On a cold late January, I headed to New York City to cover the New York Times Travel Show for the blog and connect with other travel bloggers and industry. Although it’s been a rough winter in NYC, I am always up for a trip to the city. The trip got better when I partnered up with The London NYC for a weekend stay and took over their Instagram account for the weekend. I had been to the hotel before for cocktails and was immediately taken by the vibe of the place. The sleek décor of the lobby, fresh flowers lining the fireplace, dapper gentlemen and stylish ladies at the front desk, and modern design was enough to make me want to stay beyond a cocktail.
Check-in: Although I had been to the hotel before for drinks and food, I had never seen the rooms. I loved the suite style rooms, a rare luxury in NYC. I definitely had to make this photo my intro photo to introduce myself to their followers. The mix of light blues and neutral tones puts you in a zen feel despite the madness of the city.
What to do: New York City is such a big city that I always manage to see something new during my visits. However, there is a sight that new gets old: Times Square. There, you can see the many street performers, the shinning lights, and the mesmerized tourists. The hotel asked me to capture things to do nearby and felt this was perfect to shoot, especially a night.
Décor: I love staying at design focused hotels because of the unique décor. I always come back home with inspiration for my own place. I love the little details in a hotel which makes it unique such as fresh flowers, the furniture upholstery, and the silk map of New York in the lobby. I wanted to capture those details in my Instagram Takeover. I am a big fan of lighting and I am still dreaming of having an chandelier like this in my home. Simply stunning.
Food: No trip would be complete with sharing the food! Probably my favorite part of the Instagram Takeover. The London Bar at the Maze Restaurant by Gordon Ramsay where they make perfectly crafted cocktails. I had a chance to preview the new spring bar menu and the highlight was the lobster filled deviled eggs topped with caviar. The most luxurious bar snack I’ve ever had. Hotel restaurants get a bad reputation but lately there have been so many properties upgrading their dining choices, even locals want to sample the goods.
An Instagram Takeover for a brand is fun but it is a lot of responsibility as you are representing a brand, no just your own views. Tip: ask the management specifics of what they want you to cover and how they want you to interact with their followers. It was great to capture the hotel experience through my eyes and also engage with their followers. Would love to do it again!
* Disclaimer: The London NYC comped my stay in return for my photography services.
