Empire State Building - Interview with Jean-Yves Ghazi

By Suz Pathmanathan

  • How tall is the Empire State Building? 1454 feet.
  • Four million people visit the Empire State Building every year
  • The building has its own zip code: 10118.
  • Valentine’s Day is the only day that couples can get married on top of the Empire State Building.
  • The Empire State Building was started and finished in a record-breaking 20 months.

See more Empire State Building facts.

As modern life continues to move at pace and buildings stretch skyward to accommodate and entertain its city residents, there's one building in particular that remains the jewel of New York's skyline: the Empire State Building.

Since its conception, it has been a towering symbol of ambition and imagination - a feat of human endurance, ingenuity and financial resolve. As many as 3,400 men worked on the building every day to assemble its skeleton in record time and it cost an estimated $41 million to build at the time (around $558 million by today's standards). Since its unveiling, it has proved to be fertile ground for inspiration. Films such as Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and King Kong (1933) gave the building as much prominence in film as it's had in our collective imagination ever since.

But what's it like to be at the helm of one of the Seven Wonders of the World? We had the honor of catching up with Jean-Yves Ghazi, the Director of Empire State Building, to find out.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Innovation has been at the forefront of the building's design since it was conceived. How have you kept this spirit of innovation alive in 2019?

Our guests love the building. They adore the outdoor views. However, they weren’t too crazy about the queuing process. So four and a half years ago we embarked on this project [the ESB's new exhibit, second floor galleries], during which time we assembled best-in-class teams to design content and expand the overall experience. This creative, intelligent approach ensured that the ESB continues to inspire our visitors, and places them at the forefront of everything we do.

We kept getting feedback from our visitors validating our endeavor to take the ESB in an experiential direction. We learned how deeply the connection with the building runs when it comes to our guests - it really is a profound thing. This insight motivated us to create experiences that would help fuel their pre-existing emotional connection with the building.

For those unfamiliar with the second floor galleries, can you give us a bit of a summary?

Sure! The second floor galleries is an interactive journey into The Empire State Building's legend and history. Telescopes mimic the original survey markers, and guests can watch short film clips of actors reenacting day-to-day interactions that would have occurred on the street outside in the early days of the building’s construction. They can then explore the building through different decades, interact with touchscreens and ride in a simulated elevator. Spatialized audio, jets of air, as well as an optical illusion with a one way mirror on the floor will make them the feel like they're looking many floors down the shaft. It really is a unique experience.

That's before we mention the massive, digital rendering of King Kong...

Haha, yes. You can touch King Kong’s hands which have broken through the walls. It's pretty spectacular, thanks to HD displays and 4D media elements. It feels like he's right outside the window!

Incredible. Immersive exhibits aside, the Empire State Building has obviously had such an effect on the collective imagination throughout the world. In what ways did it inspire you as a child?

Here in New York, we have a tendency to not visit attractions in the city unless we have family visiting. So when my family came over from abroad to see me back in 2001, of course they wanted to see the Empire State Building. It’s a day I’ll never forget. My family were absolutely blown away by the experience. Fast forward to today, and I’m fortunate to lead the most iconic landmark in New York City – one of the top iconic attractions in the world. It’s a tremendous responsibility, but it’s such a privilege too. Having been in the hospitality business my entire career, I love the reaction our guests have when they visit. It reminds me of the same emotional connection my family had when they came to see it.

Speaking about it being an integral part of people’s memories, what is the most fantastic story you’ve seen or heard while working at the Empire State Building?

We see lots of proposals, and probably the most elaborate one was when a guest started putting down rose petals completely unannounced before getting down on one knee in front of everyone. Once a year – during Valentine’s Day - we also host weddings. (Who doesn't want to be married at the top of the Empire State Building?). Every year we host a unique crowd of close-knit families coming together to celebrate the big day. These are the moments that feel so special to me. But let’s not forget that while these weddings are special moments in their own right, it’s all the other moments – the smiles, the gasps you hear as people gaze over the top of the building, and the laughter of visitors engaging with our exhibits – that we create every day. They’re all absolutely priceless.

Sustainability is something that you take seriously. Can you describe the steps the Empire State Building has taken to reduce its impact on the environment?

Buildings use around 40% of a city's total energy, and in dense urban settings like New York, commercial buildings account for up to 75% of energy used. The Empire State Building, through its energy-efficiency program, has continually beat its energy-efficiency guarantee, from year one. We're exceptionally proud of this achievement and have the ambitious aim of surpassing our targets, year after year.

Cutting-edge technology minimizes your energy use. But how have you leveraged it to change the way you tell stories?

