Coast hub location and world-beating entertainment, as the most essential and desirable international meetings centre in the US.
In addition, a support network of year-on-year repeat large-scale events – such as the 25,000 international eye-doctors attending the recent 26th Vision Expo & Conference East – suggests, if not a closed shop, then a continuing tough nut for outsiders to crack.
THE BIGGER PICTURE In contrast, the ramped up infrastructural developments experienced across the city during the past few years are beginning to suggest otherwise, as does an apparent overall softening in New York’s
traditionally and arguably brusque, take-it-or-leave-it approach to meetings procurement. “It is possible to snatch a [corporate] bargain, although you need to think outside of the box,” says Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) director Pauline Houston. “You need to explore beyond Park Avenue and 42nd Street, pinpoint your location and its suitability for clients, know what’s what and juggle with what’s happening and where within your time frame.” She says New York as a primary international meetings hub offers all the components for successful events, incorporating a remarkable variety of memorable venues and representing overall good value in conjunction with its efforts to attract inbound travellers across the board – including
American Museum of Natural History
its recent temporary culling of sales tax on shopping.
“What’s helping [meetings buyers] now is the rapidly growing spread of top quality accommodation across all parts of the city beyond the usual Midtown venues. It’s also useful for buyers to note that New York is
New York, if not a closed shop, can be a continuing tough nut for outsiders to crack
providing a great platform for up-and- coming hotel groups.” The recent explosion in new or refurbished venues incorporates major hotel groups, extended convention centres, increased serviced office lets and other external venue players such as restaurants or
historic sites entering the host market. NYC & Co says the city experienced its most rapid and successful hotel building boom on record between 2006 and the end of last year, a trend that continued into the first quarter of this year. It says this investment boom has pushed the citywide room count to the 90,000 mark, helping to absorb its 50 million annual visitor target, achieved a year early in 2011, with 27 million rooms sold and year-end occupancy rates hovering above 85 per cent at an average daily room rate of US$276.
MANHATTAN AND BEYOND Importantly, says Jerry Cito, 40 per cent of openings have been in boroughs other than Manhattan – in Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx and Staten Island.
“This is giving planners even more choice on accommodation and meeting spaces to suit all budget types,” he says. According NYC & Co’s extensive list of projections, recent or imminent openings include La Quinta Inn Downtown, Hotel 718, Hotel BPM, the Clarion and the Wythe Hotel in Brooklyn, plus the Wyndham Garden Long Island City, reflagged and expanded Hilton JFK Airport, Spring Hill Suites by Marriott and Hotel Vetiver in Queens. A 48-room Comfort Inn is opening in The Bronx and a 111- room Best Western is adding capacity in Staten Island. In Manhattan, the all-suite Conrad
Affinia Manhattan
New York, with 17,000sq ft of meeting space, is new this year together with Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Hyatt and Courtyard by Marriott brand properties. The 114-room Jade Hotel Greenwich Village is also projected for a 2012 opening.