Last-Minute Ideas for New Year’s Eve
by Jessica Montevago /Still booking for New Year’s Eve? Here are a few last-minute holiday packages that offer you and your client special deals and perks:
Ring in the New Year with a five-star stay
The Knickerbocker Hotel in New York’s Times Square is offering agents and group planners 10% commission for every New Year’s Eve package sold.
The package includes a private gala at the hotel’s restaurant, Charlie Palmer at The Knick, followed by a reception at the rooftop bar for a bird’s eye view of the iconic ball drop, as well as brunch New Year’s Day.
Prices range from $2,890 to $100,000.
NYCVP hosts annual gala
For clients who want to experience the ball drop without the hassle, New York City Vacation Packages is hosting its annual gala at the Convene Center in Times Square. Guests can enjoy an open bar, buffet, and entertainment, while staying warm indoors and away from the massive crowds — and while watching the ball drop from the 23rd floor, and the fireworks in Central Park.
Starting at $979, agents can reserve a spot at the party and a one-night hotel stay. The host hotel for the event is the Sheraton in Times Square, but other hotels are available. The gala alone costs $699. Both packages are commissionable.
Three ways to celebrate at Marriott Marquis
There’s something for everyone at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, from a black-tie gala to a room with a view.
At the gala on the 48th floor at The View Restaurant & Lounge, guests can dine on a five-course meal with live music, for $650, and watch a live stream of the ball drop at midnight.
If clients prefer a direct view of the action, they can head to the Broadway Lounge on the eighth floor. VIP packages range from a direct view of the ball drop for $3,500 to a limited view for $1,600.
If your client prefers something more intimate, you can book a room with views overlooking Times Square and the ball drop, starting at $3,000.
Fairmont Chicago offers VIP access to Chicago’s music festival
Clients in Chicago can stay at the Fairmont Hotel in Millennium Park and join Chi-Town Rising, a New Year’s Eve celebration hosted by Hyatt Gold Passport, featuring bands Chicago and American Authors as headliners. The night will close out with a fireworks show.
Agents can choose from two CHI-Town Rising Packages, starting at $379. Both offer a two-night stay for two guests. The VIP Package also includes two VIP Audience Zone CHI-Town Rising Tickets, valued at $150 per ticket.
Kicking off the New Year overseas
Milan’s Palazzo Parigi New Year’s Eve package gives foodies an authentic taste of local cuisine with a menu created by Chef Katia Maccari, one of the few female chefs recognized by the famous Michelin institution. Guests can enjoy the gala dinner, complete with wine pairings and dancing, as they wait to usher in the New Year. The package also includes a stay for two, breakfast buffet, and access to the hotel’s swimming pool.
The package starts at 1,218 euros.
For the whole family
Clients looking for family-oriented New Year’s Eve plans can head to Woodloch Pines in the Poconos. The New Year’s Eve celebration has activities for kids as well as parents, with games, music, and fireworks. The New Year’s package, which runs from Dec. 29 to Jan. 2, includes all meals, amenities, entertainment, and accommodations, and starts at $326 per adult, per night.
