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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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When the world came to New York by Jayatilleke de Silva Every September New York welcomes the World or rather its leaders. Leaders, of course do not come alone. They come with their retinue - security, personal aides, media etc. Even when the unforeseen tragedy of 9/11 occurred New York was hosting world leaders a few blocks away. A cosmopolitan city by birth New York's cosmopolitan look enhances in September. All this is by virtue of hosting the United Nations whose General Assembly meets annually then. This time the visitors were most numerous. The World Summit was attended by representatives from 191 countries, all members of the UN. Of them 171 or so were Heads of State or Government. New York bears the hallmark of multiplicity whether it is in language, race, religion or culture. Whites, Blacks, the Yellow -skinned, Hispanics, Africans, Asians all mix in the crowd that seems never ending filling the sidewalks, boulevards, passenger transport or shopping malls. Majestic skyscrapers with their infinite architectural variety enthrall the visitors to this most affluent city in the United States. Hosting so many world leaders in the present context of global terrorism was a serious undertaking. Security had to be 100 percent or more foolproof. New York City Police had undertaken this massive task and deployed thousands of its personnel, vehicles and other necessary security paraphernalia. It was done in real super-power style. With police vehicles speeding the middle traffic lanes and police dogs sniffing around VIP locations and high-tech communication vehicles parked strategically in the boulevards, compounds and by-lanes it was awesome and impressive at the same time. It was a fully professional job. It looked as if not even a fly could penetrate or get out of the security dragnet. The US coast guard was on duty at the Hudson River and helicopters hovered over the UN compound. (The UN, of course, had its own security with visitors being body checked through several checkpoints within and outside the UN building.) Obviously all this had to be done with least hassle to the public, both city dwellers and their hosts. Several steps had been taken to ease the congestion around the UN on the first day of the World Summit when President Bush was scheduled to address it. The UN staff, not directly linked to the UN Sessions was given leave. Several offices in the immediate vicinity of the UN were also closed. New Yorkers, disciplined as they are bore all the hassle ungrudgingly. They did not mind the long traffic jams or the traffic moving at snail speed. Perhaps some were even oblivious to what was going on at the UN. While the UN deliberations were dull except for rare moments like when the Venezuelan President Chavas Frias was at the podium, there was real fun and drama opposite the UN Headquarters. Several dozen demonstrations were held by a variety of groups ranging from the Falungon of China to pensioners of the defunct Soviet Union, clamouring for their rights, chanting slogans and holding placards to get their causes heard by the world community. For New Yorkers, the UN Summit had its economic gains too. Almost all hotels were heavily occupied with almost 85 or 90 percent occupancy. This was despite a 10 - 15 percent increase in rent in Manhattan hotels as compared with the previous year. Actually the hoteliers had to encounter tricky situations with a demand on Presidential or Royal suites exceeding the supply. For example, Waldorf Towers with 26 Presidential suites was all booked. There were also hurried renovations and colour washing to suit their VIP clients. Arranging limousines with security escorts and ensuring that each VIP was not caught in traffic was itself a challenging task which had to be performed with precision using state of the art synchronised communication technology. Paying host to Heads of State needs much more than good customer relations management. Heads of State are tough customers and the hosts should know their idiosyncrasies if they are not to be offended. One had to know their different tastes whether it is food or music or interior decor. That is why Waldorf Towers has a Director of Diplomatic Relations who had
the unprecedented and unenviable task of arranging accommodation for three
world leaders President George Bush, President Vladimir Putin and President
Hu Jintao at the same time.The weather was fine with tropical temperatures
and Rita mercifully did not cross New York. It was a pleasure to be there
for a change. |
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