Wednesday, November 28, 2012

McGraw-Hill Companies Selling Division to Private Equity


The McGraw-Hill Companies have just agreed to sell their education division to a private equity firm, in a move that will certainly have repercussions in the educational publishing world. It has agreed to see the company to investment funds that are affiliated with Apollo Global Management. This is an international firm based in New York City. McGraw-Hill is selling for $2.5 billion.

They expect the deal to be completed in early 2013 and it will leave McGraw-Hill with its financial information properties with the name McGraw-Hill Financial.

Interestingly, McGraw-Hill only named a new CEO of the McGraw-Hill Education division six months ago. Lloyd Waterhouse will continue to lead the company even under the new ownership, while Harold McGraw III will be the CEO of McGraw-Hill Financial.

With this move, Apollo Global Management joins in with Pearson and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (also a subsidiary of private equity) to be part of the large three educational publishers.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Big Apple Getting Ready for Big Holiday Season Tourism

Rockettes for Christmas

After all the flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy at the end of October New York is now gearing up for an entirely different type of flood; that of tourists coming to New York to experience the special magic of the holiday season in one of the world’s most exciting cities.

Everything is open and ready to go, except for just a handful of tourist sites and hotels. In lower Manhattan there are three hotels not yet ready for guests;  the Best Western Seaport Inn Downtown, the Holiday Inn Express New York City on Wall Street, and the World Center Hotel.

In the attraction department there are several major destinations still not ready to open. Those include the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the New York Aquarium in Coney Island, which were all hard hit by the furious winds of super storm Sandy.  But tourists wishing to visit the 9/11 Memorial Park site will be able to, and the subway is almost 100 percent back to normal. Friday will mark the end of gas rationing for the Big Apple.

The season is inaugurated by the incredible Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, now in its 86th incarnation. At the Rockefeller Center one of the world’s largest and most beautiful Christmas trees will be lit on November 28th with 30,000 multi-colored, LED lights hanging off of five miles of wire.  Radio City Music Hall features its annual and unforgettable Christmas Spectacular, featuring the iconic Rockettes dance troupe.
“We had a tragic incident but we are back except for the recovery in parts of the city that are more residential,” said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company, the city’s marketing and tourism organization.
With New York well on its way to a complete recovery this holiday season should prove to be one of New York’s best ever. Be sure to join in the celebration.



Friday, November 2, 2012

Affordable Higher Education in New York City

Affordable Education in New York City is Possible
Ever wonder which of the long list of colleges and universities located within the borders of New York City are the least expensive for New York State residents?

As expected the long list of New York’s community colleges are the most affordable, and the educations received in these schools, such as CUNY Manhattan Community College or CUNY Kingsborough Community College are top-notch.

SUNY schools are for the most part next in affordability, and at the end of about four years students come away with an excellent degree. Unfortunately they are not located within the city of New York except for the SUNY Maritime College in the Bronx. The closest other SUNY schools to the city are located in Stony Brook and in New Paltz, New York.

Private schools of higher education in New York City include the Swedish Institute of Health Sciences; the Interboro Institute; and the Professional Business College, all three in Manhattan.

After these schools the yearly tuition begins to climb to over $10,000 per year, making it a challenge for working people to afford. However, with good high school grades and financial assistance from the school that bests meets the students requirements, often even expensive schools can be attended, and an excellent, cost-effective degree obtained.