.org

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Located at Pier 86, The Intrepid Museum welcomes over 1 million visitors a year! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is an American Military and Maritime Museum featuring aircraft, spacecraft and a collection of ships. One of it’s biggest attractions is the Space Shuttle Enterprise, built by NASA, it was the world’s first space shuttle.
For more information or to book your visit today, please see their website: https://www.intrepidmuseum.org

American Museum of Natural History

If you’re a fan of the movie A Night At The Museum, then this museum is a must-see for you! Founded in 1869, it is now one of the largest museums in the world, with over 33 million different specimens and artifacts! With lots and lots to explore, we recommend allowing a day if you want to explore all that the museum has to offer!
For more information or to plan your visit, take a look at their website: https://www.amnh.org

9/11 Memorial

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is the country’s principal institution for examining the implications of the events of 9/11, documenting the impact of those events and exploring the continuing significance of September 11, 2001.
To learn more about the museum or to plan your visit, please see their website: https://www.911memorial.org

Ellis Island & The Immigration Museum 

For many immigrants between 1892 and 1954, Ellis Island was the gateway to The United States. The Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is located in the Main Building of the former immigration station complex, it tells the story of the 12 million immigrants who passed through its doors, using artifacts, photographs, prints, videos, interactive displays and much more! The Museum allows visitors to explore the immigrant arrival records stored in the Port of New York Passenger Records between 1820-1957.
To learn more about the museum or to book tickets, please visit their website: https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/

If you’re planning a stay in New York soon, make sure you join us at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York, don’t forget to check out our latest special offers on fitzpatrickhotels.com

We decided to put together a list of our favorite facts about New York City! Make sure you let us know if you have any facts or pieces of wisdom that we should add to the list!

 

Oysters were so popular in New York in the 19th century that the shells were used to pave Pearl Street. They were also used for lime for the masonry of the Trinity Church.

New York City became the first capital of the United States in 1789.

The New York Public Library has over 50 million books! Have you been to visit? It’s only a ten minute walk from our hotel at Grand Central so there’s no excuse!

Times Square got its name from the New York Times! Before they moved their offices there, the area was known as Longacre Square.

The first subway line was opened in New York in 1904. Today, the subway system is the largest mass transit system in the world with 468 stations and 1355 km of track.

There are over 13,000 licensed medallion taxis work the streets of New York City, so you’ll always be able to catch a cab!

The Statue of Liberty as many already know was a gift from France, given to America in 1886. However, what you might not know is that from the ground to the top of the torch the statue measures 93 metres, and weighs 204 metric tonnes. The statue was shipped as 350 pieces in 214 crates and took 4 months to assemble at its current home on Ellis Island.

The price of a slice of pizza and the cost of a subway ride are almost always the same. Back in the 1980’s, New Yorker’s began to notice that the price of a subway ride and a slice of pizza are almost always equal.

Brooklyn is the most populated borough in New York City.

It is said that there are 800 different languages spoken in New York City!

25% of the world’s gold bullion is stored in the Federal Bank Reserve’s vaults.

The ice cream cone, pasta primavera and eggs Benedict were all invented in New York City.

 

If you’re planning a trip to New York, make sure you check out our Special Offers at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York.

If you’re visiting New York this month, then make sure you check out our favorite things to do in the city.

 

Visit Governors Island

Come the 1st of May, Governors Island is open to visitors. Governors Island is a 172-acre island, located in the heart of New York Harbour, it’s only a short ferry ride from Manhattan or Brooklyn.  Throughout the summer, numerous events are held on the island so it is always worth checking their website before making the trip.

Cinco De Mayo
May 5th, 2019

Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican Holiday that commemorates the Mexican defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. All over New York, there are different events and celebrations. If you’re looking for something to do then why not check out the Cinco De Mayo Parade that is hosted Uptown on Central Park West at 106th St to 97th St.

Mothers Day
May 12th, 2019

If you’re celebrating with your Mum in New York this year, why not call in to Fitzpatrick Grand Central or Manhattan to enjoy a bite to eat? You might even bump into Teddy Fitz!

Shakespeare in the Park
May 21st, 2019 – August 11th, 2019

Shakespeare in the Park runs from May 21 through August 11, 2019. With few exceptions, performances are Tuesday through Sunday at 8pm and is held in the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. It’s a popular event which means tickets aren’t always easy to come by. For more information check out The Public Theater’s website.

