Photo by Andrew Werner

HotelPlanner.com CEO Tim Hentschel has been called a lot of things; innovator, disruptor, trailblazer. He believes it’s to be expected when changing one of the largest and oldest industries in the world. The tourism industry is responsible for 10% of our global GDP, and Hentschel has spent the last 15 years of his life trying to make the most difficult and time-consuming sector of the tourism industry, “group travel,” more transparent and customer friendly by leveraging new technology.

This year, $560 billion will be spent in hotels worldwide, and 1 out of every 3 of those hotel rooms is booked around a group event, whether something small and personal like a wedding, or a much larger event, like the Super Bowl or the Olympics. Along with a team of engineers and highly experienced local planners at HotelPlanner.com and Meetings.com, Hentschel is trying to solve the complex issues around both small and large group markets. He believes his company is in a unique position to accomplish these lofty goals using Big Data.

The platform that Hentschel and his business partner John Prince founded in 2003 will process over one million groups this year, with over $7 billion in hotel revenue passing through their group booking system. Their system has reached some other impressive milestones recently; of the half-billion hotel room nights processed through the company to date, more than 15% of the room nights sold this year will be completely automated through their new instant group rate system.

We asked him why Big Data was so important in making group travel easier, and he said it was the only way to accurately predict and guarantee the best future group hotel rates.

“We have more data on events than anyone else, as well as more connections to hotels on a property and global centralized reservation systems level,” Hentschel explained. “We see all room types and current and forecasted occupancy levels, plus forecasts on all events coming to the city over a customer’s dates of stay. This allows us to get the best rates, booking policies, and room types for our customers.”

Hentschel admits that when first built, the system was not always able to consistently  and accurately predict future rates; now, he says, the company’s new generation of group booking tools can bring accuracy percentages into the high 90s using a number of different data system connections and high group booking volumes through their platform. Their instant group booking system is talking to over 30 different system in real-time right now, while also checking a database of over 10,000 large events, from conferences and concerts to large sporting events and festivals. When information on large city-wide events is combined with their millions of group rate searches, the system can start to predict trends of group booking demand against individual travel rates. The ultimate goal is to guarantee their customers a better group booking rate than what anyone can book as an individual.

“What we’ve done is create the perfect hybrid of human and machine, so we can provide the perfect online event planning and booking service,” Hentschel says.

There are more benefits for customers in securing the best possible group rates. Over the past ten years, the group booking industry has seen the number of rooms reserved under a “group block” drop from seven in ten rooms to just three in seven, due to increased competition for last-minute deals. Additionally, hotels have begun adding what are often called “attrition clauses” to group contracts, which holds groups responsible for lost revenue if they fail to pick up all, or even most, of the rooms in their block.

Hentschel’s instant group rate system is the only system that can ensure low prices keep group bookings under the “group block” system, but also combats hotels’ deceptive practices of using attrition clauses by making HotelPlanner.com the ultimate holder of all group blocks. Hentschel says his team’s system represents the future of the group booking industry, judging by the amount of positive feedback he gets on a daily basis — not to mention the 1,000% year over year revenue growth they have seen from the new product.

“When we set out 15 years ago to build the robot that brings people together, these were the positive impacts we were hoping our technology could bring to the world,” Hentschel concludes.

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During the 1980s, Carol Alt appeared on over 500 magazine covers, becoming one of the most famous models of her era, attaining supermodel status. Alt graced the covers of Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle, and Mademoiselle to name just a few. Metropolitan Magazine now has the great honor of having Carol Alt appear on the cover of our Fashion Issue as we catch up with a legend who continues to live an active, meaningful, passionate life dedicated to helping and educating others.

Favorite memory from your early modeling days?

I have a lot of memories the top one was a Sports Illustrated shoot for the winter edition in Alaska I was 18 years old and there was also a summer shoot in Africa. In Alaska, the ice looked billions of years old, the sky was pale blue and you could look out over the ice and have no sense of distance. While we were shooting, a couple of hikers showed up and scraped away snow in front of an old hidden igloo.

Did they invite you into the igloo as their guest?

No, but they did ask for bread–for fresh bread, they didn’t have any, so we were glad to give them that. We were there with some Olympic skiers for the photoshoot and at one point a group of fighter jets flew overhead. It was really something. I think that was around 1980.

Did you have any idea that being on the cover of SI would be such a big deal?

I was in a gym in Vermont and a guy walked up to me and asked me if I was Carol Alt and I started to wrack my brain as to how I knew him so I asked him how he knew my name and he said, “aren’t you on the cover of Sports Illustrated?”

