The pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as I organized papers for my meeting. Sun streamed through windows that let in an idyllic view of springtime Central Park: bikers, joggers, and happy folks making their way through paths bordered with blooming daffodils and cherry trees. The doorbell rang. Gloria, my project partner, stepped into the sitting room of my suite at the Trump International Hotel and Tower and sighed, “It’s perfect. Let’s get to work.”

Gloria “got it” just as I had when I’d checked in the day before. The hotel’s blend of Cosmopolitan chic with homey touches made it a perfect choice of digs for my working vacation in New York last April.

I’d passed by the impressive glass and steel, 52-story Philip Johnson designed building often on previous visits. I’d chosen to stay there primarily for its excellent location. I knew I’d be busy with work, but a fantastic variety of leisure activities were close by to dash to for play times: Fifth Avenue shopping, Central Park, and the West Side highlights of Lincoln Center and the Time Warner Building. With the Columbus Circle subway stop around the corner and curbside taxis always available, I figured it would be tres convenient to get around town.

What I didn’t know was what a comfortable home away from home The Trump could be. From the moment the cab dropped me off and I was met by the crisply uniformed bellman, I was taken in by Trump’s signature “Focus on the customer” philosophy at work. Check-in at the chic small lobby, styled in light marble, polished brass and wood, was friendly and quick – in no time I was entering my 5th floor park view suite.

“Not too frou-frou,” was how my husband would have described the spacious one bedroom, two bath, sitting room set up. Traditional modern furnishings, accented with cinnamon and paprika colored fabrics created a soothing ambience. Highlights were fantastic floor to ceiling windows that let in lots of light and a stunning view, a brass telescope for city gazing, loads of closet space and a fully equipped kitchen. Add to that the 42” plasma TV, fax machine, VCR/DVD and CD players, plus free internet access and I was in heavenly business. (CONTINUE...)