[Eug]

What crisis? AIG unit parties like it's 1999

Bymark is a popular Bay Street watering hole known for its frisky financial district frisson and $37 burgers. The champagne isn't cheap, either. So it came as a surprise to some destined for the adjacent Bymark restaurant last Thursday evening to see a private party in full roar in the lounge - hosted, according to Bymark, by American International Group (AIG). Yes, the same AIG that narrowly avoided bankruptcy in the U.S. and is now being sold off. Turns out it was a splash-out laid on for clients by AIG United Guaranty, the mortgage insurance lending arm, and billed as "an evening of celebration" in the invitation from CEO Andrew Charles. "Together," the invitation read, "we're helping more Canadians realize their dreams of home ownership."

Yeah, I know it's just a dinner party, but it still looks really bad.

BTW, I've been to Bymark. Nice place but a little too much corporate snootiness. Plus the burger with shaved truffles sure isn't worth $37. I had it, and while the burger was good, the burgers at Dangerous Dan's are at least as good, if not better. And the onion rings at Bymark are simply terrible. Most hole-in-the-wall diners make better, crisper onion rings.

[Andrew Stephens]

Most companies don't know how to look good in times like these. They really still don't realise they've done anything wrong, can't see that they have any responsibility, so they just carry on as normal.

It's why you can't expect ammoral organisations to self regulate.

[Eug]

Cancelling dinner parties won't do much for the bottom line, and can actually hurt your image with local business, but then again, their image in general can't get much worse at this point.

OTOH, not having such parties during times of crisis like this could help improve their image with the general public. Just the fact that a minor corporate party like this made the national newspapers is evidence enough methinks.

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

Most companies don't know how to look good in times like these. They really still don't realise they've done anything wrong, can't see that they have any responsibility, so they just carry on as normal.

It's why you can't expect ammoral organisations to self regulate.

This isn't the fault of a company, its a HUMAN fault.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Pff. They're a big company with a huge government as a solid partner in crime.

They couldn't care less what their freakin' image is.