So the event I went to in NYC was the World Business Forum. Speakers over the 2-day symposium were Bill Clinton, Rudy Guiliani, Colin Powell, Malcolm Gladwell, Jack Welch, and Wynton Marsalis, among others. The venue was Radio City Music Hall, which opened December 27, 1932. The day before the event, I did a site inspection of the Hall, and got to go backstage and then step out on the stage. Awe-inspiring.

I flew into NYC on Sunday 9/10/06, arriving at the Doubletree Hotel in Times Square at about 8pm. I was in room 2807, a two-room suite overlooking the action in the streets below. The hotel sales manager and event manager had each put a thank-you card in my room, along with a dozen of the famous Doubletree chocolate chip cookies, in appreciation for bringing them our company's business (38 hotel rooms each night for 3 nights, plus meeting space and food/beverage). It's nice to feel loved.

The following morning (Monday) I met my boss John and our SVP Stewart down in the lobby, then went with John over to HSM to meet the event coordinators and tour the Hall and Rockefeller Center. The Rainbow and Stars room on the 65th floor of Rockefeller Center was the location for our private meet/greet and photo session with Colin Powell on Wednesday. Incidentally, General Powell has the softest hands known to man. Like marshmallow clouds. Leane had told me that...but it wasn't till I had a handful of cushy softness did I understand. But I digress.