It’s an interesting question! Technology continues to evolve, and the way to tell these stories is with speed, accuracy, and ease of access. All of our exhibits including the interpretive panels come in a range of languages to encourage effortless interaction. From an accessibility perspective and from a technological perspective in general, I can tell you that it has had a significant impact on our ticketing process whereby we introduced ticketing kiosks that include other languages. As technology evolves, we’ll deliver information in a meaningful, fun, and practical way.

What new exhibits are in the pipeline that you’re excited about?

You'll have to come and find out! Our second floor galleries exhibit is still so new, but the positive reaction from our guests have been phenomenal - we're absolutely thrilled. We'll continue to enthral and delight our visitors from around the world - so watch this space.

A huge thank you to Jean-Yves Ghazi for this incredible interview. And if you want more of the best things in the city we've got just the thing.

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New York at night
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The Best Things to do at Night in New York

The best things to do at night in New York by Mia Russell When the sun goes down, the Big Apple comes alive. Neon lights begin to flicker, restaurants buzz and theaters roll out their red carpets. From outdoor movies in pretty parks to bustling night markets and Broadway shows, when it comes to nightlife, New York has something for everyone! Let's check out what's on the cards when the sun sets in the 'City that Never Sleeps.' Soak up the city lights from an Observation Deck There is no better way to toast the sunset over New York than from one of the many observation decks dotted about the city. Watch the city lights begin to twinkle as twilight turns to night and see the city like never before. Several Manhattan buildings have observation decks open in the evening where you can take in the city for all its glory. Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center The Top of the Rock takes up the last three floors of Rockefeller Center. It features three levels of indoor and outdoor observation decks that offer spectacular, unobstructed views of the city skyline. The 68th and 69th floors have terraces with glass railings that provide beautiful panoramic views of the whole city. The 70th floor boasts an open-air rooftop deck with no metal or glass enclosures, providing perfect photo opportunities! Enjoy several unique experiences on the way up to the Top of the Rock ranging from the magnificent Joie chandelier and an exhibit of interactive artworks to a sound and light hallway and a time capsule over Manhattan. Use your pass to gain free admission to the Top of the Rock to soak up the incredible 360 ̊ panoramic views. Empire State Building Head up the world-renowned Empire State Building to the main deck observatory on the 86th floor to take in those famous New York City views. Use your pass to enjoy complimentary access to the Empire State Building and whizz up to the open-air observation deck that wraps around the building's spire. Marvel at the endless views, which on a clear evening, can stretch all way across six states! The Edge Cast your eyes over the city from one of the highest outdoor sky decks in the world. Located at 30 Hudson Yards, the Edge is a state-of-the-art platform with a glass floor that extends out into mid-air 100 floors above the ground. Feel like you are floating above the city as you sip a glass of bubbles from the Champagne bar to toast the sunset and take in unrivaled panoramic city views. This one is not for the faint-hearted! Remember to use your pass to gain free access to the Edge. One World Observatory Take in the sunset from the highest point in the city – the top of the One World Observatory. Zip up to the 102nd floor in just 47 seconds in the astonishingly fast SkyPodTM Elevators while you watch a multimedia display of New York City transforming from unsettled lands into a forest of skyscrapers. Look over the city below through the glass floor of the Sky Portal and enjoy several thrilling audiovisual experiences while you are at the top of the world. Use your pass to enjoy complimentary access to the One World Observatory, as well as an exclusive discount off a signature cocktail from One World Observatory's premier restaurant and bar, One Dine. Cheers! Hit Times Square Times Square is one of New York's top attractions and offers second to none nightlife! It's packed with a wealth of entertainment from bars, restaurants, and nightclubs to theaters and TV recording studios and really comes alive at night. Learn about the famous district on a Broadway & Times Square Walking Tour. Use your pass to enjoy this tour where an experienced actor and director tour guide will take you to all the hot spots. Have a laugh at the LoL Times Square Comedy Club or head to the Bowlmor Times Square arcade for bowling, state-of-the-art video games, and old-school pinball. Use your pass to visit Madame Tussauds and gain free access to the MARVEL Universe 4D cinema experience. Sip cocktails at the Haven Rooftop bar and watch the action on Time Square below. Catch a Broadway show A quintessential evening activity in New York is catching a Broadway show. While they are expensive, the experience is an unforgettable one and really shouldn't be missed! With over 40 official Broadway theaters in New York, you're bound to find something that piques your interest. Top tip: The best way to get discounted show tickets is to head to TDF's TKTS Booth in Duffy Square (47th Street and Broadway) and wait in line on the day of the show. You can get some fantastic discounts on tickets for most shows. Catch a different kind of show If you prefer something more energetic, use your pass to enjoy the Shake, Rattle & Roll Dueling Pianos Show Hosted at the historic Cutting Room on East 32nd Street, this three-hour rock 'n' roll extravaganza features an all-request evening of live music from dueling pianos, fantastic food, and plenty of drinks. If jazz is your thing, head to Harlem, the birthplace of the music genre, to enjoy a classic jazz performance. Use your pass to get tickets to the Harlem Jazz Series, a one-hour performance of classic jazz hits some of the industry's best musicians. Enjoy a sunset movie at Bryant Park If the weather is good, why not watch an outdoor movie at Bryant Park? Tucked behind the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is the beating cultural heart of Midtown Manhattan and is famous for its iconic movie nights under the stars. Grab a delicious picnic pack from Perfect Picnic with your pass and find a spot on the lawn for a romantic evening out. Top tip: These movie nights are extremely popular, so get there when the lawns open at 5 pm to get a good spot. Take in the city lights from the ferry Soak up the magical after-dark glow of the Big Apple on a romantic harbor cruise. Use your pass to hop on a Harbor Lights Cruise with Circle Line and enjoy a cruise through the city. There is indoor and outdoor seating, a full bar on board, and an outdoor viewing deck for those Insta-worthy photographs. The narrated cruise offers interesting facts about famous New York landmarks like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty as you glide past. Catch a Yankees game One of the most exciting things to do in New York at night is to watch a Yankees game under the lights. Head to the game a little earlier and use your pass to enjoy a Classic Tour of the Yankee Stadium Get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the legendary stadium as you visit areas not usually open to the public, like the dugout and the press box. Watch out for the ghost of Babe Ruth, who apparently wanders around the stadium! Stargaze at the High Line As the sun begins to set , head to the unique High Line Park to take in some spectacular city views. The once-disused railroad track was converted into a verdant floating garden and now passes through some of New York City's most historic neighborhoods. Wander along the elevated park on a High Line, Chelsea & Meatpacking District Walking Tour with your pass. Take in the art installations and admire some of New York's most famous buildings, including the Empire State Building and Frank Gehry's IAC Building. You can also enjoy free stargazing evenings at the High Line every Tuesday from dusk until 9:45 pm. Telescopes are provided and spaced throughout the park by the Amateur Astronomers Association, who are also on hand to help and answer any questions.
Go City Expert
Blog

