Anyone who travels frequently for work will tell you that business travel isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Delayed flights, traffic, jet-lag, and being stuck in an endless array of conference rooms doesn’t necessarily make for pleasant travel experiences. But travelling for work doesn’t need to be a bore and my recent business trip to New York City was the perfect example of taking advantage of travelling in a cultural metropolis for business.
New York City is exciting, dynamic and oozes success. Wall Street, the publishing industry and much of the entertainment industry are all based here. The city boasts some of the best restaurants in the world, an endless list of tourist attractions and world-class theatres. Honestly, the toughest part about being a business traveller in the Big Apple is deciding where to begin.
TOP 3 TIPS
- Pick your hotel carefully to help reduce stress. I love to look for hotels that are located either around the corner from a meeting venue or somewhere close to great transport links. Super-fast Wi-Fi is a must & look for good concierge reviews – their assistance during your stay can be priceless.
- Try local cuisines. Often when traveling for business there is no time to experience the sights and attractions but we all need to eat so there are no excuses for not exploring the local food culture at markets and restaurants. (And I have found many clients love to try new haunts in their own city).
- Travel light. I despise waiting for luggage in airports – if you can get away with travelling with ‘carry-on’ only you will win the
Where to Stay in NYC?
Boutique
Hotel Chandler – 12 East 31st Street, New York City, NY 10016,
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World this is a hotel that maintains a timeless character, historic grace with a contemporary feel that is appealing to both tourists and business travellers. Located just off Madison Avenue in the NoMad/Flatiron neighbourhood, a stone’s throw from the Empire State building and walking distance to mid-town. Rooms a small but comfortable and with complimentary Molten Brown products and high-speed Wi-Fi you can’t go wrong.
Adventurous
Airbnb Apartments
Book an apartment near your favourite haunts. This is probably the best way to experience the local culture and can be a cost-effective way to travel. Our favourites are the lush apartments offered in SoHo and trendy studios in the glamorous Meatpacking District.
Getting Around
Taxi: Cabs are one of the easiest ways to travel from Airports to Manhattan. The flat-rate fare from JFK is $55, plus tip and tolls. Fares from Newark Liberty International Airport are also flat-rate, but depending on the zone, will run anywhere from $50 to $80.
Subway: Navigating NYC’s subway can be daunting. Always carry a subway map, look out for ‘Express’ trains & download the City Mapper app.
Where to Eat:
Buddakan
Truly unique Asian food done to perfection.
Located in Chelsea (next to the beautiful and exciting Chelsea Market), Buddakan is a place where people go to be seen. Fortunately it’s a lot more than that. The cocktails are amazing (I recommend the one with lychees, vodka and sake), the Asian dumplings outstanding – in fact everything on the menu is. The ambiance is similar to a night club, (perhaps too dark for a meeting but excellent for low-key business networking).
By Stacey Kehoe
