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The Empire State Building is nobodys idea of a hidden gem. The 1,472-foot Art Deco landmark of stone and steel dominates the streetscape and world view of New York Cityand all of pop culture. From King Kongs battle with biplanes to the annual ESB Run-Up to its iconic 86th Floor Observatory, the Worlds Most Famous Building is both myth and monolith. This alone could not have explained what happened last June, though: The Empire State Building Observatory Experience was ranked the No. 1 attraction in the world in Tripadvisors 2024 Travelers Choice Awards: Best of the Best Things to Do. At 93 years young, the skyscraper became ostensibly the top attraction on the planet. This was not the work of an algorithm, or even Swiftonomics (though Taylor did once pay a visit). Rather, the ranking took root in a multiphase, design-led transformation of the Observatory Experience, fueled by the recognition that spaces and places must evolve to meet peoples shifting relationships across physical, digital, and immersive realms. This might seem like an isolated success, with few applicable lessons beyond the museums and attractions sector. But since we and our creative partners at Journey, Thinc Design, and Beneville Studios completed the $165 million reimagination of the Observatory Experience, we have come to appreciate lessons that any brand, in any sector, can adopt to deepen connections with their customers. Here are four that (wait for it) rise to the top. 1. REANIMATE YOUR STORY As we began our building-wide modernization work in 2008, we thought creatively beyond the building itselfmore specifically, the international brand and relevance of the concept of the Empire State Building. We could have hung archival photos or played King Kong on a loop in our galleries. Instead, we chose to immerse visitors in the lore and complexity of this singular structure. Key moments from its construction, its place in popular culture, and its industry-leading deep energy retrofit became onramps to immersive storytelling. Rather than watch two-dimensional, black-and-white footage of Kong 102 stories above the city streets, we welcome visitors to climb into his fist as he zooms in close, nostrils flared. Visitors dont pore over lengthy exhibit descriptions; they peer inside coin-operated-style viewfinders and observe vendors hawking five-cent apples and traffic officers directing streetcars that trundle through the frame. Banks, retailers, museums, healthcare clinicsthey all contain powerful stories that, through smart, tactical applications of design and technology, could forge stronger connections to the people they serve. 2. GET MULTIDIMENSIONAL How many times must we read about the blurring lines between physical and digital? Our collaboration spun off a more instructive idea: Rather than blur lines, build linkages. The physical and digital components of the reimagined Observatory Experience address every dimension of human interaction. Those viewfinders set this principle to motion. Peering through them, visitors become participants in a nearly century-old scene that slipped the bounds of time. That sensation is far more powerful than any discreet piece of hardware or software. Brands should take a cue and combine their digital and physical assets in ways that create transformative new experiences. Fifth Avenue is hardly a galaxy far, far away. That didnt stop a Star Wars villains-inspired experience from taking over the Empire State Building last year. Fittingly, The Empire Strikes Back played on the 80th floor while life-size LEGO statues of Darth Vader and Darth Maul beckoned selfie-takers. An unoccupied space at the base of the building housed a fully immersive Hasbro takeover that thrilled die-hard fans. Through it all, host and guests derived valueand had a blast. When an IP as exhaustively excavated as Star Wars can build new linkages across the fan experience by showing up in unexpected ways (and places), it is a clear sign that most brands can, and should, as well. 3. DONT BREAK NEW GROUND We began with an assessment of underutilized sectors on our second and 80th floors; the queue areas for Observatory-bound elevators; and even the elevators themselves. Here, for the better part of a century, lay the seeds of a completely reimagined visitor experiencea sort of prequel to the views on the 86th and 102nd floors. Developers might derisively call this creative reuse, but as we recontextualized these assets, we did more than fill space; we opened new portals of experience and immersion. How many department stores have elevators or escalators? Through the creative application of technology and design, these can become dynamic, immersive vessels for brand storytelling and wayfinding that produce tighter bonds between store and customer. No elevators or escalators? Convert underutilized space into zones of experimentation that help dimensionalize the experience. 4. TAKE THE LONG VIEW A funny thing happens nowadays when visitors finally reach the Observatory floors. Spectacular views used to be the main course, but since we inaugurated the new visitor experience, they feel like the cherry on top. Despite the still-breathtaking sightlines, you know where many of our visitors now tag their Instagram snaps? With Kong, 84 floors below, as well as with statues of brave men who built the building in the immersive exhibit dedicated to their work. Talk about your internal pivots. Perhaps this is the most powerful lesson of all: A brand never has to top out. If we redefined how people experience 365,000 tons of stone, glass, and steel, imagine what you can do for your brand. Andrew Zimmerman is CEO and a cofounder of Journey. Anthony E. Malkin is chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc.
