Grand Central and Penn Station are the two anchors
If your meetings are in Midtown East or you are travelling on by rail, staying beside Grand Central removes a daily problem. For Hudson Yards, the Javits Center or trains from Moynihan, the Penn Station end of Midtown West is the equivalent.
Airport routes matter more than distance
Grand Central and Penn Station both connect towards the airports without crossing town first. That is worth more on a tight schedule than being marginally closer to the office.
Check what the room gives you to work with
Many New York rooms have no usable desk. The hotels here have either the space or the layout to work in, and several offer suites with a separate sitting area for the same money as a standard room in a more fashionable district.
The shortlist
Hotels that fit, and why.
InterContinental New York Barclay
A 1926 hotel built as part of the Terminal City scheme around Grand Central, a few minutes' walk from the station.
- Subway
- 51 St, Lexington Av-53 St and Grand Central-42 St
The Westin New York Grand Central
774 rooms about a block from Grand Central and two from the United Nations. Efficient rather than characterful, which is the point.
- Subway
- Grand Central-42 St
Hyatt Grand Central New York
Physically attached to Grand Central Terminal, so unbeatable for onward rail. Note the building is earmarked for eventual demolition.
- Subway
- Grand Central-42 St
Pendry Manhattan West
Modern rooms in the Manhattan West development, beside Moynihan Train Hall and Hudson Yards.
- Subway
- 34 St-Penn Station and 34 St-Hudson Yards
Equinox Hotel New York
Rooms from 400 square feet with medical-grade filtered air and a 60,000 square foot gym, in Hudson Yards. The best option if the trip is long or you train seriously.
- Subway
- 34 St-Hudson Yards on the 7 line
InterContinental New York Times Square
607 rooms and 14,000 square feet of event space on the western edge of the Theater District, useful when the meeting is in the hotel.
- Subway
- 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal and Times Square-42 St
The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York
A quiet Midtown East address built around sleep, with suites that include kitchenettes for longer stays.
- Subway
- 51 St and Lexington Av-53 St
Fast answers
Questions UK travellers ask.
Where should I stay in New York for business?
Midtown East around Grand Central for rail connections and most corporate offices, or the Penn Station and Hudson Yards end of Midtown West for the Javits Center and the newer office towers.
Which New York hotels are best for reaching the airports?
Hotels near Grand Central and Penn Station connect towards the airports without crossing town first. From Midtown East, allow around an hour to JFK and slightly more to Newark at peak times.
Do New York hotel rooms have desks?
Often not a usable one. Compact-room hotels in particular have a shelf rather than a desk. If you will be working in the room, book a suite or choose a hotel with larger rooms such as the Langham or Equinox.
Sources and update notes
Last updated: 17 August 2026. Hotel rates, fees, rules and transport details can change.