You appeared on so many magazine covers do you have three favorite magazine covers?

That first Sports Illustrated cover–they put your name on the cover so that was great… also photographer Albert Watson shot me for the cover of French Vogue in a yellow dress and then there was a shot of me in a leopard skin hat for Harpers Bazaar.

When our publisher Chase Backer interviewed you the other day on Liquid Lunch on Newsmax TV I think you said you lost count of all the covers you have appeared on but that it was close to 700 which is incredible. Do you have a warehouse somewhere where you store all those covers?

I do have a giant wall that is organized in sections movies, TV series, commercials, books, and magazines.

When you look at all those pictures of yourself what do you think to yourself? wow, not bad?

I think I’m tired…I’ve worked really hard! (laugh)

During the height of her popularity, Alt was the face of ad campaigns for Covergirl, Givenchy, Noxema, Hanes, Diet Pepsi, General Motors and others. the plain-spoken supermodel is clearly a product of her hardworking parents who instilled a work ethic that has seen Carol Alt climb to the top of the modeling industry, while at the same time pursuing an acting career–Alt credits Susan Kellerman as one of her favorite acting coaches.

What did you like about your acting work in the 1995 mini-series Anna Karenina? You definitely had a lot more lines to memorize than Christie Brinkley did in Vacation.

There were 800 scenes to shoot–one of the greatest compliments I have ever gotten was from an editor who told me “you cut like butter–seamlessly.” I’ve been acting since I was 18, in those early days actors didn’t model and models didn’t act. Actors had to model in Japan.

Speaking of fame how does it feel when fans come up to you for a photograph or an autograph–do you cringe and bear it or do you enjoy that part of being such a recognizable face?

I actually love it because they are really commenting on the work.

Favorite photographers to work with?

There were photographers that would hire me all the time–so whomever I worked with the most were definitely some of my favorites–Albert Watson, Patrick Demarchelier…I remember once doing a shoot and it ended up becoming five different covers.

What were you known for in the industry?

Well, they called Elle Macpherson “The Body” and they called me “The Face.”

How has NYFW changed over the years?

Oh, it’s so different now and has gone through so many incarnations. I remember when I started I was just looking for something to do between assignments so I would go to the showrooms or ateliers of Ralph (Lauren) and Calvin (Klein) and other girls would as well not just the 7th avenue fit models – think we got paid $700.

Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a trusted Family & ER Doctor, Popular Medical TV News expert, Board Certified M.D. and Medical Director of CityMD, decided to pursue a career in medicine at an early age. According to Dr. Janette, she was about 11 or 12 years old when she realized she loved taking care of others. Her mom is a pediatric orthopedic nurse, and she fell in love watching her mom care for sick, injured and abused children. It was magical to see her mom put a smile on their faces and love, nurture and care for them until they were literally back on their feet again. Dr. Janette was born in Carmel, New York but raised in small town Umatilla, Florida by her widowed mom. Her Dad passed in an accident when she was 13. Dr. Janette says she was inspired by her widowed mother of 5 children, a beloved pediatric nurse and the director of orthopedics at the prestigious Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Seeing her take care of sick children touched a young Janette and motivated her.

“I knew I wanted to care for others and follow in her footsteps. After school, I would always go to the local hospital where she worked, Harry Anna Hospital. Watching my kind, beautiful mom put a smile on the faces of so many children who adored her as she helped them day after day strengthen, grow and heal was inspiring and life-changing for me. She is a role model, an inspiration, and has touched the lives of so many. She is humble and kind, with the heart to always put others first. Some of the children she cared for, now adults, still remember her vividly 30 years later. I was checking in at the airport once and the gate agent looked at my name and started to cry when she asked me if I was relayed to Hayat, my mom. She told me how my mom had such a huge impact in her life and would cheer her up and distract her from pain and a near-death bone disease she suffered that nearly took her limb and life. This patient never forgot my mom.”

As a top emergency and family medicine doctor, Dr. Janette’s days are filled with all sorts of medical crises and emergencies. No day is a typical day. Dr. Janette says she feels blessed to be able to wake up each day and, through the Grace of God, have the ability to care for others, help them heal and recover. It’s an honor and privilege she says, to be a physician, a duty she cherishes and never takes for granted. Life as a physician is hectic, stressful and variable but also extremely rewarding and fulfilling according to Dr. Janette. As in any profession, she says she has the good, the bad and the ugly days.

