Doing Business (and Pleasure) in the Big Apple

Thanks to the Internet and other technology that makes it possible, professionals and executives in Southwest Florida can take care of business while preserving their enviable quality of life here, but there are times when business demands face-to-face contact.

For a growing number of businesspeople whose regional businesses have become part of worldwide networks, that often means a trip to New York.

In fact, it’s the top market for Southwest Florida International Airport, which has 112 flights a week to New York-area hubs LaGuardia, Kennedy, Islip MacArthur and Newark, according to Barbara-Anne Urrutia, spokeswoman for Lee County Port Authority.

For infrequent as well as regular travelers, some tips on New York lodgings and amenities can make it a successful trip—both for business and pleasure.

Major hotel corporations are investing billions of dollars in business-traveler-friendly alternatives to grand, leisure-oriented hotels. Starwood Hotels and Ritz-Carlton are two that have spun off boutique brands with intimate-sized hotels. In between are mid-sized properties offering the best of both worlds. Without sacrificing the luxuries that business executives expect, such as premium bedding, good reading lights and quality bath products, many provide amenities that make doing business away from the office comfortable and efficient. Among the most appreciated of these are ergonomic chairs, spacious desktops with WiFi, in-room copiers and fax machines, laptop-sized safes and a choice of complimentary newspapers. Some offer 24-hour butler services and clerical services on call.