Leap Day doesn't roll around very often. So when it did this year, Residence Inn by Marriott seized the unofficial holiday to host free events and activities around New York City. As part of its marketing efforts, the brand promotes its "time-saving amenities." (Guests in its extended-stay lodging, for example, can have their groceries delivered for free.) To show consumers what they can do with a little extra time, the brand let guests indulge in everyday pleasures that often get pushed by the wayside in a time-starved society. The event's dedicated hashtag was #ExtraDayYourWay.
Starting at 6 a.m., guests could take part in free yoga classes and a "silent disco" party at Flatiron North Plaza. Meanwhile, "mobile shave trucks" were set up at two city locations, doling out hot shaves, massages, and shoe shines. In Columbus Circle, a "calling pod" let visitors call friends and family members. And at the Residence Inn Midtown East, an afternoon "puppy party" let guests cuddle puppies brought in by the North Shore Animal League America. Participants registered for activities on-site using R.F.I.D. wristbands. Here's a look inside the Leap Day promotion.