“Some days I wake up as early as 4 A.M., go to the a TV studio and discuss a various array of medical topics such as opioids, teen vaping, heart disease, drug costs/health care, the latest Alzheimer’s drug or the flu, or new medical technology etc— topics that affect everyday Americans and have a direct impact on their lives. After that, I will head to work where I will see all types of patients who suffer from different ailments. I have had everything from strep throat to stabbings, heart attack patients, severe anaphylaxis patients, asthma, appendicitis, drug toxicity, etc. Some days are uneventful and others make you appreciate life, which really is too short. To help heal and support and improve someone’s life is a privilege. It can be tough and overwhelming at times, but having a positive impact on the life of one person makes it all worth it.”

As if she were not busy enough with her practice and her role as a very popular Medical expert on TV, Dr. Nesheiwat is also the Medical Director of CityMD. A job she is uniquely qualified for. Dr. Janette did her medical training and studies at UAMS, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, just outside Little Rock. As a medical resident, she moonlighted in the ER; sometimes in very rural areas where she was the only doctor for miles. She also volunteered and hosted a medical TV program called “Family Health Today”, an opportunity and platform to teach, reach out and educate the communities where diabetes, drugs, obesity, heart disease was so prevalent. She started doing medical talks on the local level, then state level and not long after began discussing medical issues on national and international platforms. Having family in New York where she is from, her little sister and sidekick Dina, a criminal defense attorney in NYC, actually did some research and ultimately found her a job at CityMD. She describes CityMD as a healthcare center whose motto is “serve with kindness” this is what attracted her to move back to New York and continue serving and caring for patients and at the same time continue discussing important medical issues on a larger platform through television. Not long after being hired at CityMD Dr. Janette was promoted to Medical Director where she oversees other doctors and physician assistants to help collaborate with community organizations to provide care for those in need, ensure that patients receive top-quality care, and continue to care for her patients at the same time.
Dr. Janette is also involved with the Red Cross and emergency relief where she was honored to be awarded a red cross international service award. Some experiences she has had in emergency relief include leading medical missions, assisting those who are injured, and living in poverty with no access to health care or aid. Dr. Janette has assisted Hurricane Katrina victims who lost their meds their asthma inhalers, their blood pressure medicines, and had rashes and infections from the flooding. During both 2011’s Joplin tornado and the earthquake in Haiti, I cared for kids, delivered babies on the roadside, provided physicals and exams for the those in the village of Leogane and at an orphanage.

Dr. Janette was also trained as an officer by the U.S. Army which she speaks of fondly.

“ I completed Army ROTC in college, completed advanced officer training in Ft. Lewis Washington and Ft. Drum New York, but I did not go into the Army— I went to medical school instead. Still, this was an incredible life-changing experience in which I was able to use my experiences in leading medical missions around the world and as a medical leader in my community. I was inspired by my sister, Military Intelligence officer Captain Julia Nesheiwat, an Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran who encouraged servitude and giving back to our country. I have had a big role in helping to combat the opioid epidemic in the US; Including speaking at the White House Opioid Summit in Washington, working with our Surgeon General, coordinating Drug Take-Back Day, promoting prescription drug monitoring programs, advocating for education, rehab, and detox.”
Always busy, Dr. Janette still always finds time to promote good health and help others. It’s just who she is.

“Discussing the most current, accurate, and up to date medical information on live national and international TV has become a regular part of my life. Being able to provide health information not only to my patients behind closed doors but to millions of TV viewers might have a positive impact on someone’s life who is listening, such as general reminders to get your mammogram and colonoscopy, that early diagnosis can lead to better outcomes— cancer is no longer a death sentence if caught early. TV medicine is like teaching but more difficult as you only have a short amount of time to state the most important aspects of a disease or topic. I love teaching, discussing medical topics, educating the community and addressing critical issues such as the opioid epidemic, teen vaping causing hospitalizations, the flu, measles, the latest breakthrough drugs or outbreaks, mental illness and much more. I have also had the opportunity to heavily advocate and educate the community on prevention via education on live national and international televised programs for the massive vaping epidemic— I’ve had many young patients suffering from vape injuries.”

A decent steakhouse is relatively easy to find in any major city of the United States, but a visit to Carnevino at the Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas will separate the decent from the outstanding. This Italian steakhouse, from the dynamic duo of Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich of the B&B Hospitality Group, takes its steaks very seriously, catering to the serious carnivore. Surpassing normal industry standards for aging meat, their porterhouse steaks and ribeyes are aged a minimum of 90 days to 120 days, and then are rubbed with sea salt, fresh pepper, and rosemary to achieve a tender cut and aromatic flavor. Antibiotic and hormone free, their certified Angus beef meats are from family-owned farms and ranches throughout the country, and the aging process is done by the restaurant itself, at an off-site location.