A Local's Guide to Hipster Brooklyn

What exactly does a local's guide to Brooklyn look like in 2019? For the better part of the last century, Manhattan was the place to be. The creative center of the world, the borough was culturally (and perhaps emotionally) landlocked. Manhattan residents used to balk at the idea of venturing beyond the island's 10-mile radius. Brooklyn used to have all the cool-factor of New Jersey. To put the local sentiment into perspective, the term "Bridge and tunnel crowd" was a label given to outer borough folks who tried to infiltrate Manhattan's exclusive club. Today things are different. The perfect storm of economics, housing politics, and gentrification have shifted the cultural paradigm. Manhattan is out, Brooklyn is in. While it may surprise you to discover that America's creative class now resides across the East River, Brooklyn is the new home of what's hip. In fact, sometimes Brooklynites' adherence to trends has earned them "hipster" labels. Encompassing nearly 100 square miles with 2.5 million residents, it can be difficult to know where to start and everyone will have their own opinions of the best places to visit in Brooklyn. Luckily for you - we are part time investigative journalists. We bleached our hair and shaved ourselves mustaches to dive deep undercover within the Hipster ranks. After our extensive reporting, we've compiled a list of local musts, offering you insight to Brooklyn's up and coming culture. Flowers for All Occasions (Bedstuy) Coffee is the Brooklynite/Hipster life fuel. They need it to survive, and it doesn't get more trendy than Flowers for All Occasions. The coffee shop sits on the border of Bushwick and Bedford-Stuyvesant (famously the birthplace of American rapper Notorious B.I.G.). It also doubles as a bar. They offer an eclectic, vegetarian menu of snacks, and once the sun goes down, the space converts into a bar where they serve soju cocktails. Filled with lush greenery, makeshift furniture, and usually with a DJ spinning some techno tunes - it is a quintessential Hipster spot. For other lesser-known gourmet coffee houses, click here. Rough Trade (Williamsburg) Nothing makes a Hipster salivate like the mention of something "vintage." So it figures that vinyl records have enjoyed a huge resurgence in Brooklyn. Rough Trade is the largest shop of its kind in the borough. Funk, alternative, reggae pop, soul, rock, salsa - you name it, they have it. Since Rough Trade opened in 2013, it has become somewhat of a local landmark, hosting record signings by some of the world's top artists. Additionally, they have a small stage in the back where local bands can often be found rocking out. Located on the Williamsburg waterfront, after you buy a record or two, walk a few blocks down to catch a stunning view of the Manhattan skyline. The Living Gallery (Bushwick) The Living Gallery is a DIY artists space that typifies the scene. Hosting an endless rotation of exhibitions, performances, anything really - the venue is a culmination of all that's good about Hipster culture. A personal favorite is their Drunk Drawing Wednesdays, a BYOB event in which you supply the booze, and they'll supply the art tools. A more cultural alternative to your Hump Day! They've been around for years, but they haven't lost their edge. The space is well known in the neighborhood because of its ever-changing mural. Every three months they enlist a local artist to redesign the gallery's exterior. Their events are almost always free, and the crowd is always dressed well and friendly. A must for anyone trying to understand what Brooklyn is all about. The Cardi Lisa (Williamsburg) Somewhat of an internet sensation (probably because it earned its famous subject's approval via Instagram), the Cardi Lisa is a local must. The walls of Brooklyn are covered in street art, but few are as memorable as the Cardi Lisa. Funny, relevant, and just pretty darn cool, the wall size mural is a modern revision of Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" but with New York rapper Cardi B's face superimposed on the classic figure. It stands a several-foot high testament to the neighborhood's boundless creativity. Photo courtesy of mural artist Lexi Bella. Wonderville (Buskwick) Hipsters, like all 20-somethings, love to drink. But a simple, straightforward bar is too obvious for them. Enter Wonderville - a bar arcade featuring one-of-kind games designed by Brooklyn locals. Inhabiting the building that used to be legendary punk rock venue Secret Project Robot (a pivotal player in the late aughts American rock resurgence that gave us the Strokes and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs), the bar-cade just opened and is peak Hipster vibes. They have a deadly house margarita and a spacious backyard patio. So grab a drink and pick a game, you're in for a good time! Image courtesy of Carl Raw. Book Row (Bushwick) Located within the Broadway Flea - a series of metal sheds which house different stores under the J train railway; a Mad Max take on a flea market - Book Row is a helplessly trendy bookstore. Despite most copies that are sold being used, the collection is surprisingly expansive, covering all kinds of genres ranging from nonfiction to current best sellers. Barnes & Nobles is too obvious for Hipster locals, Book Row is classic Bushwick. Image courtesy of author. Prospect Park (South Brooklyn) If being a Hipster is predicated on the idea of being counterculture, then they will always lean towards New York City's "other park." Prospect dominates roughly 525 acres of South Brooklyn, bordering several of the borough prime neighborhood. A less obvious choice than Manhattan's Central Park, Prospect is where Brooklynites go to unwind. During the summer, their bandshell hosts the popular "Celebrate Brooklyn" concert series which is free to the community. If the greenery isn't enough for you, it's conveniently located besides the Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Museum. For more things to do in and around New York, check out the other posts in our blog.
Go City Expert
Blog

The Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting

Have you seen a big truck with a jolly, rosy-cheeked man on the side? The one with the big white beard? Perhaps you've seen him walking around New York. Maybe you've heard his dulcet tones on the radio. These days, he seems to promote everything. Some call him Chris Cringle. Some call him Santa Claus. Every year he brings joy to people little and large all over the world. Christmas is his time to shine. Every year he and his little friends work round the clock to make toys for boys and girls. It's true. And, well, when Santa starts popping up, you know the holidays are coming. And with them, a New York staple - the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting. Read on, as we tell you absolutely, positively, every single thing you need to know about the Rockefeller Christmas Tree lighting. The first Rockefeller Christmas tree was erected in 1931, during the depression.Workers who were building the Rockefeller Center placed the 20ft tree and decorated it with cranberries, paper, and even tin cans. The following year, the tree became a Christmas tradition for the center. From 1932 to today, the Christmas tree has been lit every single year.Five years later, in 1936, the famed skating rink was first opened below the tree.2019's tree has been chosen. The lucky participant will be cut on November 7. It hails from Florida, New York, and will arrive at the Rockefeller Center on November 9.Where is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting? Unsurprisingly, it's at the Rockefeller Center. That's in Midtown Manhattan. Between 48th and 51st Streets. When is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting? This year, the tree will light up on Wednesday, December 4, between 8 - 10pm. Then, the lights will stay on until early January. And over Christmas Day, the lights will remain on for the whole day. That's 24 hours of Christmas goodness. With lights. Why should you go? Hey, where's your Christmas spirit?! In all seriousness, who wouldn't want to see more than 50,000 bulbs all light up at once on a giant Christmas tree? Plus, there's a huge Swarovski star on the top. Every year, thousands of people with Christmas fever line the streets to see the unveiling. And millions more watch it at home. But, why would you want to do that? Go outside, breathe in that sweet, crisp, Christmas air. Maybe grab a coffee to warm you on the inside. Just like Christmas does. Or if you're looking to warm your innards in a different way... And, once Christmas is over and it's time to take the tree down, they donate it to Habitat For Humanity. They're a charity that builds homes. So, the tree becomes the gift that keeps on giving. Isn't that nice?
Dom Bewley

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