A successful networking event builds credibility within your industry, generates leads, and will likely extend the overall reach of your organization and its message. Add all those advantages set against the backdrop of one of the greatest cities in the world, and you’ve got an equation equaling networking success. New York is teeming with hotspots, venues, and restaurants all ready to host your company or organization’s next big networking event.
Don’t let narrowing down the right venue in NYC be overwhelming. Allow The Vendry to help you on the path to networking success with a list of worthy candidates. Check out the list below to assist you on your journey toward creating an environment that facilitates useful conversations and helps your guests make meaningful connections.
From deepening your professional connections with colleagues, to enjoying a good face-to-face conversations with other industry leaders, networking events are beneficial in so many ways. And they create even more buzz when you’ve selected the right venue. Peruse The Vendry’s list below:
Neighborhood: Financial District
Capacity: 200 standing
Their recent recognition of “Best Hotel in New York City 2023” from Travel + Leisure’s “World Best Awards” should tell you everything you need to know about The Wall Street Hotel. Legendary service abounds at this historic hotel and event space within the old-world, winding streets of the Financial District, and there’s lots of venue options to boot. The Gerdau Ballroom measures in at 2,100 square feet, and can accommodate 200 guests for your networking event. Thinking something more intimate? Bar Tonite fits the bill. Offering a 180-degree wraparound outdoor terrace on the 15th floor, this space tops out at 75 guests, and offers an amber glow with a tropical, exotic flair.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 175 standing, 60 seated1,800
Featuring an awesome, central location and a recent restoration, Maggie’s Place is just the spot to bring together the team for a networking event. A friendly Irish restaurant and cocktail bar in every sense of the word, Maggie’s is steps away from Rockefeller Center and Grand Central, and offers three different event spaces. Your organization can always host a full buy-out, but check out The Mezzanine for a smaller group of 100 standing, or 60 seated. Up on the second floor, The Mezzanine is a workable space with a full-service bar, audio/visual capabilities, and a great breeze from the busy street below.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Capacity: 750 standing, 550 seated
A premier event venue in the heart of Chelsea for over 22 years, The Altman Building offers old New York charm with 14,000 square feet of open space between two floors. Enjoy a virtually column-free main floor with limitless production flexibility and hardwood floors, easily accommodating your 750 guests. But the Gallery Floor can be where your group can really get down to business. Check out this private space, perfect for a breakout session, secluded from the expanse of the main floor.
Neighborhood: West Village
Capacity: 310 standing, 135 seated
The varied spaces within Triangle Loft delightfully lend themselves to create different networking “moments” by nature. Right in the heart of the Meatpacking District is this historic penthouse, which is a flexible, renovated loft that has a total of 8,1000 square feet of exposed wood beams and tons of natural light. Lofts 5S + 5N feature 5,000 square feet of space and its own elevator, a Sonos Sound System, and a full kitchen for all your catering needs. Loft 4S is a light-filled, hardwood-floored meeting space that can seat 200, or 300 for a reception. Any way you choose to slice up this triangle-shaped space will always prove to be a win.
Neighborhood: Garment District
Capacity: 150 standing, 40 seated
The Independent in the Garment District is home to craft cocktails, local beers, and friendly faces. Show your organization’s approachable side by hosting a networking event here. Outside of a full venue buyout for 150 standing, consider The Marquee. This warm, all wood getaway in the front of the restaurant features floor-to-ceiling windows and a welcoming atmosphere for a cocktail party for 20. Create your own menu for the group in The Gallery, the larger event space in the back of the restaurant with two TVs, movable furniture, and seating for 75.
