It was recently announced that the newly established NYC Office of Nightlife hired Ariel Palitz as its Director, a position colloquially known as the Nightlife Mayor. Palitz owned Sutra Lounge in the East Village and was a member of Community Board 3 in Manhattan.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance and our predecessor organization, the NY Nightlife Association, advocated for an Office of Nightlife for 20 years. We’re thrilled that the Office has been established and now hired a Director to begin its work. Under Ariel’s leadership, the office will serve as the intermediary between city agencies, law enforcement, residents and the nightlife industry; assist nightlife businesses with permitting and licensing matters; and promote an economically and culturally vibrant nightlife industry.
The NYC Hospitality Alliance has been appointed by the City to serve on the Office of Nightlife’s 12 member Advisory Board where we look forward to working with Palitz and all stakeholders to foster a diverse and vibrant nightlife industry that works for businesses, patrons and residents.
Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance: “We commend Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Menin for tapping Ariel Palitz to run the Office of Nightlife. Ariel’s passion for New York culture, combined with her hands on experience running nightlife venues, and participation in community affairs make her uniquely qualified to step into the vital role of Director of the Office of Nightlife.”
“Ariel Palitz is an excellent choice to be the first Director of the Office of Nightlife. She has all the right experience and qualifications for a successful tenure and we look forward to working with her,” commented Robert Bookman, Counsel, NYC Hospitality Alliance:
The NYC Hospitality Alliance commends Council Member Espinal for sponsoring legislation to create the Office, we thank Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Menin for their embrace, and former Speaker Mark-Viverito and the Council for their support! We are proud that our advocacy has helped to deliver another big win for our members. We believe that if we want to remain the City that Never Sleeps, then city government must support our nighttime economy. The Office of Nightlife has the opportunity to do just that.
And a BIG THANK YOU to The Alliance team and members who have been advocating on behalf of the nightlife industry for years!
For more information on the New York City Hospitality Alliance, visit their website.
