The Big Apple's Big Meetings Offerings

Manhattan is a city of superlatives. One World Trade Center, at 1,776 feet, is the tallest building in the U.S. With an estimated population of 8.55 million, the Big Apple is the U.S.'s largest city. Deep beneath its streets, the New York City subway is the busiest rapid-transit system in the country.

Not a city to rest on its laurels, in September 2015, New York's first new subway station in more than 25 years -- 34 Street/Hudson Yards -- opened, connecting the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and massive new Hudson Yards development next to Times Square and beyond via the 7 subway line. Nearly 100 years in the making, Manhattan's Second Avenue subway line extension finally opened in January along the Upper East Side. The newly extended line provides access to even more hotels, restaurants, and cultural centers from 72nd Street to 96th Street.

The largest private real estate development in the history of the U.S. -- and the largest development in New York City since Rockefeller Center -- is under way at Hudson Yards. The site will include more than 17 million square feet of commercial and residential space, more than 100 shops, a collection of restaurants, approximately 4,000 residences, The Shed (a new center for artistic invention), 14 acres of public open space, a school, and an Equinox-branded luxury hotel with more than 200 rooms.

At 55,000 square feet, the largest ballroom in the Northeast is in the works at the Javits Center. The convention center is about to embark on a $1.5 billion expansion that includes 90,000 square feet of new permanent exhibit space to create an approximately 500,000-square-foot exhibition hall, 45,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting room space, and a green roof terrace and pavilion that can accommodate 1,500 people for outdoor events.

"Javits is the busiest convention center in the nation, but we need to keep building and growing if we want to remain competitive, and that is exactly what we are doing," said New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo in a statement announcing the expansion.

This will allow the Javits to attract higher-spending, large-scale trade shows and conventions, while enhancing the quality of life for the west side community. In addition, the construction of an on-site truck marshaling, loading, and storage facility will relocate 20,000 event-related trucks annually off area streets, improving neighborhood traffic flow and pedestrian safety. As a result, the move-in and move-out time requirement for events will be reduced by 30 percent, leading to an additional 20 days for new events.

Lower Manhattan
Another resurgent area is Lower Manhattan, which has rebuilt and reinvented itself since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. "Lower Manhattan has evolved into a vibrant, 24/7 neighborhood that offers something for everyone," says Jessica Lappin, president of the Alliance for Downtown New York. "While we are home to many of the city's historic sites, we also have one of the hottest restaurant scenes and a retail market that opened over 100 stores last year alone. There's an energy here and a strong sense of pride."

Here groups can have events on top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere at One World Observatory on levels 100, 101, and 102 of the One World Trade Center building, providing visitors with astounding, panoramic views from above 1,250 feet.

A 9,300-square-foot special event space is located on the 102nd floor that can accommodate up to 300 guests. It features floor-to-ceiling uninterrupted views, high-end décor, a state-of-the-art sound system, and HD projection capabilities. The observatory features impressive vistas across New York and its harbor, incorporating everything from Central Park to the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty, with three floors filled with innovation and inspiration. On a clear day, visitors can see all the way to Princeton, NJ, 50 miles away.

Five dedicated elevators ascend to the 102nd floor in 47 seconds as immersive, floor-to-ceiling LED technology surrounds visitors. Once at the top, a two-minute, high-tech video presentation concludes with the screens rising to reveal the view for the first time in a true "aha" moment. In addition to the dedicated special event space, there are three dining options on the 101st floor: One Café, which features made-to-order items like salads and sandwiches; One Mix, a casual dining area with tapas and cocktails; and One Dine, serving gourmet cuisine.

Other attractions in the area include the September 11 Memorial and two major shopping centers: Brookfield Place and the Westfield World Trade Center.

East of One World Observatory, the South Street Seaport's old Pier 17 shopping mall is being rebuilt as a modern retail and entertainment center featuring an open-air rooftop event space with views of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. The adjacent, historic Tin Building is expected to open early next year as a fresh-food market with a Jean-Georges Vongerichten seafood restaurant, while the renovated Fulton Market building is now home to the city's first iPic movie theater, combining film with fine dining.