Every detail in this restaurant is on a grand scale, much like the city in which it resides. The space welcomes you with a life-size statue of “Bodacious,” the world’s most dangerous rodeo bull, perhaps as an indication of the fierce meal you are about to enjoy. The oversized windows, Italian marble, and antique furnishings are beautiful and dramatic, much like the presentation of the food itself. And, as the restaurant’s name implies, the multi-page wine list plays a dominating role in entire dining experience (as it should). Personally curated by Bastianich, the list will dazzle and overwhelm you; but don’t worry, the sommelier ensures your paring is as well thought-out as your meal.

At the helm is Nicole Brisson, the culinary director for B&B Hospitality Group’s Las Vegas operations. Brisson oversees the preparation of all dishes, including the aging process and rub for the steaks. One of just a few female chefs to grace the Vegas strip, she began her stint in Sin City with the opening of Wynn Las Vegas. Originally serving as Carnevino’s executive chef, she was appointed their culinary director in 2016. Born and raised in upstate New York, Brisson was introduced to the culinary industry early at her grandfather’s restaurant in Saratoga, New York. Inspired by her family’s dedication to creating meals from scratch with harvests from their garden, she continues to hold onto these practices in her career. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University, Brisson studied and learned with food writers Molly O’Neill and Faith Willinger, taking the knowledge and traditions she acquired from her grandfather’s restaurant and developing them into a love for locally sourced produce and meats.

Carnevino is a must visit during a trip to Las Vegas, ensuring a dining experience you’ll be hard pressed to duplicate.

For more information, visit Carnevino.com.

uring these challenging times many of us now find ourselves working from home attempting to stay connected with our customers, clients and team members…

By Adam Kluger | Photography by Benno Klandt The international channel i24NEWS broadcasts in English, Arabic and French around the world, with its biggest bureau…

By Adam Kluger | Photos by Benno Klandt   Designer: Maestro by Sylvio Roubertto Kovacic @sylvio.nyc Hair Stylist: Cameron Lesiege @cameronlesiege Makeup: Nicole Cerro…

By Adam Kluger | Photos by Benno Klandt   Designer: Maestro by Sylvio Roubertto Kovacic @sylvio.nyc Hair Stylist: Cameron Lesiege @cameronlesiege Makeup: Nicole Cerro…

Dressing is a Way of Life —Yves Saint Laurent         SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Jennifer Selter

Jen Selter was one of the first fitness influencers, she started her journey back in 2012 and has grown her reach to over 30 million. Jen shares her love for fitness, lifestyle,and passion to motivate others through her social media platforms.

Since I started on my journey I have always said I wanted to help other people achieve their goals in life and stay motivated. If you care about people and take what you do seriously, you can help people achieve incredible things. Whether it is through my workout app FitPlan, making great healthy smoothies with my BlendJet or starting your day with my new protein bar, Jensta, everything I do is revolving around helping others.

If you love your followers and understand who they are, you can help them and that is what being an effective influencer is all about! Supporting your community the same way they support you. To me, giving back is a huge part of success and I encourage everyone to share their motivation and positivity with others!

 Read the full article here.

This year marks the Royal Hawaiian hotel’s 90th anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, New York-based shoe designer Paul Mayer collaborated with the iconic destination on a special edition capsule collection of Royal Hawaiian-inspired shoes.

Mayer’s love affair with the Royal Hawaiian started over 25 years ago, and since then, he has regularly visited the hotel known as the “Pink Palace of the Pacific.”  He considers the Royal Hawaiian his home away from home and has been known to fly there for a weekend, settling into his favorite suite with a pair of RH slippers before heading to the Mai Tai bar, relaxing at the Malulani Pool or sailing on Kepoikai.

It comes as no surprise that his passion for the Royal Hawaiian inspired what have become Mayer›s brand colors.  Today, his whimsical pink and black shoe boxes are as collectible as his flats, wedges and chunky heels, of which patrons are known to buy in multiples for their comfort and style.

French born Mayer founded his namesake brand with partner Jeff Levy in 2004. In the time since, the duo has stayed true to their vision for Paul Mayer Attitudes collection — offering fashionable, feminine, and comfortable shoes for women of all ages. With his attention on comfort, Mayer was one of the first footwear designers to fully pad his insoles and to offer lightweight and flexible rubber compound soles on non- athletic footwear. Paul Mayer aficionados have been known to shop for shoes in the dozens. Knowing this he created lavender scented soles to fragrance their closets.

