New York City: A One-of-a-Kind Destination

No city in the world can match New York City's energy, excitement, and breadth of activities. Whether it's Broadway shows, live music, tours of museums and historical attractions, or cuisine from every world culture, there are endless opportunities for visiting groups.

"I am deeply gratified to see our tourism industry perform on all cylinders," says Fred Dixon, president and CEO of NYC & Company, New York City's official destination marketing organization. "Last year, we welcomed record international and domestic visitation to our city, while positively impacting our local economy."

He adds that his organization continues to showcase both the city's iconic attractions as well as the hidden gems throughout the five boroughs. Dan Schmitzer, an associate regional vice president at HelmsBriscoe, enlisted NYC & Company on behalf of one of his larger clients that will hold an annual conference in Manhattan this year. "NYC & Company was an outstanding resource in providing local insight to aid us in determining a terrific hotel property and recommending potential off-site event venues. They stayed involved in the process from the time we sent the initial RFP, conducted the site inspections, through the contract signing and even after," says Schmitzer. "I think some clients may have old perceptions about doing business in New York City, but we found hotels to be very responsive to our client RFPs, and rates were surprisingly more affordable than we expected. For this particular client, this is their first rotation into New York City, and it certainly won't be their last."

No matter how many times a group has met in New York City, there is always something new to see and experience.

"New York City has a way of bringing together attendees from around the world with this upbeat vibe and amazing attractions," says Katelyn Swick, group head of operations for Accucore Ltd. "It is a great location for corporate events as it offers both a stunning backdrop for the event but also a major hub for industry sectors."

Accucore's event, etailcoreLIVE, for ecommerce retailers across the U.S., will be held May 14-15 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The city's performance venues are legendary -- Broadway, Lincoln Center, Radio City Music Hall. But beyond the shows themselves, it is possible for groups to enjoy a more special experience by arranging for them to explore the inner workings of these institutions. Karen Shackman, president of Shackman Associates, a New York City-based destination management and special events services company, often arranges behind-the-scenes looks at culinary establishments, theaters, and even shopping spots. "We'll take people into showrooms to meet designers or will offer backstage access and interaction with leading performers of Broadway shows," she says. "It's all about customizing the experience."


Always Evolving
Some remarkable changes are taking place in Lower Manhattan with the opening of One World Observatory in the new World Trade Center. From the 102nd floor, the viewing deck overlooks the National 9/11 Memorial Museum that opened last year. Visitors to the new museum enter through a glass pavilion located between the two memorial reflecting pools and descend into a vast underground hall with artifacts from the attack, and exhibit rooms, which focus on details of the day and its aftermath. The museum also includes a private space for 9/11 families and an elegant auditorium for lectures, film screenings, panel discussions, performances, and other programs.

The High Line, an elevated freight rail line that has been transformed into a public park on Manhattan's West Side, opened its third and final phase, The High Line at the Rail Yards, in September, extending the park from 30th Street to 34th Street. Twenty-two city blocks are now accessible to the public.

A first-time visit to the New York City area must include a trip to one of the world's most famous landmarks -- the Statue of Liberty. Statue Cruises is the official provider for Statue of Liberty tickets and offers ferries to see the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, and Ellis Island.

For the golfers in the group, acclaimed instructor Michael Breed and his namesake golf academy will open at Trump's brand new Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. Breed joins Trump as the No. 1 golf instructor in the state of New York, and thirteenth on Golf Digest's list of "Top 50 Instructors in the U.S."

Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point is part of a city-funded redevelopment project. The 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be operated by the Trump Golf team and located in the Bronx, at the foot of the Whitestone Bridge, just minutes outside of Manhattan. The course is designed specifically to take advantage of views of the Manhattan skyline, the East River, and the Whitestone and Throgs Neck bridges.

 

STATE Grill and Bar, a new upscale dining destination, recently opened on the street level of the Empire State Building for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with special event and private dining space for groups. Part of the Patina Restaurant Group, it emphasizes sourcing products from New York State's local farmers, purveyors, brewers, and winemakers.

STATE Grill and Bar also pays tribute to the Empire State Building's history and Art Deco design. The main 2,800 square-foot, street-level space features a central bar and lounge between a 95-seat dining room and open kitchen.  

In addition, a 6,400-square-foot downstairs space can accommodate up to 60 seated or 90 standing, reached via private elevator, featuring three versatile private event spaces separated by custom-built, sound-proof, power lift partitions. The restaurant's private dining rooms can be accessed through the restaurant and bar or through the Empire State Building's new concourse level lobby.

Meeting Spaces
Meetings can be infused with a New York City spirit by holding events in out-of-the-box venues. Hundreds of unusual sites are available to groups, such as the Bronx Zoo, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, or Ellis Island.

For meetings and special events that are no joke, Carolines on Broadway, in the heart of Times Square, has 10,000 square feet of space and all the digital and electronic equipment a group needs.

The Armory on the Hudson, located in Upper Manhattan, an iconic building in the world of track and field, is a popular venue for meetings and conventions. A 250,000-sqare-foot facility with a 65,000-square-foot indoor arena, the Armory is a great space for all different types of large events. It offers interesting spaces including the Hall of Fame Museum and an intimate, 70-seat theater.

City Winery includes special-event space as well as a fully functioning winery. A winemaking team is available for teambuilding activities, presentations, and hands-on wine blending classes. City Winery's largest space, close to 7,500 square feet, can accommodate 250 theater style and includes a top-of-the-line A/V system and full-size stage. Other spaces include a private dining room in the wine cellar and space in the winery itself.

