HotelChatter:
How would you describe the relationship between staffers after 9/11?

Setticase:
It made everyone closer. We all networked afterwards with news about what agencies were providing assistance. If you worked in the area, and lost your job, you could qualify for certain types of financial assistance from places like Safe Horizons, the Red Cross, Catholic charities, and the 9/11 fund. We got a $2,500 check from Bruce Springteen, no questions asked. So we all helped spread the news about what places were offering assistance. Another guy who works here, he had a car and would make trips to Queens for us to a place where they were giving out supplies and stuff. I ended up getting married here on the 55th floor on April 25, 2004 and Amy, the bartender upstairs, her and her band sang at my wedding. A year earlier, I won second prize in the MegaMillions lottery--$175,000--and I still showed up for work the next day. I'm not doing this for the paycheck but rather because I love my job. I got no worries.

HotelChatter:
Is the staff still close five years later?

Setticase:
Oh yeah, we're more like family now. I love the diversity here too. I meet people from all over the world here and I know all the bellmen, the front desk clerks, the waiters, the housekeepers, all the employees.

HotelChatter:
Is it hard working across the street from Ground Zero?

Setticase:
Well, you have to get used to it. You almost have to desensitize yourself from it. A lot of guests will come in, sit down here and say, "I didn't realize where we were" until they got here and checked into their rooms. But they never complain. Of course, I get a lot of 9/11 questions like "where were you? and "what did you do?" but after that they always want to know where the bathrooms is.

Life is getting back to normal for the hotel which features over 550 guest rooms, an indoor pool, 24-hr room service and occasionally, some promo rates of $199 a night. The renovated restaurant and bar on the third floor, Church and Dey, is open from 11am to 12am. The new lobby bar which Setticase helms is open from 12pm to 12 am seven days a week.

HotelChatter:
So when guests do sit down at your bar, what's your signature drink?

Setticase:
My cosmo. I used lemon-fused vodka. Most people use vodka then add the lemon juice and its not quite right. I also try not to make mine too sweet.

HotelChatter:
Any tips for people who come get a drink from you?

Setticase:
Smile back. I'm the kind of person that will be like "Hey, how are you!" and the guests will kind of be taken aback. But then when they smile and tell me how they are, that's the best. Then again, I don't get too many complaints. If their room isn't ready, I make it better. If the drink is too weak, I'll make it a little stronger, within Hilton's rules of course. Anything else wrong, I make it better. I'm in the business of "making it better" and you don't leave here until you're happy.

[Ed. Note: Andrew also wanted to show us a picture of what he looked like with hair so we have provided this snapshot of him in a groovy tux.]

Related Stories:
· Millenium Hilton reviews [TripAdvisor]
· A Look Inside the Millenium Hilton's Hotel Pool [HotelChatter]