Category:
E-Commerce
On Jan. 29, Asian American communities around the U.S. will ring in the Year of the Snake with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities. In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated. In the Chinese zodiac, 2025 is the Year of the Snake. Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac. What is the Lunar New Year? The Lunar New Year known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. In Taiwan, this year, people have been drawn to the White Snake Temple to pay their respects. In Indonesia, it is celebrated with dragon puppets and drum displays. It is also widely observed by diaspora communities around the world. It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February. What are the animals of the zodiac? Each year honors an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig measure the cycles of time. Legend has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from Earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honoring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox. What does the Year of the Snake mean? Snakes are viewed with both fear and reverence in Chinese culture. On the one hand, venomous snakes are associated with darkness. But in Chinese mythology, snakes are also known as little dragons, and the skin they shed is known as the dragon’s coat, symbolizing good luck, rebirth and regeneration. The snake also symbolizes the pursuit of love and happiness. In Chinese culture, they are grouped with the turtle and crane as a symbol of longevity. This year, merchants in China and elsewhere are producing lanterns, soft toys and other products where the snakes have googly eyes and goofy smiles so they appear cute and cuddly, and don’t scare away young celebrants. What are some beliefs and traditions around the Lunar New Year? One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Years Day. Because the beast feared the color red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster. To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the color symbolizes good fortune and joy. People dress in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures. Ancestor worship is also common. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called charye, where female family members prepare food and males serve it to ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called eumbok, involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year. Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors. Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexicos Purepecha Indigenous group. How do diaspora communities celebrate? Members of Asian American communities around the U.S. also organize parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food and cultural performances. In addition to cleaning their homes, many buy new things for their home such as furniture and decorate using orchids and other brightly colored flowers. Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the U.S. as well as other churches. What are some special foods for the new year? Each culture has its own list of special foods during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. In the Chinese culture, for example, changshou mian or long-life noodles are consumed with a wish for a long, healthy and happy life. In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet traditional dishes made from glutinous rice are a must. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined with rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is then wrapped in the leaves and tied up with strings. Koreans celebrate with tteokguk, a brothy soup that contains thinly sliced rice cakes. Warm bowls of snake soup are also on the menu in some Hong Kong snake shops, as the Lunar New Year approaches. Deepa Bharath, Associated Press Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
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E-Commerce
Chinese tech startup DeepSeek s new artificial intelligence chatbot has sparked discussions about the competition between China and the U.S. in AI development, with many users flocking to test the rival of OpenAI‘s ChatGPT. DeepSeeks AI assistant was the No. 1 downloaded free app on Apples iPhone store on Tuesday afternoon and its launch made Wall Street tech superstars’ stocks tumble. Observers are eager to see whether the Chinese company has matched Americas leading AI companies at a fraction of the cost. The chatbot’s ultimate impact on the AI industry is still unclear, but it appears to censor answers on sensitive Chinese topics, a practice commonly seen on China’s internet. In 2023, China issued regulations requiring companies to conduct a security review and obtain approvals before their products can be publicly launched. Here are some answers The Associated Press received from DeepSeek’s new chatbot and ChatGPT: What does Winnie the Pooh mean in China? For many Chinese, the Winnie the Pooh character is a playful taunt of President Xi Jinping. Chinese censors in the past briefly banned social media searches for the bear in mainland China. ChatGPT got that idea right. It said Winnie the Pooh had become a symbol of political satire and resistance, often used to mock or criticize Xi. It explained that internet users compared Xi to the bear because of perceived similarities in their physical appearance. DeepSeek’s chatbot said the bear is a beloved cartoon character that is adored by countless children and families in China, symbolizing joy and friendship. Then, abruptly, it said the Chinese government is dedicated to providing a wholesome cyberspace for its citizens.” It added that all online content is managed under Chinese laws and socialist core values, with the aim of protecting national security and social stability. Who is the current US president? It might be easy for many people to answer, but both AI chatbots mistakenly said Joe Biden, whose term ended last week, because they said their data was last updated in October 2023. But they both tried to be responsible by reminding users to verify with updated sources. What happened during the military crackdown in Beijings Tiananmen Square in June 1989? The 1989 crackdown saw government troops open fire on student-led pro-democracy protesters in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, if not thousands, of deaths. The event remains a taboo subject in mainland China. DeepSeek’s chatbot answered, Sorry, that’s beyond my current scope. Let’s talk about something else. But ChatGPT gave a detailed answer on what it called one of the most significant and tragic events in modern Chinese history. The chatbot talked about the background of the massive protests, the estimated casualties and their legacy. What is the state of US-China relations? DeepSeek’s chatbot’s answer echoed China’s official statements, saying the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is one of the most important bilateral relationships globally. It said China is committed to developing ties with the U.S. based on mutual respect and win-win cooperation. We hope that the United States will work with China to meet each other halfway, properly manage differences, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and push forward the healthy and stable development of China-U.S. relations, it said. Some of these phrases meet … halfway,” mutual respect and win-win cooperation mirror language used by a Chinese Foreign Ministry official in a 2021 news conference. ChatGPT’s answer was more nuanced. It said the state of the U.S.-China relationship is complex, characterized by a mix of economic interdependence, geopolitical rivalry and collaboration on global issues. It highlighted key topics including the two countries’ tensions over the South China Sea and Taiwan, their technological competition and more. The relationship between the U.S. and China remains tense but crucial, part of its answer said. Is Taiwan part of China? Again like the Chinese official narrative DeepSeek’s chatbot said Taiwan has been an integral part of China since ancient times. An example of a very similar statement is found in this government document issued in 2022. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood, jointly committed to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the chatbot said. ChatGPT said the answer depends on one’s perspective, while laying out China and Taiwan’s positions and the views of the international community. It said from a legal and political standpoint, China claims Taiwan is part of its territory and the island democracy operates as a de facto independent country with its own government, economy and military. Kanis Leung, Associated Press Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu contributed to this story.
Category:
E-Commerce
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