Two of the most noteworthy luxury hotels to open in the area are Thompson Hotels' Beekman and the Robert A.M. Stern-designed, 189-room Four Seasons New York Downtown, in the shadow of One World Trade Center -- the brand's second New York hotel, joining the Four Seasons Hotel New York on 57th Street.

"Downtown New York has been reborn as the most vibrant neighborhood in the city," says Peter Humig, general manager of Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown. "It's no longer simply a business district. You can feel the energy the minute you arrive, and we are proud to be in the heart of it."

A dramatic suspended staircase leads to the 2,990-square-foot Greenwich Ballroom, an ideal setting for up to 175 guests, with windows looking down Church and Barclay Streets, and two additional salons providing options for smaller functions or breakouts.  

The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, which opened last September, has 287 rooms, including 38 suites and two duplex penthouses with private rooftop terraces, 4,700 square feet of private meeting and event space, and signature restaurants Fowler & Wells and The Bar Room by Chef Tom Colicchio and Augustine by Keith McNally. It is housed in one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers, built in 1881.

LMHQ, a collaborative space, opened a year ago as a hub for local freelancers, businesses seeking breakout space, and traveling workers. It's a 12,500-square-foot space with a main event room, state-of-the-art A/V, as well as meeting rooms of various sizes.

Robust Hotel Development
Home to more than 113,000 hotel rooms, New York City is expected to add 24,000 new ones by the end of 2019, making it the nation's most robust hotel development pipeline. A significant contribution to the city's economy, hotel and sales taxes are estimated to contribute over $1 billion in revenues this year.

Other noteworthy hotel openings include Hotel 50, Joie de Vivre Hotels' first property in the Big Apple. The 229-room hotel is home to a permanent exhibit by the Museum of Chinese in America, complete with an on-site curator. The property offers three spaces, the largest of which holds 65 delegates.

The 704-room InterContinental New York Barclay, originally built in 1926, reopened last year after a $180 million renovation. Among the enhancements are a new open lobby featuring a Carrara-marble grand staircase; redesigned guest rooms and suites; a refurbished Club InterContinental; and an upgraded 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel's new Gin Parlour bar, inspired by Dutch and English gin bars of the 1920s, features 88 premium gins, as well as a new locally sourced menu.

The 647-room Riu Plaza New York Times Square is a newly constructed, $310 million property that also opened last year on West 46th Street. This is the first New York City hotel for Spain-based Riu Hotels & Resorts.

Another hotel not to miss is the 1,781-room Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, with 60,000 square feet of meeting space and its 14,257-square-foot Metropolitan Ballroom. Its 11,000-square-foot executive conference center is ideal for smaller meetings.

The hotel recently added the Simplified Meetings Package to make planning easier. The new per-person, per-day meeting packages include continental or hot breakfast, lunch (including regionally sourced food-and-beverage options), two breaks, meeting room high-speed Internet access, room rental, and A/V equipment.

In the heart of Manhattan, The Westin New York Grand Central features 774 guest rooms, 15,000 square feet of meeting space including two ballrooms and a 3,000-square-foot WestinWORKOUT Fitness Studio. The hotel is focused on "pop-up" activities that help business travelers and groups de-stress while on the road. The newest activity is the addition of complimentary yoga classes, hosted by local studio mang'Oh Yoga. Additional health and wellness initiatives include seasonal SuperFood Breaks menu items for meetings and personalized runs enhancing the RunWestin program.

Breaking Records
All of this new development is attracting visitors -- lots of them. Last year, the city welcomed an all-time record 60.3 million visitors, surpassing the 60 million visitor milestone for the first time ever, and representing the seventh consecutive year of travel and tourism growth for the city. Among all visitors, meetings delegates comprise 6.15 million people.

"The appeal of the 'New' New York alongside our classic attractions continues to draw travelers from every corner of the globe. We invite groups to discover our city's neighborhoods in all five boroughs," says Fred Dixon, NYC and Company's president and CEO.

