In mid-September, New York City-based Convene Hospitality Group—parent company of meeting- and event-venue brands Convene and Etc.venues—opened its latest Convene venue set within New York City’s Hudson Yards neighborhood. Dubbed Convene 30 Hudson Yards, the space is located on the 24th floor of the 30 Hudson Yards skyscraper and makes up one of 16 Convene-branded locations in New York City and one of 37 total Convene Hospitality Group locations globally (across the U.S. and U.K.). Northeast Meetings + Events caught up with Phoenix Porcelli, senior vice president of sales at Convene Hospitality Group and a certified meeting planner, about what planners can look forward to at the new gathering spot.
M+E: What sets Convene 30 Hudson Yards apart from other venues in the hospitality group’s portfolio?
PP: Many of our existing clients are based in Hudson Yards and have been asking for us to have a presence in the neighborhood for quite some time—this venue certainly delivers. Convene 30 Hudson Yards also is one of the biggest venues in our global portfolio—it spans 72,000 square feet and accommodates events of up to 1,500 attendees. It also has incredible digital branding opportunities—we have a dedicated retail-level lobby with two LED screens that are 13 feet tall and, in the main gallery space within the venue, there are two LED screens that are 20 feet in width, as well as projection-mapped partitions. And we know natural light is important to our clients as well—this venue not only has oversized windows throughout but also offers breathtaking views of Manhattan.
M+E: On the Convene Hospitality Group website, it says its venues “revolutionize the way people meet, work, and gather.” What does this mean?
PP: [Our original company] was founded 16 years ago (as Sentry Centers) under the premise of bringing hospitality experiences to commercial real-estate assets. Our focus has always been to lead with a hospitality-first mindset, and the way we approach our service delivery as a one-stop solution—with food and beverage, audiovisual and tech, and planning resources—has been revolutionary in the meetings, events, and flexible workplace industries.
M+E: What is the Hudson Yards neighborhood like? Is there anything especially interesting near the new venue groups can check out before or after meetings?
PP: Hudson Yards is one of the newest neighborhoods in Manhattan and has already cemented itself as one of the city’s most iconic mixed-use destinations. This city within a city is the perfect place to host an event with plenty for delegates to do nearby, including fine dining, shopping, and outdoor activities like Vessel and The High Line. The highlight, though, has to be the observation deck at the top of the 30 Hudson Yards building called Edge; it’s the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere and has the most incredible panoramic views.
