Last week I was in New York City hosting meetings with my colleague, Alex Young. After a long but productive day, I was looking forward to relaxing at Press, the stunning rooftop lounge atop Kimpton’s Ink48 hotel where I was staying. It was a gorgeous summer evening, perfect for sipping an alfresco cocktail while enjoying panoramic views of the Hudson River. Unfortunately, I discovered Press was closed for a private event. With my plans squashed, I waited in the hotel lobby — a bit begrudgingly as I watched private partygoers load into the designated elevator for their ascent to Press — for Alex to arrive. A native New Yorker, Alex quickly came up with a Plan B. “Let’s try Yotel. I think they just opened and they have an outdoor deck.” Okay! We strolled a few blocks southeast to the new “space age” hotel. While I had heard about the Yotel concept — hotel rooms designed to mimic the efficient use of space found in airline first-class cabin suites — I wasn’t prepared for the futuristic lobby complete with a Yobot on hand to store left luggage. In seconds, Alex and I sat on a “mod”ular couch, perusing the small-plates menu and enjoying the evening breeze and setting sun. We didn’t have a view of the Hudson, but it was a great Plan B. — Lisa Matte, editor in chief