NYC & Company, New York City’s destination marketing organisation, invites meeting planners and attendees to “Make it NYC” and plan their next meeting, corporate event or team-building activity in the Bronx.

Just 20 minutes from Midtown Manhattan by the B, D,1, 2,4,5, 6 subway lines or Metro-North Railroad from Grand Central Terminal, the Bronx is an easily accessible destination for one-of-a-kind meetings and events.

Beautiful outdoor spaces, luxurious venues, historic landmarks and cultural institutions are just some of the many options when considering the Bronx for your next big event.

“The Bronx provides endless opportunities for planners looking to create standout meetings and events in New York City’s northernmost borough,” said Jerry Cito, Senior Vice President of Convention Development.

“From private suites at Yankee Stadium and outdoor reception space among the animals at the Bronx Zoo to authentic food and culture, the Bronx brings a new take on the typical New York City meetings and events experience.”

Attractions and Venues

The Bronx is home to many of New York City’s well-known attractions and museums, each providing its own unique spaces and team-building activities.

Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees, offers unforgettable experiences for up to 10,000 attendees with flexible conference and meeting spaces. The stadium’s bi-level Legends Suite Club can host seated dinners and receptions from 400 to 500 guests on either of its levels overlooking the ballpark.

The Ford Field MVP Club behind home plate is great for trade shows and conferences, with accommodations up to 500 for a standing reception or 396 seated. NYY Steak, a classic steakhouse that overlooks the stadium’s Great Hall, is another option to consider.

Built in 1843, the historic Wave Hill House along the Hudson River is a hidden treasure in the Bronx. Featuring beautiful gardens and serene landscape, Wave Hill offers flexible meeting and conference room spaces that were renovated in 2013. The 28-acre center can accommodate up to 175 guests for conferences, corporate retreats, lectures and events.

A “wild” time awaits attendees at the Bronx Zoo, with its exotic indoor and outdoor spaces that are sure to leave a memorable impression. The zoo’s Schiff Family Great Hall can host up to 200 reception guests, or enjoy a reception with the gorillas at the indoor area of the Congo Gorilla Forest, which can accommodate up to 80 guests.

With 250 acres of rolling hills and beautiful gardens, the New York Botanical Garden offers flexible indoor and outdoor spaces for corporate events and other occasions. The venue can accommodate a large-scale celebration for up to 700 guests in spaces such as its Victorian-style Enid A.

Haupt Conservatory (up to 1,000 guests with outdoor tent), the Garden Terrace Room (up to 330 guests) and Stone Mill, an outdoor terrace surrounded by evergreen trees with capacity for 120 guests. On display April 22 – October 29 is the garden’s CHIHULY exhibition, featuring dynamic glass installations by world-renowned sculptor David Chihuly.

The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts at Lehman College is a performance venue near Van Cortlandt Park that can host up to 2,310 attendees seated—perfect for seminars, conferences and more. The venue offers year-round entertainment, including ballet performances, concerts and films.

Dinging, Culture and Sightseeing

The Bronx’s neighborhoods are cultural destinations unto themselves, and the boroughs museums and parks make great places to plan a day trip after a long day of meetings.

Attendees can get lost through the lush landscapes of Van Cortlandt Park and Pelham Bay Park, experience the “real Little Italy” and taste Italian fare at places like Mike’s Deli and Terranova Bakery in the Belmont neighborhood, or even learn a thing or two about the Bronx’s place in music history.

At Trump Golf Link at Ferry Point, attendees can tee off at the longest public golf course in the City at 7,407 yards. The 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature Design, state-of-the-art course features pristine tees, fairways and greens that overlook the East River, as well as the Whitestone and Throgs Neck Bridges.

The course offers special golf outings that can be customized to any client’s needs, from personalized cart signs to made-to-order lunches on the course, dinner receptions and tournaments up to 144 players.

From poetry to hip-hop, the Bronx’s fascinating history is meant to be explored. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage in Fordham, where the poet spent the last years of his life, from 1846 to 1849, is a must-see for fans of his work.

Fast forward to the days of hip-hop music with Hush Hip Hop Tours, where groups can board a bus led by entertaining musicians who showcase important sites throughout the borough that played a role in the early days of hip-hop, including the Bronx Walk of Fame.

Located along the Grand Concourse, the Bronx Museum of the Arts features the borough’s emerging artists and its culturally diverse background. The museum can be rented out for receptions, seated dinners and conferences that can range from as few as 40 guests to up to 275 in its Lower Gallery space.

A restored Georgian-style mansion dating back to 1748, the Van Cortlandt House Museum at Van Cortlandt Park can be rented out for parties and events. Known as the borough’s oldest house, the New York City Landmark and National Historic Landmark was briefly used by George Washington as headquarters during the American Revolution.

At the 400-acre Woodlawn Cemetery in Woodlawn, attendees can join a guided tour of New York City’s most famous resting ground, home to many notable New Yorkers including Herman Melville and Miles Davis. The cemetery is a National Historic Landmark that dates back to 1863.

The Woodlawn area is also known as “Little Ireland,” with authentic Irish culture that weaves through the neighbourhood.

Hotels

Whether it’s a corporate event or a face-to-face meeting, the 125-room Residence Inn New York The Bronx at Metro Center Atrium in the East Bronx is one of the borough’s newest hotels.

With 1,500 square feet of event space that can accommodate up to 134 people, the hotel is a perfect location for smaller meetings. It is also just minutes away from the world-famous Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden.

Another great option is the 60-room Opera House Hotel in the South Bronx, which was once home to the storied Bronx Opera House. The hotel’s Houdini room can accommodate groups of up to 25, while the more intimate Burns room can accommodate eight.

Its location makes it the ideal place to experience the nearby Arthur Avenue Retail Market, with authentic Italian fare, or for those conducting business at nearby Columbia University Business School.

For more information on planning a meeting or event in the Bronx, visit nycgo.com/makeitnyc. To contact a member of NYC & Company’s Destination Services team, visit nycandcompany.org/destinationservices.