In commemorating the Royal Hawaiian anniversary, Mayer, aka the Master of Ballet Flats, wanted to create a collection as classic and chic as its inspiration. The resulting designs feature flats, wedges and blocked heels in the signature pastel pink of the Waikiki hotel’s famous facade. As a tribute to the hotel, Mayer researched the font used in the original Royal Hawaiian logo, and it is embroidered on certain styles in the very same teal used 90 years ago.

Since the Royal Hawaiian Hotel opened on February 1, 1927, it has cemented its iconic status making cameos in movies and TV shows, from the 1932 film Gidget Goes Hawaiian to television shows Charlie’s Angels in 1977 and, most recently, Mad Men in the early twenty-tens.

Thanks to Mayer, Royal Hawaiian devotees can take a piece of the Pink Palace home with them in the renowned hotel’s true style of elegance and sophistication.

The Royal Hawaiian x Paul Mayer collection, retailing for approximately $220, is available at the Hotel’s Pashma boutique and Bloomingdale’s in Hawaii.

paulmayerattitudes.com

royal-hawaiian.com

New Yorkers may not have a signature Tadashi Shoji boutique just yet, but they probably recognize the fashion designer’s highly feminine and flattering garments from any number of places. The first reference is television. As a sponsor of the Miss Universe Competition from 2002 to 2007, Shoji created evening gowns worthy of spectacle for pageant participants. In addition, Shoji’s clothes hang on the racks of more than 700 department stores and fine shops in more than 50 countries around the world. These include five signature Tadashi Shoji boutiques in the United States: one in Forum Shops at Caesars in Las Vegas and the other in South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. Shoji’s clothes also have appeared in numerous fashion magazines and websites, as well as in New York Fashion Week. I caught up with the designer a couple weeks after NYFW wound down to hear about his recent experience in the city that never sleeps, and what else he has in the works.

What are your reflections on the most recent NYFW?
I always look forward to NYFW, and the challenges and the excitement it brings. This season was especially unique, as I participated in the Business of Fashion white bandana #TiedTogether movement. I was honored to be able to make a statement with other designers to support solidarity and unity.

How have your experiences with NYFW evolved since your first Fall 2007 showing?
Many things have changed in my years showing at NYFW. The overall production of the show has become more organized and streamlined. I want a calm atmosphere. I focus on the beauty of the clothes and women who wear them.

How does your fine art training influence your approach to fashion design? Do you think there is anything distinctly Japanese about your aesthetic?
I trained formally in art school and worked for artist Jiro Takamatsu, which was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. The experience however, made me realize that this wasn’t the path I wanted to take. From there, I decided I wanted to move to the United States, so I worked many odd jobs that led me to fashion design. I am still greatly influenced by art. Usually, each season begins with finding a piece that really inspires me to base the new collection on. Although I do not generally have any Japanese aesthetics in my designs, I continue to love the country and culture in Japan. I’m so inspired by the people and visit Japan often. In fact, my spring 2016 collection (as well as my new fragrance) was inspired by Japanese rose gardens.

Could you confirm when you launched your bridal collection? What do you think is special about designing for brides?
The bridal collection is available at the Tadashi Shoji boutique in Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara, California, and is available on our website. It will also be carried online at Nordstrom.com.  I started selling white dresses on BHLDN.com. The collection did so well they asked me to create bridal pieces specifically for them. From there, I decided to create my own bridal collection. The gowns are a natural progression of my brand and aesthetic. My bridal designs capture the essence of affordable luxury without any fuss.

When are your leather handbag and lingerie lines due out? What can you tell us about how they will look?
Tadashi Shoji will launch handbags this summer. Our new collection will include a variety of styles from wristlets to totes using all natural leather with pony hair and laser cut details. Lingerie will launch this summer and shape wear will launch in April. [The shape wear line] will include high-waisted panties, a bodysuit, and mini slip with lace trims and shapers to smooth under formalwear and contour the waist.

Why did you decide to venture into fragrance this year? What was the process of making a fragrance like?
Eau de Rose launched in March and is now available on our website, in all Lord & Taylor stores and on Macys.com. I’ve wanted to create my own fragrance for several years now. Since I am launching my other categories, it just made sense to become a lifestyle brand. The hardest part of getting the fragrance right was the scent. Fragrances are a very long development because the progress phase is very personal and emotional. I wanted my scent to be just right and perfect for all markets that I sell to.

When can New Yorkers expect to see a Tadashi Shoji boutique open here?
I haven’t set a date for New York. However, our retail developments are on the rise. We are focusing on a Middle East expansion in 2018 and are set to open 18 stores.

