I am having déjà vu writing this post; and if you are experiencing the same while reading it, then I am glad we are on the same page. This is exciting déjà vu, however, because it means we are marking the one-year anniversary of in-person business meetings being back on the books!

Just last spring I sat down at Gallagher’s Steakhouse in New York City for my first in-person business meeting after joining the team at Global Traveler. And for the sake of tradition, it was only appropriate to do the same with our friends at Turkish Airlines one year later, one dining table away from our previous lunch.

Beyond being extremely grateful for celebrating more than a year with this company, it was great to toast to tradition and normalcy at lunch this year with Alp Ozaman of Turkish Airlines; Alaina, our new director of sales; and Fran, our publisher and CEO.

Following the breadbasket delivered by our attentive server, Fran and I both enjoyed Caesar salads with fresh cracked pepper. For the main dishes, I enjoyed sliced filet with Gallagher’s famous tomato-based steak sauce — something I looked forward to all year. Around the table other fabulous dishes were enjoyed including special tuna steak specifically requested by Fran himself — an item that wasn’t even on the menu.

If you know our CEO, you know he always has a trick up his sleeve. We all learned this when a complimentary dessert with a candle in it was delivered to the table after our main dishes were cleared. Turns out Fran noted a celebration when making the reservation. Nobody questioned his decision, as there was now a yummy treat on the table, and, hey, there is much to celebrate these days.

Even more crowded and lively than it was in 2021, I was delighted to see New York back in business: People filling the sidewalks making their daily commutes, enjoying lunch or just spending a day in the Big Apple as we were. Until next year, Gallagher’s.

— Haley Fogarty, advertising manager