Few places in the world strike inspiration like New York City. If you are looking for a space to host a team building event, look no further than what NYC has to offer. Stuffy boardrooms are a thing of the past – organizations are now finding inspiration in some of the most unlikely meeting spots in the city. In the post-pandemic world, there’s been a grateful shift in how venues, event spaces, and restaurants accommodate the needs of large groups by offering efficient ways to get down to business.
Getting your staff up and out of the office (or their WFH atmosphere) can inject a must-needed boost into the company mojo. An off-site shakes things up and demonstrates that your organization recognizes employee’s need to stretch out and find inspiration in different places.
Team building events and office get-togethers promote collaboration amongst your staff. Planning one of these events – from a large product rollout to a small, post-work happy hour – should be easy if you know where to look. Below The Vendry has put together some of the most energizing and buzzworthy business meeting spots and venues in NYC.
Neighborhood: Financial District
Capacity: 250
With wraparound windows offering stunning views of the East River Waterfront, 180 Maiden Lane is a versatile event venue in a great location. Make this spot your own as it offers multipurpose functionality, as well as 30,000 square feet of varied workspace. There’s an atrium with river views or top floors to rent with full amenities. The iconic 180 Maiden Lane is just waiting, ready for your ideas.
Neighborhood: Flatiron District
Capacity: 550 standing, 250 seated
Host your team building event at Iron23, a newly renovated, street-level, open event space. Seventeen-foot ceilings and lots of light will welcome your team here, including a VIP loft above the main space which is perfect for breakout sessions. If your organization is looking to make a splash, utilize the 1,000 square-feet of street-level frontage for your signage and promotional materials. There’s also ample back-of-house pantry/storage for all your catering needs.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 300 standing, 60 seated
Just finished an energizing round of meetings and are ready to unwind with the team? Head over to Stout Bryant Park, a centrally located, quintessential happy hour spot buzzing with excitement. The successful Stout group hits another homerun with this venue, offering four event space options. Select the Mezzanine for a group of 100 standing, which overlooks the entire restaurant, has a full service bar and high cocktail tables, six TVs, and is plug-in ready for any audio/visual or DJ. If you have something quieter in mind, book the Dining Room, where Stout can accommodate 25 seated, all of whom can order off their menu filled with delicious American fare.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Capacity: 300 standing, 180 seated
If a laid-back vibe is a “must” on your checklist, be sure to check out The Irish Exit, deep in the heart of Chelsea. Your staff will delight in this spot’s theme, which is dedicated to its location: The Moynihan Train Hall. The Irish Exit redefines the traditional pub with world-renowned drinks and culinary delights. This friendly spot can accommodate groups of 20 to 330 by way of five different venue options. Brought to you by the successful Dead Rabbit group, let their experienced team help you build a customized menu just perfect for your employees.
Neighborhood: Theater District
Capacity: 350 standing, 203 seated
This is how meetings are elevated. Welcome to Well& by Durst, an 11,000+ square foot meeting and conference experience in the Theater District. Bring the team together and present on their 55-foot LED video wall in The Bryant meeting room before retiring to The Gallery, for an in-house catered lunch. Host afternoon breakout sessions in The Astoria or The Greenacre, all fully equipped for all your business tech needs. This state-of-the-art venue is just perfect for your next team meeting or training.
Neighborhood: Chelsea
Capacity: 1,100 standing, 450 seated
Industrial chic is given new meaning at the 22,000 square-foot space that is Chelsea Industrial. In a perfect location between Chelsea, Hudson Yards, and Midtown West, this space transforms into whatever your off-site needs may be. There’s 18-foot ceilings, four different space options, two kitchens, truss lighting, and one of the largest indoor video board screens in the city. As an added bonus, this production-ready space kindly offers discount package deals for catering, floral, audio/visual, and rentals exclusively to those hosting team-building events.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 50 standing, 30 seated
Chic and sleek, The Aman New York answers the call for where to take your team if you are looking to impress. This hotel has plenty of refined options inside, but their crown jewel for private event spaces is their Garden Terrace. With sweeping views of the city below, this get-away-from-it-all space is surrounded in greenery with dramatic fire pits and water features. Wintertime? The Aman New York says “no problem” with a retractable glass roof. Dine alfresco and solve all the world’s problems with your team beneath the glittering city high on the Garden Terrace.
Neighborhood: Hell’s Kitchen
Capacity: 1,850 standing
The Glasshouse is ready to host your next teambuilding or meeting event. Add your own lighting, sound, video walls, and branding installations to this perfectly equipped blank space. Centrally located in Hell’s Kitchen, The Glasshouse was completed in 2021, and is leading the way in the event space industry amongst agile professionals. And don’t forget about the two outdoor terraces with direct access to the main floor for when your employees need a breather.
Neighborhood: Gramercy
Capacity: 40 seated
Give praise to Chapel Bar, a totally unique happy hour locale sure to make an impression. Take the team for drinks after a productive day to this reimagined former 19th century chapel, a moody lounge with killer cocktails. Their private event room has space for 40, and has a full-service bar, a portable PA system for presentations, a video projection and monitor, and even a DJ booth. This place will have your guests thanking a higher power.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Capacity: 250 standing, 125 seated, plus breakout rooms
A step above a traditional hotel setting, 1 Hotel Central Park gives you options beyond humdrum meeting spaces. Designed using reclaimed materials, the vibe here is natural and calming. There’s tons of natural light flooding their six options for meeting spaces. While the large Jams Restaurant is always an option for a bigger meeting, consider The Great Lawn for your smaller needs. This space can be partitioned into three separate rooms, offers floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Central Park, a 75” LG HDTV with touch-panel control, Bose Surround Sound, and tons of audio inputs and network ports.
Offer your employees something they cant refuse! Find the top gifts and swag vendors in New York for your next event!
The right venue for your team building event sets the tone for your group meeting or presentation. A fresh meeting space can energize and help employees to look at your organization’s initiatives through a different, clearer lens. Here are a few punch list items to think about when booking your corporate event in New York City:
Location. Do you really want to take your team to a place that’s truly an off-site? Up and away from your office? Or do you think a unique venue right around the corner from HQ will do the job? No matter where you land, make sure the spot is easy to find, easy to get to, and has accessibility for those on your staff that need it.
Budget. Either you have developed the budget, or the parameters you have within to work have been handed down. In all scenarios, you have to stick to a budget. Meeting spots in New York understand that not all meetings take all day – so make sure to ask about hourly rates. There are sometimes discounts for packages and first-time bookers, so be sure to ask.
Vibe. The tone your organization wants to put out there will be a direct reflection in your meeting space. Make sure to select a venue that echoes the values of your company. As it’s been said, image is everything, so pick a spot that shows employees who you are.
Equipment. What is the goal of this team building event? If it’s to educate and inform, will you have everything you need for a presentation? Some venues have unobstructed views, but will they have a sound system? Check ahead of time if you need extra audio/visual or rentals, and always do an on-site tech check.
Now that you know there’s so many great choices, it just comes down to narrowing the list to find a spot that meets all your needs. Source for the best team building meeting spaces on The Vendry and request a proposal directly from your search!
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