2027–2028 PLATINUM CLUBS® OF AMERICA ELECTION

THE PENN CLUB OF NEW YORK 2027–2028 PLATINUM CLUBS® OF AMERICA ELECTION

INTRODUCTION

Kevin O’Brien, CCM General Manager The Penn Club of New York Dear Distinguished Clubs of the World Voting Panel, On behalf of our Board of Governors, Members, and dedicated staff, it is my privilege to present The Penn Club of New York for your consideration.

For more than three decades, The Penn Club has served as the premier home for the University of Pennsylvania community in New York City while evolving into one of the nation’s leading city clubs. Our mission remains unchanged: To provide an exceptional private club experience founded on hospitality, scholarship, fellowship, and service.

Excellence is not defined by a single renovation or program. It is the result of thousands of daily interactions between our Members and a team committed to delivering genuine hospitality. Every decision we make is measured by one question: Does this enhance the Member experience?

That commitment has produced remarkable results. Today, The Penn Club proudly serves more than 7,200 Members, with membership continuing to grow at approximately 8% annually. This sustained growth reflects not only the strength of our university community but also the confidence our Members place in the Club’s leadership, financial stewardship, and longterm vision.

Working closely with an engaged Board of Directors, we have invested more than $9 million in capital improvements designed to elevate every aspect of the Member experience while preserving the character and history of our landmark clubhouse. During the past two years, every meeting and event room has been thoughtfully renovated, creating modern, technology-enabled spaces for business, educational, and social programming. Our guest room renovation program has been completed, providing Members and their guests with accommodations that rival the finest private clubs and boutique hotels.

Additionally, the Club completed a $1.5 million restoration of all three elevators, significantly improving reliability, accessibility, safety, and the arrival experience for Members and guests.

These investments are supported by disciplined financial management and a long-term strategic plan that ensures today’s improvements will continue to benefit future generations of Members.

Our greatest strength, however, is our people. The Penn Club’s culture is built on professionalism, teamwork, accountability, and a genuine desire to exceed expectations. Every member of our staff understands that hospitality is personal. Their dedication creates an environment where Members feel welcomed, recognized, and at home every time they walk through our doors.

That commitment to service continues to produce measurable results. In 2025, Member satisfaction increased by 10%, reflecting the positive impact of our investments in facilities, dining, programming, technology, and personalized service.

While we are proud of these achievements, we view them not as a destination, but as motivation to continue improving every aspect of the Member experience.

INTRODUCTION

The Penn Club has also been honored with Elite Status by Distinguished Clubs of the World, recognition that reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in governance, operations, facilities, service, and Member engagement. While awards are gratifying, our greatest measure of success remains the loyalty and enthusiasm of our Members.

As the Club continues to evolve, we remain committed to embracing innovation while preserving the traditions that define us. Whether through enhanced technology, expanded programming, modernized accommodations, exceptional culinary experiences, or continued investment in our historic clubhouse, we are committed to setting the standard for excellence among city and university clubs.

The Penn Club has become far more than a private club. It is a vibrant community where alumni, faculty, students, affiliate institutions, business leaders, families, and friends gather to build meaningful relationships, celebrate achievements, and create lifelong connections in the heart of New York City.

It is the privilege of my career to lead this extraordinary institution. I am deeply grateful to our Board of Directors for its vision and support, to our Members for their continued trust, and to our exceptional staff for their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of The Penn Club of New York. We are proud of what we have accomplished together, and we remain committed to building an even stronger future. We respectfully submit The Penn Club for your consideration as one of the world’s Distinguished Clubs and look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Kevin O’Brien, CCM General Manager The Penn Club of New York

THE PENN CLUB AT A GLANCE

1901

1994

CHARTER

CLUBHOUSE OPENS

13

20

39

FLOORS

MONTHLY PROGRAMS

GUEST ROOMS

7202 MEMBERS

521

INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS

93.4% MEMBER RETENTION

70% LIVE OUTSIDE NYC

175

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

AT THE INTERSECTION OF PENN TRADITION AND NEW YORK POSSIBILITY. For more than a century, Penn alumni in New York have gathered, first at Delmonico’s in 1886, then in a series of borrowed rooms and rented clubhouses, until 1994, when more than 7,000 charter members opened the doors at 30 West 44th Street for good. Today, The Penn Club is home to alumni, faculty, families, and friends from Penn and its affiliate schools, a landmark building on Clubhouse Row, reborn as one of NewYork’s most dynamic private clubs.

30 WEST 44TH STREET LANDMARK 1901 ARCHITECTURE Evarts Tracy & Egerton Swartwout, alumni of McKim, Mead & White.

THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN LIBRARY

PRIVATE MEETING & EVENT SPACES Flexible spaces for meetings, receptions, and celebrations of all sizes.