Triumphantly Returns to Long  Island

By Christopher A. Pape

Gary Brustein has always been a man on a mission. Known throughout New York has the exotic car impresario, Mr. Brustein, has worked with countless New Yorkers (and many beyond our fair boarders) to help put clients into the luxury car of their dreams. From Ferraris to Bentleys and everything in between, Gary always has the right car for his well-heeled customers.

Many of you may remember Champion Motors as the premiere dealer for Bentley, Rolls Royce and Lamborghini on Long Island. Coupled with his years of experience and expertise, Gary welcomes you to the next phase of Champion Motors.

A beloved force in the luxury automobile sales industry (he has almost 40 years of experience), Mr. Brustein owns and operates the new Champion Motor Group. The group has one of the largest selections of pre-owned luxury, highline and exotic automobiles to choose from, such as Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Bentley, Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche and Rolls-Royce. It also occupies a 40,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art showroom; at Champion, it’s all about the experience of buying an ultra-premium automobile. That’s why the cars – from these most luxurious of automakers – are displayed like the works of art.

Champion’s new location is located in Syosset, NY. Upon entering the space, it is clear that Gary paid close attention to details and has created an environment that is both comfortable and requisite in the Exotic and Classic Automobile industry. You would expect nothing less from the undisputed champion of the classic, exotic and luxury car market.

Museum Quality Storage

Gary, whose reputation across the country is one of respect and confidence, can walk into car auctions or events, like the one at Pebble Beach in California, and command attention. And yet, he has always believed in a hands-on approach to running a dealership. Mr. Brustein meets and greets every customer who sits with any of his salespeople. It is easy to tell that Gary’s business philosophy has always focused on delivering quality customer service with a close attention to detail. And he has built an impressive record as one of the premier automotive sales executives in the country, recognized for his extensive knowledge and commitment to customer service.

Champion Motor Group also has an Antique and Collectible Division that specializes in selling award-winning cars from the 1920s to the 1970s. In addition, Gary has a top-of-the-line service department, with a knowledgeable and dedicated service team that is fully qualified to satisfy the repair and servicing needs of his customers. All of their professional technicians are factory-trained and have extensive experience with luxury cars. Gary has also developed one of the largest car leasing companies on the Eastern seaboard.

Service Department

But do not take Gary’s or our word for it. There have been many recent articles written about how the luxury and classic car market has outperformed all global stock exchanges in the last 10 years. In 2014 alone, the value of classic collectible cars rose over 40% in value. This figure is nearly four times the value gained in a single year compared to the Dow Jones, S&P 500 or NASDAQ.

Beyond his professional interests, Mr. Brustein actively supports charitable causes and associated medical organizations such as the American Heart Association and North Shore LIJ Hospitals. His personal interests include attending automobile shows, playing golf and tennis and international travel.

As for who Gary is, ask his many friends. They’ll say, without pause, that he is an impeccably dressed man who genuinely cares about his friends and his employees. He is a man with the right connections, ready to make the best deal for his clients. A man who has given most of his adult life to the car business and one with deep and extensive knowledge, that he brings to bear for his many satisfied customers. To top it all off, he is a dedicated husband with two beautiful and successful children. One might say he is the luckiest man in the world (and you wouldn’t be far from the truth).

championmotorsinternational.com

516.682.8000

Andrea Catsimatidis, who goes by “A.J.” is surprisingly approachable, authentic and friendly when you meet her. As I have done on a couple of occasions now. Her Instagram account describes A.J. as a “billionaire heiress,” “business bombshell,” “jet-setter,” “NYC native,” “Manhattan Republican Party Chair,” “philanthropist,” and “footballer.” But you wouldn’t know any of that based on her unaffected nature and open demeanor. A.J.’s father, John Catsimatidis, the self-made billionaire owner of the New York City supermarket chain Gristedes Foods is a big reason why A.J. is who she is.

“The number one lesson I’ve learned from my dad is to be assertive, that in life you have to take advantage of your opportunities. Everybody in life has opportunities but it’s the people who are assertive enough to take advantage and recognize those opportunities that end up being successful. So that’s important and being a good person in general. I think part of the reason my dad was so successful in business is that he never tried to screw anyone over and he always wants to help people and I think all that positive energy that he always puts into everything came back to him a million times over. He does a lot of charity work he gives back to a lot of causes, especially for children. He loves supporting children he loves supporting education partly because he’s so fortunate that he came to the United States of America and got such a great education and that gave him the opportunity to succeed and he wants to make sure that others have that same opportunity in the future. And it’s not just philanthropy, throughout his career he’s saved thousands of jobs by turning around companies and that’s impacted the livelihoods of so many people as well.”

