If business brings you to Manhattan, your most challenging pre-trip decision may be picking a hotel. There are more than 90,000 hotel rooms in New York City, with options ranging from bargain basements to penthouses with park views. Yet regardless of the budgets, savvy business travelers share a common goal when it comes to their hotel: it should be a convenient and highly functional space that offers the necessary amenities for working and meeting efficiently, and resting in effortless comfort.
With so many great Manhattan options, we decided to narrow the list down to a few of our favorite properties, both in Midtown and in the Financial District. Though the prices vary widely throughout the year, these hotels represent great value for business travelers, without compromising on style, amenities or location. So whether travelers have a generous expense account or need to get the most bang from a modest budget, consider these LuxeGetaways picks for your next business trip to Manhattan. (http://luxegetaways.info/nycgo)
Best for Midtown Meetings
InterContinental New York Barclay
Built in 1926 as a railroad hotel for wealthy travelers arriving to Grand Central Station, the recently renovated Barclay still retains its original Federalist style, and exudes the luxury of a bygone era. Yet there is nothing old-fashioned about the business-friendly amenities – from 15,000 square feet of refined meeting space (including five breakout rooms), to a fully equipped business center and town car services at the ready. A stunning, chandelier-capped lobby is ringed by quiet sitting areas perfect for an impromptu strategy session.
Entry-level rooms are superior category, and at 250-square feet, they are of average size for the city. Outfitted in restful taupe and grey, they convey an upscale, retro feel without feeling dated or stuffy. They are equipped with plush bedding, 42-inch flat screen televisions, Keurig coffeemakers and a well-kitted minibar set-up; plus there are bright, roomy bathrooms with subway tile and tubs or walk-in showers.
A classy gin bar adjacent to the lobby is also the hotel’s restaurant, serving meals all day and into the evening (until 11pm). Club InterContinental member guests enjoy an elegant VIP lounge for meeting and socializing, with complimentary meals, snacks and drinks from 6:30am to 8pm. A well equipped, 24-hour fitness center and an on-site salon are extra conveniences to keep busy travelers fit and polished.
- 111 E 48th Street, NYC 10017
- Website: http://luxegetaways.info/barclay-nyc
- Superior rooms from $250 per night
Crowne Plaza HY36
The Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan debuted in late 2017, offering a smart new option for business travelers. The contemporary, design-focused property is set near Hudson Yards – the emerging mixed-use development of high-rises in lower west Midtown. Crowne Plaza HY36 takes a page from the Hudson Yards playbook with its daring architecture that includes a distinctive industrial-style façade, plus streamlined interiors and tech-centric amenities. Honing in on the millennial-fueled trend of shared workspaces, HY36’s 24-hour business center looks more like a comfy living room, with couches, communal tables and individual PC workstations. The hotel offers two meeting rooms, a dedicated meetings director, and a handy online ledger of each guest’s daily expenses.
Rooms reflect the same chic comfort of the common areas – streamlined wood furnishings and grey fabrics that average 250 square feet. They are clearly designed for optimal functionality in a compact space, which is evident with the retractable reading lights, wireless charging stations and expansive work desks. All have floor-to-ceiling windows, and features spa showers with white subway tiles, as well as aromatherapy kits to ensure a restful night’s sleep.
Crowne Plaza HY36 is home to TGA NYC (The Great American), a concept bar and restaurant with 12-foot glass garage doors, an outdoor patio and a retractable skylight roof for taking in city views. An unexpected bonus? If you are missing your furry friends at home, Wellington, the hotel’s resident French Bulldog, is often on hand to greet guests.
- 320 West 36th Street, NYC 10018
- Website: http://luxegetaways.info/crown-plaza-midtown
- Double rooms from $175 per night
High Finance Downtown
Conrad New York
Typical of the graceful modernity that has risen near Ground Zero, the Conrad New York offers sleek luxury in a high-tech, art-filled setting. Set in Battery Park City, and overlooking the Hudson River, this all-suites hotel has a 15-story atrium lobby as its focal point, dominated by a massive Sol LeWitt sculpture, and is fitted with modular furnishings right out of The Jetsons. A 24-hour business center, 30,000 square feet of event space and convenient on-site amenities such as a barber and a gift shop make the Conrad a sure bet for corporate travelers – especially those who need to impress a client or conduct meetings at the hotel.
Streamlined suites, the smallest 430 square feet (massive by NYC standards) all have separate living rooms and sitting areas with desks — nice for keeping one space for work and the other for slumber. Wet bars, espresso machines, smart technology and free WiFi are standard equipment, and upgraded rooms offer river views and in some cases, palatial floorplans.
For a tête-à-tête over a meal or a drink, the ATRIO Wine Bar and Restaurant in the Conrad lobby is an elegant choice from breakfast through to dinner and late-night snacks. A rooftop bar offers craft cocktails, small plates and amazing views of the Statue of Liberty.
- 102 North End Avenue, NYC 10282
- Website: http://luxegetaways.info/conrad-nyc
- Suites from $224 per night
Millennium Hilton New York Downtown
It is all about location at this stalwart business hotel. The 55-story landmark overlooks the Oculus, the iconic new transportation and retail hub at the World Trade Center. Its proximity to state and federal courthouses make it a preferred hotel of law firms, and the in-house events team offers flexibility and efficiency with meeting set-up and room configurations.
At around 300 square-feet, contemporary, understated rooms come with standard amenities such as flat screen television, minibars and work desks. WiFi is free for HiltonHonors members who book directly with the hotel; otherwise it is $12.95 a day. The real pearls here are the high-floor rooms — try to snag one for an unforgettable view of the World Trade Center or the Brooklyn Bridge.
A lobby bar and a relaxed, third-floor restaurant and bar with all-day dining offer space for casual meetings or down time. There is also a fitness center where you can reserve time with a personal trainer, or massage services in a treatment room, or in-room. And the Millennium has an especially rare amenity in Manhattan — an indoor, heated pool that is open year-round.
- 55 Church Street, NYC 10007
- Website: http://luxegetaways.info/millennium-nyc-downtown
- Rooms from $129 per night
