Managing meetings
NEW YORK MEETINGS HOTELS HOTEL
Marriott Marquis Hilton NY
Sheraton NY and Towers Grand Hyatt
Waldorf Astoria Waldorf Towers
Hotel Pennsylvania New Yorker Roosevelt
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
Renovation or redesign projects are scheduled for completion this year at a raft of properties including Sheraton New York, The Roosevelt, Moderne, Grand Hyatt, Algonquin, Cooper Square, Loews Regency, St Giles Tuscany, New York Palace and Milford. Starwood’s 774-room NY Helmsley is undergoing renovation and will re-open as a Westin this autumn, with new meeting space.
“With the re-invention of so much of the city and if your people haven’t visited since, say 9/11, it’s a winner”
Forward projections over the next
two years call for an additional 36 hotel openings representing emerging or established brands in new builds, and renovated or re-purposed landmark sites across the five boroughs. Among these will be a Marriott Edition and an Intercontinental group Even.
106
FUTURE GROWTH In addition, says NYC & Co, lodging investment analysts have identified projects that could witness overall inventory topping 600 hotels with more than 12,000 new rooms in 40 projects over the next five to seven years. Together with citywide renaissance efforts, plus ongoing convention centre or external venue expansion or renovations, it all amounts to a mountain of information for UK buyers to keep tabs on. It’s also a moot point on how many in the no-specific- city bracket will retune their attention towards New York. “For me, it’s first and foremost an incentive destination,” says recent visitor Dawn Mitchell, operations director of W&O Events. “With the re-invention of so much of the city and if your people haven’t visited since, say 9/11, it’s a winner. However, for conferences or congresses I have my
Crowne Plaza Times Square New York Palace Marriott Downtown
Ritz-Carlton Battery Park Conrad NY
Affinia Manhattan
Large event venues VENUE
MANHATTAN Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum Piers 92/94
American Museum of Natural History Toys “R” Us Times Square Beacon Theatre
Museum of Modern Art Madison Square Garden Cipriani Wall Street
Pier Sixty/The Lighthouse Metropolitan Pavilion
THE BRONX Yankee Stadium
BROOKLYN Grand Prospect Hall
QUEENS Citi Field
New York Hall of Science
doubts. Expense is a big factor. I have a thick file on the times we’ve sought quotations but couldn’t negotiate on minimum requirements, even though the boot is effectively on the buyer’s foot these days. “You have to consider New
York’s relevance in what you’re trying to achieve,” she adds. “If it’s not an imperative, there is strong competition elsewhere.”
POINT OF CONTACT NYC & Co has a UK outlet that aims to offer event planners an impartial, complimentary and flexible service to assist in fulfilling the guidelines and objectives of any brief. “It is vital for us to continuously
engage and communicate with all of our clients to assess their needs and help them make the most informed decisions when pitching and/or booking business in New York City,” says Jerry Cito. “We regularly participate in sales exhibitions, organise road shows, workshops and individual meetings in the UK, as well as run fam trips throughout the year.”
MEETING SPACES 68
47 43 51 40 36 16 15 23 25 23 12 9
12 9
MEETING SPACES
4 2
49 2 1 7 5 4 5 4
24 20
20 12
MAX CAPACITY 5,000
2,800 2,000 1,800 1,700 1,500 1,000 1,000 850 700 650 600 600 560 300
LARGEST SINGLE CAPACITY
5,000 5,000 3,500 3,000 2,829 2,500 2,000 2,000 2,000 1,565
3,333 2,500
6,000-plus 2,000
The second dedicated road show, last October, proved to be a vital exercise in keeping the UK industry informed, staying in touch, growing awareness and challenging any misconceptions businesses might have, he adds. Cito says New York is the primary gateway to the US for UK travellers, with nearly 300 flights weekly and competitive fares for group bookings. He says NYC & Co, in conjunction Hilton and Sheraton, has developed NY 5000, a convention complex of 5,000-guest room and 100 meeting rooms in the span of one square block. In addition, NYC & Co’s Signature Collection of luxurious and distinctive hotels has special group offerings, including preferential rates with savings on room rates and food and beverage discounts. “We have also recently extended
our Meet Me On Sunday packages, which offer significant concessions for meetings booked over a Sunday at more than 40 participating hotels,” says Cito. Like everything else on New York, the figures are impressive – and for meetings, they certainly add up. ■
MAY/JUNE 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156