If Manhattan Republican Party Chair sounds like an important title, that’s because it kind of is. It’s a new job, one of her many jobs, that the young Catsimatidis takes quite seriously. The daughter of a Greek immigrant who became a business titan through education and hard work says the American Dream is still alive and well.

“Nothing means more to me than the United States of America and I love my country so much and what it stands for and how my dad came to this country when he was 9 months old as an immigrant from an island of 900 people. His dad worked 7 days a week as a busboy so my dad could go to college and only in America can someone come from absolutely nowhere and be able to found one of the biggest companies in the country…and just everything it means all the freedom and opportunity for all and I just want to make sure that lives on and I think that’s why I really wanted to get into politics was to help preserve that and fight for my country.”

It’s no secret that Bill and Hillary Clinton are old family friends, yet Catsimatidis says that it is the Republican Party’s historical policies and platform that convinced her to throw her support behind the GOP in NYC.

“Ever since I learned what it meant to be a Republican, those values really resonated with me. The idea of freedom and opportunity for all, being the party of women’s suffrage, being the party that gave African-Americans the right to vote, when the Democratic party turned them away. The party that kept taxes low so people could pull themselves out of poverty, all the ideas of individual freedoms and keeping the Government out of your lives, to me, that’s what it means to be an American and a Republican.”

Mixing business and politics has been a Catsimatidis family tradition. So much so that her dad once ran for Mayor of the City of New York and made a lot of new friends and admirers in the process. A.J. says she has a bunch of fond memories of her dad’s run for Mayor of NYC.

“He ran for Mayor and it was really exciting. We got to do a lot of campaign stops and meet a lot of people. Real people. And I think that was the best part of it. My dad has this amazing ability to connect with a lot of people because he cares about people no matter who they are. For instance, there was somebody the other day in our company, there was a supermarket employee and he had a problem and he called my dad and even though my dad is the CEO of this big company, he picked up the phone and listened to this guy’s problem and tried to help him and that’s just the kind of guy my dad is. it was beautiful to see people connect with him and be on the campaign trail and witness that.”

And while the young Catsimatidis admits to being an avid traveler, her heart she says belongs to the Big Apple. “I love the vibrancy of New York. I love being here and feeling alive 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So many cultures are represented here and you can go out and have any type of food from anywhere and see so many different people and get so many different perspectives. You feel very open to the world instead of closed.”

A self-described foodie, Catsimatidis isn’t shy to reveal some of her favorite NYC restaurants.

“My favorite restaurant is Nobu57, I spend a lot of time there. I love the vibe. I love the food. I love the people, always great to be there. And I love Omar’s I always see lots of friends there.” Working out, staying fit and maintaining an enviable figure requires a major commitment of time and energy but the results, A.J. says, are well worth it.

“Working out is really important to me because I love my fitness obviously and also it’s just a great stress reliever given how busy I am with my business life and my political life and my social life and it’s kind of a way to decompress. I usually work out between 5-7 days a week, depending on how much time I have. I love to do barre because it’s great for toning the feminine figure. So I do a lot of that. I do a lot of intermittent fasting because that’s the only thing that really works for me because I’m not the kind of person that just wants to eat salad. I love pizza. I love pasta. I love steak. I love chocolate cake and I love to eat all of these things so then I just fast intermittently and I can have all these foods that I love and not give up anything and food brings me so much joy I can’t imagine giving up any of it.”

AJ clearly has no shame in her game as she is always ready to rock a bikini upon request!

“I think the main thing is to love yourself and if you genuinely love yourself you can be confident about who you are and be able to express yourself and that’s the one thing about me… I am always unapologetic in being myself. I love who I am so I’m not afraid to express it. I feel very fortunate that I live in the United States of America where I can express myself without being censored in any way, wear the clothes I want to wear, express my femininity and be who I am.”

The question is, however, what does her dad think about her daughter showing off her “assets?” “He likes the person that I am and that I’m not afraid to express myself.”

Catsimatidis and her dad remain very close. A.J. is intimately involved in the day-to-day operations of her dad’s various businesses. What does she do?

