Why Downtown NYC is the Best Kept Secret for Corporate Events

Over the last two decades, Lower Manhattan, also known as New York City's “Financial District," has increasingly become a major focal point and a preferred destination for both business and leisure.

Pre-9/11, it was only South Street Seaport that brought hints of liveliness to the Financial District. On most days, the surrounding area primarily served as a 9-5 office hub for bankers and lawyers. Post-9/11, a series of new infrastructure, retail, and cultural investments have transformed downtown into multi-faceted epicenter for work and play.

Forward-thinking media and technology companies took notice, and moved a few miles south from Midtown. Conde Nast, Time Inc, Droga 5, Spotify, Mediamath, and Vox Media are just some of the tenants now surrounding Wall Street.

Even the residential neighborhoods have become more desirable: there are actually three times more people that live in downtown today than in 2001. Hundreds of retail stores and restaurants have opened, and landmarks such as the Oculus, Brookfield Place, and Westfield World Trade Center Mall have become a window wanderer's paradise.

Meeting planners who've been looking for new neighborhoods and higher-end experiences to provide for their attendees in New York City can now rejoice. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about corporate events in the Financial District:

Ease of transportation

The 2014 completion of the $1.4 billion Fulton Street Station project, allows meeting and events participants to easily get downtown via 11 different subway lines. Free buses offering 35 stops around the entire perimeter of lower Manhattan now bring Soho, Chinatown, and Little Italy within arm’s reach – and you might even stumble upon a Tommy Hilfiger fashion show or the Tribeca Film Festival along the way.

Depth of culinary options

The 2016 opening of Eataly Downtown, the minted Michelin star restaurant L'Appart at Brookfield Place, and the upscale City Acres Food Hall located in the heart of the Financial District have turned the area into a foodie's paradise.

"Instagrammable" moments

A 10 block radius offers breathtaking views of many of New York City's greatest treasures - including the World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Battery Park, and the Hudson River.

World-class event venues

Convene offers three premium meeting and event venues in Downtown New York City for groups of up to 615 people. Take advantage of our unique gallery space, amphitheater seating, and luxurious boardrooms with some of the most amazing skyline views into the rest of Manhattan.

If you'd like to do additional research on planning an event in the Financial District, there are two other great resources to leverage. The Downtown Alliance offers the latest news and cultural activities, and NYC & Co's destination services are helpful for first-time meeting planners who need to be further convinced that the Big Apple is the greatest on earth.

If you want to spend more time enjoying New York City and less time worrying about the details surrounding your event, check out Convene’s carefully curated event packages. The support teams at all of our New York City locations are ready to help ensure a seamless event planning process from start to finish. Contact us to talk to an expert or book a tour of our Downtown venues.

This post was updated February 27, 2023