Business events in New York: Inspiration

For business and pleasure alike, New York has always been a fast-moving, forward-thinking destination. The city is a world famous tourist hotspot, attracting an estimated annual visitor count of over 50 million, which has helped it to earn the status of ‘the capital of the world.’

New York is strong in historical and cultural value, with monuments telling the story of a location that remains as renowned and loved as it has always been. Frequently depicted in popular culture, New York city has a lot to live up to, but never fails to impress.

As an event management company, New York is always on our radar as a possible location. However, to ensure we keep our finger on the pulse of this ever changing metropolis, we sent account manager, Kate Asquith, to investigate how a business event in New York could deliver exceptional delegate experiences.

New-New York by Kate Asquith

Upon being offered the opportunity to evaluate the potential of business events in New York, I jumped at the chance! I’ve always wanted to visit and as an event manager, felt like I was missing out on an incredible city! Although first event have held business events in New York in the past, this is the first time I’ve set foot in the city! The first thing that strikes you about New York is the sheer size of it and the bustle of all of the people. It feels strangely familiar because it spends so much time on your tv and cinema screens, but New York has so much more to offer than the novelty of a yellow cab and lights of times square. There is so much to do, and it instantly got me thinking about all of the amazing events we could create here.

My trip was orchestrated by some of our preferred partners in the us, who did a fantastic job of showing me the benefits and logistics of using the city as a destination for both business and leisure events.

The city’s potential for excursions and optional activities is magnificent, with an endless range of tourist highlights to be explored, as well as a range of ‘off-the-beaten-track’ opportunities available to deliver more tailored experiences. Monuments such as the statue of liberty, rockefeller centre, oneworld observatory and central park are go-to choices for a traditional encounter of New York. One of the city’s most accredited and defining characteristics is broadway, also widely known as the american theatre industry.

However, for a unique event in a well-known destination, the surrounding areas of the city centre have their own quirks and culture to offer to visitors too. Brooklyn and queens are boroughs of new york city that are situated just outside of manhattan – the central borough of the city.

Tripsavvy provides some brilliant options for brooklyn activities, and says of the more unusual location:

"In the past couple of decades, brooklyn has transformed into a must-visit destination. Known for its notable restaurants, arty neighborhoods, eclectic shops, and a literary scene, brooklyn has emerged as a cutting-edge cultural haven."

Lesser-known, yet equally as impressive sights such as Brooklyn bridge, Coney island, and 5 pointz, are endearing points of interest that provide exclusive and alternative ways of seeing the city during events activities.

During my time spent in New York, it was great to experience a versatile range of traditional and unconventional business event activities – rather than just sticking to the places that everyone has heard of. Dinner in brookfield place was a lovely beginning to the trip and overlooked the 9/11 memorial – which is a worthwhile trip when visiting New York. Afterwards, we went to the oneworld observatory, which gave breath-taking views of the city at night.

My first full day spent in New York gave me the opportunity to explore the city a little more, with visits to spring studios, tribeca film festival, chelsea markets and the highline walk. I also visited a hotel on wall st – which would make an ideal location for a business conference or networking event due to the professional setting and historical focus on profit.

Whilst providing an impressive ground programme and fantastic facilities, an event location is often required to offer recreational activities that appeal to a range of different interests and ensure that delegates are spoilt for choice when choosing how to spend their free time. New york is well-known for its diversity, and whilst it may be a cliché, really does have something for everyone.

My personal highlight of the entire trip was the comedy-musical production of Aladdin. I also ended up with a little spare time, which I decided to spend outdoors, walking along the Hudson river, visiting battery park, and like every New Yorker - getting lost on the subway.

One of my evenings in new york was spent networking, where I met with a variety of hotels and corporate venues who offer incredible facilities in the heart of the city and potential considerations for a client trip. New york is a fantastic destination for conferences due to its wide range of accommodation and conference venues – all possessing something different, yet all providing easy access to the city.

Whilst New York would be ideal as a conference destination, it would be equally perfect for an incentive due to the sheer amount of things to do – it’s impossible to be bored! New York has a lot of clichés that have been tried and tested, but as a city that is constantly looking for ways to create bigger and better things for people to do, it’s bound to remain a timeless location with tonnes of potential.

As a location with the ability to provide entertainment, culture and luxury, New York city is the perfect incentive or conference destination for business delegates – whether travelling for work or pleasure. The city is also easily accessible worldwide, enabling those interested to extend their trip and spend further time in New York, or fly to another destination to continue their travels.

Are you considering hosting a business event in New York?

Get in touch!