A distinguished space for reading, relaxing, and reflection.

TWO DINING ROOMS The Grill Room and The Main Dining Room.

KITE AND KEY BAR

39 GUEST ROOMS

A classic setting for cocktails and conversation.

Comfortable accomodations in the heart of Manhattan.

THE PALESTRA The 13th-floor fitness center, named after Penn's legendary Palestra arena.

UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION

SEVEN WAYS WE EXCEL

Universal Recognition Amenities & Facilities

Governance & Fiscal Responsibility

Member Engagement

Adaptability to ChangingTimes

Staff & Professional Service

Overall Member Experience

The Penn Club's commitment to excellence is measured not only by what we offer, but by how we continually elevate every aspect of the member experience.

UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION

17 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Sustained excellence is measured over time.These distinctions reflect more than exceptional facilities they recognize a sustained commitment to member experience, governance, service, and continuous improvement.

EVERY CYCLE

17+

CONSECUTIVE YEARS PLATINUM CLUB OF AMERICA

PLATINUM CLUB OF THEWORLD SINCE 2018-2019

2025-26 Distinguished Club designation with ELITE status

UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION

RECOGNIZED BY OUR PEERS Excellence is best measured by those who know clubs best.

“From the moment our guests arrived, the hospitality was absolutely beautiful...”

The Penn Club regularly welcomes leaders from the private club industry, university communities, and Platinum Clubs around the world. Hosting the 2026 City Club Summit and the European Club Education Foundation tour reinforced the Club's reputation for exceptional hospitality, thoughtful programming, and execution.

Letter posted in Employee Cafeteria with note from General Manager thanking employees.

UNIVERSAL RECOGNITION

A CENTURY IN THE MAKING

1986 1900

2026

A renewed campaign begins for a permanent clubhouse

First Penn Club opens in New York.

A new era continues with continued reinvestment.

1886

1922-61

1994

Penn alumni gather at Delmonico's

The Club grows through successive homes.

More than 7,000 Charter Members open 30 West 44th Street

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

THIRTEEN FLOORS.

ONE EXTRAORDINARY CLUB. Every floor supports a different part of the member experience.

From the Palestra to the Main Dining Room, every floor of The Penn Club serves a different part of the member experience - wellness, overnight accommodations, dining, business, learning, and celebration.

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

A NEW ERA IN THE KITCHEN The Penn Club's culinary program entered an exciting new chapter with the arrival of Executive Chef Michael Bourquin in 2026. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Chef Bourquin brings decades of experience from respected private clubs and luxury hospitality institutions, including sixteen years at the Waldorf Astoria, where he prepared meals for four U.S. Presidents, heads of state, and countless celebrities.

$2.5M+ ANNUAL F&B GROSS

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCES WINEMAKER DINNER SERIES PASSPORT DINING SERIES ROSE TASTING PARTY CHEF DINNERS TASTE OF TEQUILA DINNER & A SHOW

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

THIRTY-NINE ROOMS, CONTINUOUSLY REINVESTED AF TER

E R O F E B

E R O F E B

AF TER

DURING

39 GUEST ROOMS

72% OCCUPANCY

$6M

RENOVATION IN PROGRESS

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

THE PALESTRA

20,000 AVERAGE # OF ANNUAL VISITS

Completed in February 2026, the recent upgrade to the Palestra — the Club's 13th-floor health club — added a full suite of new strength and cardio equipment.

STRENGTH

Nine new machines: leg press, leg extension/leg curl, dual adjustable pulley system, shoulder press, lat pulldown/low row, chest press, dip/chin assist, ab/back machine, Smith machine

CARDIO

Four new treadmills, four new ellipticals, two new Pelotons

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

ROUGHLY $12 MILLION REINVESTED - WITH ZERO DEBT

2023

Business Center, Spruce Room, 4th-floor conference rooms and 14 bathrooms - $2M.

Tarnopol Room refreshed with new wallpaper, flooring, art, and a new foyer bar - $1M.

2026

2025

Member and service elevators updated - $1.5M. Guest rooms fully refreshed with bathrooms, tubs, mattresses, furniture and lighting - $6M.

AMENITIES & FACILITIES

A CLUBHOUSE, RECURATED A newly curated art collection adds cultural depth to the Clubhouse experience.

COLLECTION

Original oil paintings from the late 1800s to early 1900s, plus Charles Turzak woodcuts of Benjamin Franklin.

PENN CONNECTION Developed with Richard Norton, thirdgeneration owner of Richard Norton Gallery and a Penn alumnus.

STORY DETAIL

The Franklin woodcuts connect the Club to the broader Penn and Benjamin Franklin narrative.