“I have a wide range of responsibilities. Most of the time I spend is in the real estate division where we are managing properties that we own and developing new ones, so, sometimes I visit the construction sites and see how that’s going or attend architect meetings and get involved in the planning of a new building. But, I also spend a lot of time on the investment side meeting with potential companies to invest in. I’m really passionate about the biotech space. I invest in a lot of organ disease companies where previously people had no hope for treatment and now all of a sudden, they have some hope for a cure or something to at least make them better and it’s just a beautiful experience for these people all of a sudden to have their lives and livelihoods restored and also have it be a good investment as well, so I really enjoy that side of the business but I’m involved in pretty much everything–so people will see me walking around the supermarkets checking up on things so I’m involved with that too. Everything from the bottom to the top.”

So, as the Manhattan Republican Party Chair, it’s no surprise that the young Catsimatidis has a pretty favorable opinion on how President Trump, an old family friend, is doing at his job.

“I’m really excited that President Trump is not backing down. There are so many people that if they were in that position, if they were attacked by somebody they would back off and say “oh you know maybe I was wrong or you know this or that, “ But you know he stuck to his guns he knows what he is doing and what he is doing is working and he is one of the only people I know that will stand up for what he believes in spite of the opposition that he is receiving and I really respect that and I’m so happy to have him and I feel so fortunate that he is saving America and he’s done such a fantastic job. The economy is growing at record numbers, the stock market is at an all-time high, unemployment is at record lows and we are just doing so well. America is thriving and it’s exciting. “

President Trump is obviously good friends with her dad– but is the POTUS on A.J.’s speed-dial as well?

“Obviously he’s a very busy man, so I talk a lot less to him now that he’s the President but I’ve known him since I was a little kid and he’s always been really kind and genuine to me and when I was getting married a long time ago, his daughter had just gotten married maybe one or two years before I did and so my dad called him for advice on my wedding and when I saw Donald Trump I think it was on Valentine’s Day, one year he stopped me and he told me the story about how he spoke to my dad and he basically convinced my dad to give me my dream wedding and it was really special that he lobbied on my behalf, eternally grateful for that.”

That wedding was to her now-ex-husband Christopher Nixon Cox, who just happens to be the grandson of former U.S. President Richard Nixon. That must have made for interesting dinner conversations!

“President Nixon was such an amazing President he did so much in such a short amount of time. A lot of people don’t realize everything that he did in terms of equal funding for women in sports with title 9 and minority entrepreneurship and everything that he did to open the doors to China and he was just such a visionary and Chris my ex-husband he inherited his grandfather’s eye for foreign policy. He’s one of the kindest and most intelligent people I know so just always hearing his perspective on things because he is still one of my best friends to this day like I always love getting his advice because his understanding of the world and international politics is amazing.”

So, what does the “Manhattan Republican Party Chair,” actually do?

“My main job is to find candidates get them on the ballot–to make sure we have candidates on the ballot keep the party going–but I kind of took this role a little bit further and act as a general cheerleader for the party and the President just creating a general buzz and having events letting people know what we are about, rebranding the party.”

Re-branding the GOP?

“We’re trying to make it more of a big tent party

in New York City. So, I would say that all of the candidates that we ran are fiscally conservative, and pro-law enforcement but at the same time more liberal on social issues. We ran two gay candidates last time around so all of our candidates are pro-gay marriage and very prochoice.”

A.J who seems to be a natural for politics-much in the same way her friend Kimberly Guilfoyle has energized the GOP does not shy away from what she calls her civic duty in supporting the GOP and President Trump but readily admits that she prefers business to politics in the end.

“I would say that politics is really not one of my personal goals. Really, I see my job as the Chair of the Republican Party here in Manhattan as more of my service to the country because I care so much about this country and my party and this is my way to get involved and give back a little bit but beyond that, I don’t really have any political aspirations. I really enjoy the business side a lot more and I find that I can make a big impact on that side. I love the Real Estate business. I want to be able to build bigger buildings and shape new skylines and make more investments to grow the company but also to do good as well.”

So, with all her many jobs and responsibilities does A.J. ever find time for fun? Travel, food, and football are some of A.J.’s guilty pleasures.

“I love to travel. I love Mykonos. I love Hawaii it’s so beautiful there I go to Miami a lot we live so close and you get New York quality food but better weather and I just have a lot of friends down there and I enjoy that but also one thing that I used to sort of do and I kind of just gave it up recently because I’m so busy but I played on a co-ed football team–so that was a really fun thing to do… I’m a huge foodie. I love eating. Hanging out with friends, being social, I love to cook and bake, I love dessert…big on dessert especially chocolate!

Which begs the question about A.J.’s thoughts on Metropolitan Magazine’s (and Kim Kardashian’s) favorite Greek Restaurant in New York City, Nerai?

“The food is really good there!”