For our young leaders
Your Moonshot week in New York
Everything you need for November 10 to 13: how to get from the airport to the hotel, where each event happens, what to wear, who to call, and a few things worth seeing while you’re here. Type your name below to see your own flights, room and events.
Find your week
Enter your name to see your arrival, hotel, roommate, events and departure in one place.
The schedule
We travel together as a group to most events, leaving from the InterContinental lobby. Meeting times and team leads are confirmed the week before; anything still open is marked “to be confirmed”.
Getting around
The three airports, our hotel and the venues for the week. Tap a place to open it in Google Maps. We travel to the dinners together from the hotel.
Paying
We’ll give you an OMNY card to use on the subway and buses for the week: tap it on the reader at the turnstile or as you board the bus.
For the trip from the airport, before you have it, tap your own contactless bank card or phone instead ($2.90 per ride, with a free transfer within two hours).
Your closest stations
42 St–Port Authority (A, C, E), a two-minute walk from the hotel. The E train runs here directly from both JFK and LaGuardia connections.
Times Sq–42 St (1, 2, 3, 7, N, Q, R, W, S), about five minutes on foot.
Your hotel
InterContinental New York Times Square
300 West 44th Street, at 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10036
You share a room with another young leader. Your room is booked under the Moonshot Platform group, so at the front desk give your name and say you’re with Moonshot. Room charges are covered; anything extra (minibar, room service, laundry) goes on your own card.
If you land before your room is ready, you can leave your bags with the front desk and head out.
Good to know
When you arrive, message Melissa and Rok to let them know you’ve landed and when you reach the hotel. Their numbers are in Team & contacts.
The hotel lobby is our meeting point for every group departure.
The Gala venue, Lavan Midtown, is about a 15-minute walk west along 42nd Street.
Young leaders in their own accommodation: meet us in the lobby at the group times, or come straight to the venue. Just tell your event lead.
Before you travel
A short checklist for the days before you fly.
- Read the Moonshot Code of Conduct
- Read the Gala opening flash mob briefing
- Confirm your visa and travel insurance
- Check your passport is valid for at least six monthsCounted from your arrival date.
- Bring your invitation letter and hotel confirmation for immigrationKeep them printed or on your phone, ready at passport control.
- Have local currency or a card for incidentals
- Save the Moonshot team’s numbersMelissa and Rok first; you’ll find everyone in Team & contacts.
- Save the address of our hotelInterContinental New York Times Square, 300 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036
- Download WhatsApp and join the group
- Tell Melissa and Rok when you landEvery time, including if your flight is delayed.
What to pack
Expect crisp, often windy days, with a fair chance of rain. Evenings feel colder between tall buildings and on the water, and we’ll be outside moving between venues.
For the cold
- A warm coat that handles wind and rain
- Layers: sweaters or knits you can add and remove
- Scarf, gloves and a hat
- A compact umbrella
- Comfortable shoes you can walk in all day
For the program
- Loose, comfortable clothes for Bohemian Gravity (dance & meditation), plus warm socks
- Smart-casual outfits for the two dinners and the seminar
- Your Gala outfit (see below)
- A notebook and pen
- A one-line introduction to your venture: you’ll meet mentors all week
Travel basics
- Passport and your US travel authorization or visa
- A contactless bank card or phone for the ride from the airport (we’ll give you an OMNY card for the rest of the week)
- Plug adapter: the US uses type A/B sockets at 120 V
- A power bank for long days out
- Any medication you need, in your hand luggage
Gala dress code: Creative & Cultural Black Tie
The Gala is the most formal night of the week. Black tie is welcome: a tuxedo or dark suit, or a floor-length or elegant cocktail dress.
Even better, wear formal dress from your own culture or heritage. Traditional and creative formal wear is very much part of the evening.
Bring something warm to wear over it for the walk to and from the venue.
Team & contacts
Each event has a team lead who travels with the group. If something goes wrong, from a missed flight to a lost bag, contact Melissa or Rok first. Tap WhatsApp next to a number to message them.
In an emergency call 911 (police, fire, ambulance), then let the team know.
Who you’ll meet
The young leaders and mentors joining us in New York. Say hello before you arrive.
New York tips
A few favorites for your free time. Most are walkable or a short subway ride from the hotel.
The theatres are around the corner. Same-day discount tickets are sold at the TKTS booth in Times Square, and many shows run digital lotteries and rush tickets on the TodayTix app.
Walk in at Columbus Circle and head to Bethesda Terrace, the Mall and the lake. Late fall color is often still on the trees in mid-November.
Pick one: the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center, or SUMMIT One Vanderbilt. Sunset slots sell out first, so book ahead.
An elevated park on an old rail line, ending at Hudson Yards, near the Gala venue. Little Island is a park built on the river at 13th Street.
Walk across from Manhattan to Brooklyn for the skyline, then get pizza in DUMBO under the Manhattan Bridge.
The Staten Island Ferry is free and passes close to the statue. Ride over and straight back for the harbor and skyline.
The two memorial pools are open to everyone. Next to them is the Oculus, where we took last year’s group photo.
The Met on Fifth Avenue, MoMA in Midtown, and the American Museum of Natural History by Central Park. Check opening hours before you go.
Restaurants expect an 18–22% tip; sales tax is added at the register. Walk on the right, cross at the lights, and keep your bag closed in crowds.