STAFF & SERVICE

PASSION FOR OUR CRAFT Long-tenured staff are the clearest proof of service culture.

32

YEARS EACH

4

EMPLOYEES SINCE OPENING

1994

WITH THE CLUB FROM DAY ONE Left to Right: Alex Torres, Chris Ng, Fabio Herrara, Emmanuel Antwi

"I truly enjoy working with Alex and the entire team of servers that fly for us. I appreciate their can-do attitude each year."

“Food was wonderful. Chris as always was very attentive.”

“This was my first experience as I am a new member, and it was fabulous! Fabio was a perfect ambassador and met all my expectations.”

"Every detail was taken care of so easily, Emanuel was truly part of the dream team that made it happen."

CAREERS BUILT HERE

Kathryn Zakoschielny, Assistant Comptroller

Joined as a Front Desk Agent in August 1996, then was promoted to Accounts Receivable in 1998, gaining experience in Accounts Payable and Payroll along the way. She was later promoted to Credit Manager, then Income Audit/Credit Manager, before being promoted to Assistant Comptroller in 2022. She also served as Interim Membership Director for six months in 2001.

Barbara Nevels, Director of Catering Joined as Executive Assistant/Banquet Coordinator in 1997, a role she held for nearly three decades before being promoted to Director of Catering in 2025.

Over her time at the Club, she has planned and executed more than 10,000 private events, working directly with University departments, member families, and outside clients — earning consistent praise for her responsiveness, professionalism, and hospitality along the way.

STAFF & SERVICE

Service Milestones

Every five years of service earns a bonus - beginning at $500 for year five.

Recognition

Employee of the Quarter, two annual employee parties, and management recognition bonuses.

Development Educational programs and three CMMA-certified staff members.

6

30+YEAR EMPLOYEES

9

25+YEAR EMPLOYEES

9

20+YEAR EMPLOYEES

7

15+YEAR EMPLOYEES

6

10+YEAR EMPLOYEES

9

5+YEAR EMPLOYEES

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMMING

NEW MEMBER JOURNEY

RETENTION: 92.1% 2024

91.9% 2025

93.4% 2026

Every new member begins their Penn Club experience with a structured onboarding process designed to foster lasting engagement—from downloading the Club app to meeting leadership, joining societies, and building relationships through Club programming. Members don't simply join.They stay.

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMMING

A COMMUNITY THAT CHOOSES TO STAY Every program is designed to create meaningful connections that keep members

engaged year-round.

CULINARY WINEMAKER, CHEF, PASSPORT DINNERS

CULTURE

GALLERY WALKS, FILM MAKERS, BROADWAY PRODUCERS

COMMUNITY CONNECTION YOUNG ALUMNI, SENIOR LUNCH, NETWORKING, DISTINGUISHED SOCIETIES, HOLIDAY & FAMILY TRADITIONS

250+

PROGRAMS ANNUALLY

SPEAKERS, PROFESSIONAL PANELS

50%

PROGRAMS SELL OUT

16

DISCOVERY TRAVEL, MUSEUM TOURS, AUCTION-HOUSE PREVIEWS

WELLNESS

RUN-CLUB, SQUASH MEETUPS, MOCKTAIL TASTINGS

ACTIVE MEMBER SOCIETIES

15,000+

ATTENDEES PER YEAR

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMMING

A STAGE FOR THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE IN THE ROOM Throughout the year, The Penn Club convenes nationally recognized leaders from business, finance, government, academia, science, and the arts—bringing members unique opportunities to engage directly with the people shaping today's most important conversations.

Marquee Events: Howard Marks, Steve Forbes, Jim Cramer, Ambassador MarieYovanovitch, Jennifer Egan, Anthony Scaramucci, Donny Deutsch, Andrew Kortina, Peter Thomas Roth.

Recent Voices: Jeffrey & Lisa Sachs, Beth Simmons, Steven Weitzman, Dr. Lee Fleisher, Joseph Steinberg, Kenneth Shropshire.

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMMING

A CLUB THAT GROWS WITH YOU The Young Alumni Committee keeps the Club dynamic for ages 21-35.

15

YOUNG ALUMNI COMMITTEE MEMBERS

PROGRAMMING RANGE

PAINT & SIP, MUSEUM EVENINGS, FLORAL WORKSHOPS, TERRACE HAPPY HOURS

As members grow into parents, the Penn Club Parents Society creates community around them, planning activities built around family schedules, so both kids and parents have a place that feels like their own.

PROGRAMMING RANGE SEASONAL CRAFTS, SATURDAY BRUNCH, CHILDREN’S BOOK READINGS

On the other end of that same spirit, the Club hosts 50 & Over networking dinners and senior lunches for members 65 and up, keeping connection and conversation going at every stage of life.

