62 / ConferenCe & Meetings World / issUe 66New Yorksectors. This year alone, we have received bookings from media, finance, pharmaceutical, beauty, telecoms and automotive industries to name just a few," he added.When challenged about the perceptions that NYC is expensive, Cito told CMW: "There is great added value available to planners in our leaner months, particularly in the first quarter of every year. Planners can secure competitive rates from hotels during these periods. We have also recently extended our 'Meet Me on Sunday' package which allows concessions to event planners booking meetings over a Sunday."NYC is one of the most exciting and aspirational cities in the world.Combined with our positioning as a leading business hub, we are fortunate to be able to attract the interest of the majority of industry sectors," added Cito.With worldwide attendance usually at a high when events are hosted in NYC, holding your event in the city that never sleeps surely makes business sense. There is great added value available to planners in our leaner months NYC aNd CompaNY's jerrY Cito events from 20 to 5,000 people with both indoor and outdoor options. Ellis Island, which was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States from 1892 until 1954, provides a unique opportunity to strategise with your team while immersed in the history of its Great Hall. The venue can host up to 100 people for unique events or meetings.In keeping with the historic theme, for those meeting planners that want something unique for their event, historic Grand Central Station offers numerous event spaces. The station, which dates back to 1913, offers its Vanderbilt Hall for corporate and fundraising events, exhibits, fashion shows and product launches and The Northeast Balcony for private social and corporate receptions on a more intimate scale. Guests can also take part in private tours of the station, highlights of which include a 50-foot sculpture by Jules- Alexis Coutan of Mercury, Minerva and Hercules, a 13-foot, century-old Tiffany clock above the entrance and a vaulted Sky Ceiling of zodiac constellations painted by French Artist Paul Helleu.A bureau perspective NYC and Company's First Vice President of Convention Development, Jerry Cito, said he has an easy job marketing NYC to meeting planners. "An event in NYC guarantees record attendance, so it always proves popular with association business. We are home to some key associations across various sectors and they find a lot of synergy in placing congresses or meetings in the city," he told CMW."There are more than 42 Fortune 500 companies based in NYC, which is more than any other city in the world. Our global business positioning allows us to attract all For meeting planners organising a post-event tour for delegates, NYC and Company's suggestions are: MorningStart at Rockefeller Center, a familiar NYC location. Take the elevator to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck. The vantage spot opens at 8am, and you will beat the biggest crowds if you get there at breakfast time (late at night works, too, as it closes at midnight). The deck provides one of the best views of New York City's skyline and cityscape, which features over 100 buildings measuring 152 metres or taller. Back down at street level, head three blocks north to The Museum of Modern Art, then head uptown to Central Park, the common space is a green oasis in the middle of the big city.AfternoonVisit east of Central Park and Museum Mile, which has nine museums on this stretch of Fifth Avenue. Next, take part in another quintessential New York City experience, a subway ride. Catch the nearest downtown train, travelling the way locals do. Find your way to the stop closest to City Hall, where you can view the architecture of the structure, one of the nation's oldest still-functioning civic buildings. From the City Hall grounds, glance eastward at the Brooklyn Bridge, still an inspiring architectural marvel at more than 125 years old. Then drop by Federal Hall National Memorial, the site where George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States and where the Bill of Rights was passed. Your final downtown stop is the South Street Seaport, an area that boasts waterfront views and numerous dining and shopping venues.EveningAn evening uptown in Harlem, one of the City's most vibrant neighbourhoods and a world capital of African-American history and culture, is suggested. Settle in one of Harlem's eminent performing arts venues. The Apollo Theater's Amateur Night is a long-standing institution that has hosted luminaries such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. NYC in a dayAbove: empire state Building

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