The 3 West Club provides the classic feel of "Old New York," with over 7,000 square feet of meeting space that can accommodate up to 350 attendees and 27 hotel rooms. A hidden gem in midtown Manhattan, the 3 West Club is in an 80-year-old building that is on the National Historic Registry. Elegant chandeliers, wood paneling, and a terrace overlooking St. Patrick's Cathedral combine with personalized service to create a unique and lasting experience.

Another property with the feel of "Old New York" is the Roosevelt Hotel, a grand dame of Madison Avenue since 1924. The hotel, which spans a full city block, has 1,015 guest rooms including 52 suites and 30,000 square feet of meeting space including a 5,700-square-foot grand ballroom.

Hotel News
In 2014, there were 102,000 hotel rooms in New York City's active inventory. Since 2006, hotel inventory in New York City has expanded by more than 40 percent from 72,600, while demand has continued to outpace even this strong growth in new capacity. New York City currently has the most active hotel development pipeline in the country, and is on track to reach more than 115,000 rooms by 2017.

The Knickerbocker Hotel that originally opened in 1906, built by John Jacob Astor IV, reopened last month with 330 guestrooms and a multimillion-dollar makeover. It features a 7,500-square-foot rooftop bar that overlooks Times Square and a restaurant with Charlie Palmer at the helm.

Another new hotel set to open in the spring of this year is The Gregory, a 132-room boutique property located on 35th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.This month, the Sheraton New York Times Square hotel is officially unveiling a new lower lobby conference space, with 11,000 square feet of enhanced meeting services that provide boutique-style, personalized services, and F&B options to smaller groups and executive meetings up to 100 attendees. The space, which features a 52nd Street entrance separate from the hotel lobby, has event managers and conference services staff dedicated specifically to smaller meetings. The lower lobby conference space was formally known as the Executive Conference Center and will be renamed this spring based on responses from a national naming contest for meeting planners the hotel has planned.

The refresh features a $2.2-million "soft goods renovation" including new carpet, lighting, wall coverings, electronic readerboards, and a custom boardroom table pre-wired to advance A/V needs. In addition, all lower lobby level restrooms were fully upgraded.

Not only are new hotels opening, but existing ones are being renovated. Located in a historic 1895 beaux-arts building, the 220-room Dream Midtown, a boutique hotel, has completed a $20-million renovation that entails a floor-to-ceiling transformation of the lobby, guest rooms, and suites. The hotel, which has also officially changed its name from Dream New York to Dream Midtown, is also partnering with TAO Strategic Group to reinvent the property's nightlife offerings, which are set to debut this spring. The GuestHouse, a luxurious 2,500-square-foot duplex penthouse suite set atop the hotel's south tower, has also debuted. Distinctive features include a spacious garden terrace with glass-bottom Jacuzzi and dramatic views of the city.

Triumph Hotels, which already has a collection of six boutique hotels in Manhattan, is transforming the 160-room Gershwin Hotel into The Evelyn. The initial phase, which is nearing completion, includes new accommodations, enhanced guest services, and cultural programming connected to the hotel's NoMad neighborhood location.

The transformation of The Evelyn is part of a capital investment by Triumph, which has invested $50 million to renovate historic hotels throughout New York City over the last several years.

Marking the culmination of the Loews Regency's $100-million transformation earlier this year, including 321 apartment-styled guest rooms, the hotel recently unveiled six designer-inspired Signature Suites.

Coming off the heels of a $30-million renovation during phase one, the 1,083-room Wyndham New Yorker Hotel will transition into the second phase of its restoration process to align existing guestrooms with the Wyndham brand color palette, renovating corridors, and incorporating new lighting, fresh paint, and revived floorings.

During the initial phase, the hotel underwent a major transformation that welcomed a revitalized lobby, a refresh of the exterior, the addition of 114 guest rooms (with additional rooms slated for 2016), and renovations to the Grand Ballroom and meeting rooms.

The hotel features 30,000 square feet of meeting space as well as Sky Lounge, located on the 39th floor, with impressive views of the New York City skyline.  

This summer, The Renwick, a 173-room hotel, will open steps away from Grand Central Station. Originally built in 1928, the building was once a long-stay hotel housing artists and authors like John Steinbeck, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Thomas Mann. The notion of "functional art" rather than framed art will be a key property pillar -- guest rooms will be adorned with paint-splattered footstools, ceramic sculptures and more, all sourced from local New York area artists.

Kimpton's 222-room Ink48 recently renovated its "Heaven Over Hell" Penthouse Suite, a glass jewel box suspended above the city meant to offer inspiration and a creative twist to any occasion. The flexible space is equipped for meetings and special events of up to 60 people.

 

Manhattan isn't the only borough popular for meetings and incentives. According to Lonely Planet guidebooks, Queens is the top travel destination in the U.S. for 2015, thanks to its emerging microbreweries, top-notch art, and "truly global food culture." Another borough not to miss is ever-popular Brooklyn. Part of the emerging Brooklyn cityscape, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge has just embarked on a renovation that will completely transform it. The hotel will speak to its setting in the hub of Downtown Brooklyn to convey the borough's layers of history and change, its vibrant neighborhoods and cultures, and its ties to transportation.

When the hotel opened in 1998, it was the first newly built, branded hotel in Brooklyn in over 60 years. Since then, it has added many new rooms to accommodate demand from the growing meetings and conventions market as well as the growing interest from leisure travelers to visit this buzzing neighborhood, ripe with new restaurants, shops, and attractions. Now it will transform its Great Room Lobby, Front Desk, and the new M Club Lounge, followed by the hotel's 40,000 square feet of meeting space.



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This article appears in the March 2015 issue of Successful Meetings.