Chamber members offer discounts

In order to combat the difficult economic times, the Queens Chamber of Commerce is urging residents to Keep it in Queens and Save!
After launching its successful Keep it in Queens campaign last year, the Chamber’s Cultural Affairs and Tourism Committee wanted to build on that effort, and they organized a two-week promotional event where more than 50 Chamber members are offering discounts to other Chamber members.
The Committee, co-chaired by Jeff Rosenstock, Executive Director of Queens Theatre in the Park; Terri Osborne, Director of Culture and Tourism for the Queens Borough President’s Office; and Estelle Cooper, Assistant Queens Parks Commissioner; worked with the Chamber staff to come up with the promotion that includes discounts at culture organizations, hotels, restaurants and many other different businesses.
“The Committee had been looking for an activity that would have an immediate benefit to the Chamber members - both cultural and non-cultural organizations alike,” Rosenstock said.
The Committee reached out to all of the Chamber members and asked if they were interested in participating in the promotion, which will run through February 14.
Some of the special deals include one free child’s admission with a paying adult at New York Hall of Science; a 15 percent discount at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott Flushing/LaGuardia Airport; free elder law or estate tax at the Law Offices of Ann Margaret Carrozza; and a 30 percent discount on office furniture at JFD Office.
“We were surprised that a number of folks offered some things that we didn’t even think of,” Osborne said.
With more than 50 promotions from all different sectors of business and throughout the borough, Rosenstock believes the effort speaks to the appeal of Queens.
“We are really trying to make people recognize that Queens is a city unto itself, and there are resources there for everyone,” Rosenstock said. “I thought it was a pretty amazing return for the first time we are doing it.”
The Committee said that it chose this period to launch the initiative for a number of reasons including the difficult economic times as well as the first few months of the year generally being a slower time of year for most businesses.
“It’s a time where you can afford to discount,” Rosenstock said.
While the initial promotion will run through February 14, the Committee is hopeful that if it is successful and well received, they might be able to expand it at another time of the year.
To view a complete list of all of the businesses offering special offers to the more than 1,200 Chamber members, visit www.queenschamber.org.