Neighborhood: Murray Hill
Capacity: 250 standing, 65 seated
Network within the Financial District at Stout NYC Grand Central, one of the several beloved locations of the Stout Group. Their Dining Room is fully secluded with its own private entrance, full-service bar, three TVs, and even a large projector. Configure this room however you’d like. If your crowd wants to be more in the mix, break away to the Back Booth Cocktail for a semi-private feel, where the event pros at Stout NYC will section off an area for your clients or guests.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Capacity: 300 standing, 100 seated
Bringing cutting edge tech to your networking event is Lavan 541, an innovative event space in Chelsea. Step into this venue to experience its permanent installation of 270-degree projection mapping. Change the feel and mood of this unique spot with the click of a button. Natural light abounds here, with 10-foot high street-facing windows and 20-foot high skylights (not to worry, blackout shades are available to achieve complete darkness for proper projection). There’s a prep kitchen, green room, and the space is even ADA compliant.
Neighborhood: TriBeCa
Capacity: 774 standing
Have your pick of 11 event spaces at Spring Studios, a light, airy, column-free open floor plan venue in TriBeCa. Thirty-foot ceilings and 45,000 square feet compliment this space, which can accommodate up to 800 standing. Break up your networking event into mini-sessions in one of the many studios, or combine spaces to keep your crowd mingling into the evening.
All food and beverage catering is welcome. Be prepared to be blown away with the full white glove treatment at Spring Studios.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Capacity: 400 standing
The only nightclub on the list, La Victoria Social Club will redefine networking. This hotspot is all about fun and entertainment. There is always an option for a full venue buy-out, but La Victoria will happily cater to your smaller get together, too. Check out the second floor, that has room for 130 guests, as well as a VIP section for 40. Subdued isn’t the mood here, so be prepared when as cocktails continue to flow. And there’s a dress code at La Victoria, so encourage your guests to keep their Zoom sweatpants at home.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 1,200 standing, 600 seated
If your networking event calls for something bigger, then Center415 might very well fit the bill. Right in Midtown on 5th Avenue, this bi-level venue features 18-foot ceilings, 30,000-square feet of space, and a large catering kitchen. The best part of Center415 might be its location: this venue is right next to major transportation hubs including Herald Square, Bryant Park, Times Square, Penn Station, and Grand Central. Great audio/visual capabilities and 2,000 amps of power round out this serious space, perfect for your large scale event.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 300 standing, 140 seated
Bring your networking event to light in this Midtown event space, made for the digital world. Lightbox has been bringing its state-of-the-art sound and lighting venue with HD projection mapping technology to the masses since 2013. An immersive experience for your guests, Lightbox has three different event spaces for use, in addition to an all-venue buy-out. Invite your 50 VIPs to brainstorm on The Mezzanine, a lofted area overlooking the projections in the
Main Box, ideal for lounging and a 360-view of what’s going on down below.
Offer your guests something they cant refuse! Find the top gifts and swag vendors in New York for your next event!
The benefits to hosting a networking event are plentiful. Any event face-to-face will always build a more meaningful business relationship and social interaction will likely lead to more team-building and team-bonding. And a networking event always keeps the door open for a new connection, and the opportunity to follow up with a lead, new partnership, or business venture. But before you book your venue for your networking bash, ask yourself the following:
What is the event’s purpose? Boiling down your event to a specific theme or purpose will help all your attendees find common ground. This will help initiate conversations and begin to build relationships. Giving the event a theme will help you narrow down a guest list. A purpose will also likely attract guests with good reasons why they shouldn’t miss it!
What is the Format? Decide on the chord you want to strike with your intended crowd. Are you looking for breakout sessions? Or is the intent to have your guests connect with as many attendees as possible?
What is the Budget? A budget will help you know your parameters and not to overspend. Hosting an event is a big expense, but with so many great choices, you will be able to land on a venue that will likely fit most of your needs. Make sure to ask the venue what they have on hand for you to use, and factor in the extras like rentals, speaker fees, catering, or audio/visual needs.
What do I need to be ready? Provide an agenda if they night warrants one. Make sure that guest check-in is easy. If you are the host, do your best to float around during the night to meet everyone. Think of reasons why guests should attend (raffles, guests speakers, etc. ) and have those ready to go.
Let sourcing a venue in NYC for your next big networking event be the easy part of your planning process. Search venues in New York and request proposals from spaces all over the city with just a click.
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