No matter what path you're on,The Penn Club is home.

PROGRAMMING RANGE NETWORKING DINNERS, LUNCH & LEARNS, HOLIDAY GATHERINGS

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & PROGRAMMING

BEYOND MEMBER PROGRAMMING Private events make the Club an extension of Penn and NewYork.

300+

PRIVATE EVENTS ANNUALLY

3,000+ GUESTS SERVED

$2.5M REVENUE

40%

REPEAT BOOKINGS

UNIVERSITY REACH Penn Athletics,Wharton School, Penn Libraries, Penn Museum, Penn Engineering, Penn Carey Law, Perry World House and more.

GOVERNMENT & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

LEADERSHIP THAT LISTENS Committees, staff, and Board leadership connect member voices to action.

STANDING COMMITTEES

House, Finance, Membership, Program, and Young Alumni.

BOARD CONNECTION

Committee chairs feed directly into Board reporting and Club decision-making.

ANNUAL MEETING

Financials and Club updates are reported to the full membership with Q&A.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

5 Members • Meets 4x Annually Supports New Member Welcome Receptions, Member Introductions, Society Connections, Ongoing Engagement

GOVERNMENT & FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

PRESERVING A LANDMARK Giving back to the building that gives the Club its identity.

$1M+

RAISED SINCE FALL 2022

THE FOUNDATION The Thirty West Forty-Fourth Street Foundation funds preservation of the 120+ year-old clubhouse exterior.

PROJECTS Facade preservation, windows, scaffolding, and water tower work.

MEMBERS CAN EASILY DONATE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FOUNDATION ON OUR APP!

ADAPTABILITY

TRADITION DOESN'T MEAN STANDING STILL We continually evolve the member experience by responding to changing member interests, emerging trends, and the dynamic culture of NewYork City.

TECHNOLOGY

Bi-monthly app updates, digital cards, website relaunch.

CULINARY INNOVATION

Seasonal chef-driven menus, US Open specials, FIFA World Cup-inspired menus, NYC Restaurant Week, expanded mocktail program, GF and dietary-conscious offerings

MEMBERSHIP

New Membership & Programs Associate role, quarterly newmember luncheons, recent graduate initiatives

SUSTAINABILITY

LED lighting and HVAC upgrades reduce energy use clubwide.Water-saving fixtures, eco-conscious vendors, and active recycling/food-waste programs round out daily operations, while the Volunteer Society gives back monthly, from playground cleanups to other community projects.

ACCESSIBILITY

The building meets ADA standards with appropriate access points, elevators, handrails, restroom facilities, guest room, ramp entrance, and elevator access to every event space

PROGRAMMING

Dry January Events, Watch Parties, New Societies, Run Club

ADAPTABILITY

GROWING OUR DIGITAL PRESENCE The Club experience now extends through stronger digital touchpoints INSTAGRAM ~180% growth in followers

NEWSLETTER 8 pages ⟶ 24 pages per monthly issue

LINKEDIN

MEMBER APP

in followers

5,536 downloads (71%)

~130% growth

Launched 11/2/2020

2,701 active users, last 30 days

Shift to shortform video

Member-influencer's post reached 26.5K views, organic advocacy, not paid promotion

Year-end "Wrapped" recap, inspired by the Spotify Wrapped trend

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME, EVERYWHERE The Penn Club network travels with its members.

175

86

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

INTERNATIONAL CLUBS

89

U.S. CLUBS

23

COUNTRIES

28 US STATES + D.C.

UNIVERSITY TIES

The Penn Club visits campus about six times a year, and the Director of Membership is a Penn alumna.

Marketing materials are distributed through Alumni Affairs, and Penn faculty receive discounted membership rates.

WHAT MEMBERS LOVE MOST HOSPITALITY

PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE

IN-PERSON SERVICE

"The Club has truly become a meaningful part of my post-grad life." - Jessica Fleisher (C’15)

Members are greeted by name from the moment they walk through the doors.

A 100% in-person team creates the human touch members miss elsewhere.

Long-tenured staff remember members, families, preferences, and milestones.

"Faculty research, consulting with sports entities, and just meeting up with friends made The Penn Club a natural choice." -Kenneth Shropshire (Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School) "Every time I step through the doors, I feel that same sense of welcoming and belonging."

- Laura Jannetta (C’25)

WHERE TRADITION MEETS WHAT'S NEXT. For more than a century,The Penn Club has brought together generations of Penn alumni, families, faculty, and friends in the heart of NewYork City. Guided by our history and inspired by what comes next, we remain committed to delivering an extraordinary member experience for generations to come.

THE PENN CLUB OF NEW YORK • 30 WEST 44TH STREET