the NE USA Milk-round

Kate, Alistair and CC to NE USA : Thursday and a great catch-up with Jason and Becky at Wentworth Institute in Boston – our first Boston grad, Mike, now over for Britainisation !

Aiming to help develop their international placement program and start a long 3-win relationship for Wentworth, students and McFT. Boston a very civilised city – enjoyed revisiting after last year’s CFESA conference, including fish dinner...

Then an early morning flight to New Yoik – drop bags at the Red Roof (interesting envelope in the room “we look after our staff, we hope you will too - $2-5 a day recommended tip” – maybe we equip our team with envelopes to solicit tips ??).

On to frosty reception at the FM Faculty at Pratt – apparently we’re not the only ones to get the cold shoulder so none taken – before dropping off recruitment literature and brochures at City University in Brooklyn – then off to the Careers Office for Pratt – to meet Alex and Deborah: keen to understand our opportunities and how we’re set up to help with visas and accommodation – great chat for an hour, very promising meeting – hoping to see Summer placement students and recent graduates in the UK in 2017.

And a chance to re-familiarise with the Big Apple; interesting mix of old and new (construction carrying on apace), rough (dirtier than London) and polished – 5th Ave and the museums. 9/11 memorial sobering, Kate having been caught in the US at the time of the attacks. Great dinner at DB Bistro, no Broadway shows though – any takers for Phantom at $400?

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree being put up in our honour...

Sunday morning and in to the HX show – New York’s hotel and hospitality show – predominantly interior design but a significant ITW stand – with names we know from Dubai (Traulsen and Stero) as well as our friends at Hobart, opportunity for a chat - and some insights from the FCSI stand.

Overhearing a discussion, the practice of tipping at one of the theatres around the show – the speaker bemoaning the raise from 10-15% some years ago to a now-expected 20%. Add to that state and municipal taxes and you have need to reckon on adding at least a third to any price you see advertised – a different way of doing things. Not to mention the current exchange rate…

Looking forward to next US trip to NAFEM in Feb – along with NRA and selected IFMA events. All subject to no walls being built to keep us out…Taxi driver on the way to the airport, ardent Republican, thinks Mr T will be good for business and good the US. We hope so. As along as good for the rest of the world as well.

in the Spirit...