Fleet Week

Fleet Week offers members of the Navy and Marines the opportunity to experience New York City, while giving the public a chance to meet members of today’s maritime services. You can tour Navy ships, watch military formations and see a special screening of Top Gun on the deck of the USS Intrepid.

For a full list of events taking place, make sure you check out their website. Many of the events are free so if you’re in town be sure to check them out.

Visit the Vessel – NY’s newest landmark

Located in Hudson Yards, The Vessel is New York City’s newest landmark! Already loved by tourists, it’s worth visiting The Vessel if you’re in that part of town. If you would like to go inside The Vessel’s centrepiece spiral staircase, then you can book tickets on their website in advance of your visit but same-day tickets are also available.

Are you planning a trip to New York with your family this year? We have picked our top things to do with your family this year in New York.

1. Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Located at Pier 86, The Intrepid Museum welcomes over 1 million visitors a year! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum is an American Military and Maritime Museum featuring aircraft, spacecraft and a collection of ships. One of it’s biggest attractions is the Space Shuttle Enterprise, built by NASA, it was the world’s first space shuttle.
For more information or to book your visit today, please see their website. Or if you fancy visiting some of the other museums in New York, take a look at our Top Museums to Visit.

2. Central Park

No trip to New York is complete without a visit to Central Park, located between Fifth Avenue and Eighth Avenue and running from 59th Street to 110th Street, it is the most visited urban park in the United States. With a zoo, a castle and the sets of many famous movies! You can spend a day exploring all that Central Park has to offer! If you want to visit some of our favorite spots, make sure you check out our Central Park blog!

3. Brooklyn Bridge

At over 125 years old, this iconic structure provides great views of the East River and the Manhattan Skyline just remember to snap a few pics. The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge usually takes between 30 – 40 minutes, but the views of the Manhattan Skyline are not to be missed! Some of New York’s up and coming restaurants call Brooklyn home, so make sure you treat yourself to a delicious meal afterwards!

4. Walk along the High Line

The High Line is a grand example of New York ingenuity. Formerly an abandoned freight rail line elevated above Manhattan’s West Side, the High Line is now one of NYC’s most popular parks offering scenic views that no other green space can provide. Now is the perfect time to visit as the flowers are in full bloom. Plan ahead to attend one of their garden tours or to see a concert overlooking Manhattan’s busy streets. Afterwards, visit Chelsea Market, an indoor marketplace renowned for its wide variety of eateries and shops.

5. Take in a show on Broadway

Seeing a show on Broadway is an experience not to be missed! With shows such as The Lion King, Wicked and Aladdin, there is something to suit everyone in the family! For more information or to see what’s on when you’re in New York, take a look at the Broadway website

6. Empire State Building

The most iconic New York city building, The Empire State Building stands at 20 W 34th St. Head to the 86th-floor observation deck! On a clear day, you can see for over 80 miles! An experience that the whole family can enjoy together, you can get your tickets on their website

Remember, you can always contact our concierge team to help with any bookings or trips you would like to organize.

The Armory Show
March 7th – 10th

Now in its 25th year, The Armory Show takes place at Piers 92/94. It is a premier art fair and a leading cultural destination for discovering and collecting the world’s most important 20th- and 21st-century art. Welcoming over 65,000 visitors each year, the show aims to provide a platform for new artists to present.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade
March 16th

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the oldest parades in New York City. The parade usually starts at 11 AM on 44th Street and 5th Avenue and then runs north along Central Park, turning east on 86th Street and finally ending on 3rd Avenue. For more information on the parade, make sure you check out the official website https://www.nycstpatricksparade.org/parade/

St. Patrick’s Day
March 17th

Make sure you visit us at Fitzpatrick Hotels New York to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! We’ll have lots happening and it’s also Teddy Fitz’s birthday so it’s double the celebrations!

Macy’s Flower Show
March 24th – April 7th

The Macy’s Flower Show is a sure sign that Spring is here! The whole department store at Herald Square is filled with flowers, making for a unique shopping experience! This year the theme is ‘Journey to Paradisios’, allowing their customers to immerse themselves in an experience that’s out of this world!

Explore the Park’s of New York City

March is the perfect month to explore the parks of NYC! There’s nothing we love more than a trip to Central Park on a sunny Spring day, make sure you check out our previous guide to Central Park if you’re looking for everything to see and do!

Don’t forget to check out our Spring Fling and Easter Things offer if you’re planning a trip to New York in the coming months!