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KPMG Won’t Let A Silly Electrical Fire Get In The Way of Party Plans

If you were walking around Midtown yesterday, you might have smelled something not-so-ordinary-even-by-NY-standards in the air. There was an electrical fire at the Hilton Hotel on West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue, the planned location for KPMG’s Biennial Alumni Reception. Naturally, GC turned to the NY Post for the full story:

Several people were working in an electrical closet in the basement of the hotel at 6th Avenue and West 53rd Street when the equipment exploded at about 1:10 p.m. One worker walked away from the scene with his arm bandaged. Witnesses said he appeared to have been burned. None of the workers’ injuries were serious, authorities said. The power outage also left nine people trapped in two elevators for about a half hour, said firefighters. Dozens of people attending business meetings in the hotel basement were evacuated. “I heard an explosion, but it sounded electrical,” said Rob O’Reilly, a Virginia resident. “Then after that, there were four or five explosions. No one knew what was going on. We all got under the table. “I didn’t panic, but there was definitely unease.”

The local NBC team reported that full power wasn’t expected to be back until today or Friday, which would have made for a total rave-like atmosphere.  BUT! KPMG’s Team of Marketing Gurus stepped in and sent the following email to local alumni:

We regret to inform you that the Hilton Hotel has just notified us that due to a severe power failure they can no longer accommodate us. Therefore, our 2012 New York Office Biennial Alumni Reception has been moved to:

Waldorf-Astoria
301 Park Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets
Reception – 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. – Starlight Roof

Please share this information with anyone else you know who may be coming.
We are sorry for the inconvenience and look forward to seeing you there.  Please call 212-[XXX]-[XXXX] with any questions.

Naturally, the emergency hotline number provided goes straight to voicemail. Being that it’s the day of the event and the location changed a mere 24 hours prior, this makes perfect sense, right?

KPMG alums should find comfort in knowing nothing has changed since they left. Enjoy the drinks on Uncle Peat tonight, and let us know if any shenanigans go down.

(Photo credit: David McGlynn)