Manhattan is definitely not the only borough adding a plethora of new attractions. The New York Wheel, slated to open in April 2018, will be the world's largest observation wheel, located just across New York Harbor in Staten Island's St. George neighborhood.

Brooklyn's reputation has grown into an international brand, making it one of the trendiest destinations to hold a meeting or event.

"Brooklyn's popularity has resonated more in recent years with meeting planners, thanks to global hotel brands investing in the borough's meetings industry, the borough's lively culture, and its appeal to a new generation of attendees," says Jerry Cito, senior vice president of convention development for NYC & Company. "With these new developments, along with unique venues and easy transportation access to Manhattan by subway and ferry, we are inviting planners to see why more people are choosing to Make It NYC in Brooklyn."

Brooklyn has seen tremendous growth in its hotel and meeting space offerings, with more than 28 hotels in the pipeline. By 2019, the borough is expected to be home to more than 3,500 hotel rooms. Some of the most recent openings include the wellness-oriented Even Hotel and boutique-brand Hotel Indigo Brooklyn, part of the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts family in Downtown Brooklyn, as well as the Dazzler Brooklyn in Brooklyn Heights, the Wythe Hotel in Williamsburg, and the Hilton Brooklyn New York in Boerum Hill, which is Hilton's first name-brand property in the area.

Among the newest hotels with expansive meeting space is 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, which opened in February with dynamic, open-air meeting and event space. The majority of the 20,000 square feet of space features views of the Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Manhattan skyline. Highlights include an 11th-floor rooftop with a plunge pool, fire pits, and a craft-cocktail bar, as well as a private 10th-floor lounge with a fireplace. The hotel offers 194 rooms and, staying true to its mission-driven ethos, the property is expected to receive a LEED Dynamic Plaque for its eco-conscious practices such as a rainwater reclamation system and sustainable design.

Another new Brooklyn hotel is the William Vale in Williamsburg, overlooking the Manhattan skyline with 183 rooms, a 15,000-square-foot public green space, a 4,100-square-foot ballroom, and a rooftop bar.

Last summer, the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge completed a $45 million transformation that included its 667 guest rooms and suites, the debut of a new contemporary lobby featuring the M Club Lounge and The Bar, with its locally made specialties, and the modernization of the hotel's more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space.

Queens is another borough that offers expansive meeting spaces, major entertainment venues, and ease of access with two major airports and several subway lines. Some are surprised to learn that a branch of the Museum of Modern Art is here, MoMA PS1, which offers flexible indoor and outdoor spaces surrounded by contemporary art.

Both JFK and LaGuardia airports, located in Queens, are being transformed. LaGuardia is undergoing a $4 billion upgrade to connect its terminals into one seamless building, along with more connections to NYC's transit system and additional gates.

The TWA Flight Center at JFK, an architectural icon that shut down in 2001, is being resurrected as an on-site airport hotel and destination in its own right. MCR Development is creating the 505-room hotel that will include 50,000 square feet of meeting space, a 10,000-square-foot observation deck overlooking the airport's runways, and a prop plane that will be converted into a lounge.

A loft in Tribeca, an art gallery in Chelsea, a museum featuring a 94-foot model of a blue whale or a freestanding dinosaur, rooftop bars, penthouses, and more -- New York City has plenty of unique spaces to host special events. There is no need to stress over food and beverage when planning gatherings with companies like Culinart Group Catering Collection. And no venue is too tough for them: Recently, CulinArt arranged meal functions and education sessions for 275 planners and suppliers attending SMU International at the United Nations, hosted by the Northstar Travel Group, Successful Meetings' parent company.

"We can accommodate the corporate client in anything they want to do," says Chris Robbins of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, one of CulinArt Group's catering division partners. "If they want to have an original, imaginative event we will deliver it and at the right location, whether it's one of our places, their own, or a location of their choice."

No matter which one of the five boroughs you bring your group to, there will be a hotel, museum, sports stadium, restaurant, or concert venue to meet your needs in this destination of superlatives.  

Questions or comments? Email [email protected]

This article appears in the March 2017 issue of Successful Meetings.