Downtown office buildings to include concierge services

Real Estate Weekly, Feb 6, 2002

In the past two months, two Downtown office buildings have engaged Executive Concierge of New York (ECNY) to provide additional amenities to tenants still reeling from the unthinkable occurrences of Sept. 11.

In October, ECNY began to provide concierge services for 180 Maiden Lane, a holding of the Paramount Group, in addition to 32 Old Slip, which ECNY has been servicing for over four years. At the same time, ECNY was engaged by the Trump Organization to provide services at 40 Wall Street, one of Lower Manhattan's premier properties.

"Savvy owners have always searched for ways to retain and attract tenants. But with the softening that has recently occurred in the commercial real estate market, tenant amenities are now in greater demand than ever before," said Executive Concierge cofounder Patti Kanner.

ECNY, which has long serviced notable office towers such as the General Motors Building in Midtown, is currently providing its new Downtown tenants with such services as tickets and transportation to Broadway shows and sporting events, dinner reservations and travel arrangements.

While thrilled to see its portfolio expand, ECNY understands that many downtown businesses continue to suffer the negative effects that are a result of the devastation that occurred in September. For this reason, they have begun to utilize Downtown businesses to service tenants in Midtown buildings.

Today, when clients in the GM Building on 59st Street call ECNY for dinner reservations, they are also presented with an array of award-winning restaurants in TriBeCa. According to Lichtenberg, a year ago it was not common to hire a downtown caterer, florist or other service provider to service a midtown location. Today, however, more companies welcome the increased business and are willing to service the entire city.