The best conference spaces to rent in Manhattan

Spotted: an Event Coordinator about to fulfill the dreams of all the millennial women in the office when they hear where this year's conference is going to take place. Sure the Lotte New York Palace was originally the mansion of 19th-century railway tycoon Henry Vaillard, but more importantly, it was the home of Manhattan's favorite Gossip Girl, Serena van der Woodsen.

Whether you associate Lotte New York Palace with its vast history or its appearance in a hit 2000s teen drama TV series, there's no doubt your team is going to be inspired working in a place this extravagant. The hotel has over 20 meeting rooms and event spaces that are so elaborately decorated, they're second only to Versailles.

With 30,000 sq. ft. of available event space, be careful not to lose any of your colleagues to the labyrinthine halls of the Vaillard Mansion at your conference event. Double-checking attendance will take a while though, as this venue can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. Good luck, Upper East Siders!

Originally the carriage house for the historic B. Altman department store, The Altman Building is a unique conference venue that reflects its storied past. The horses and carriages are long gone and have left behind a versatile event space.

With a star-studded list of previous clients, the venue is a chameleon, shifting into a fashion show runway one day and a car expo host the next. This adaptability is ideal for conferences as the space can become a full extension of your company's branding.

This venue is also an overplanner's dream with extensive details of their audio-visual capabilities, down to a map of each and every power outlet in their 10,000 sq. ft. space. Additionally, they have an array of in-house add-ons like catering for up to 500 guests, furniture rentals, and a list of preferred vendors.

If you're looking to keep your conference all under one roof, the Arlo SoHo offers dynamic meeting spaces and private dining options in addition to their cozy hotel rooms with city views. Perfect for smaller groups, your team will feel right at home in this modern, Scandi-inspired venue.

From bookcase-lined meeting rooms to a collection of vinyl records in the conference room, the workspaces at Arlo SoHo feel like hanging out at your coolest, artsiest friend's apartment. The hotel also includes a quirky outdoor seating area, an on-site bodega, and two restaurants, so you never have to venture out into the hustle and bustle of Manhattan if you don't want to!

The meeting spaces can accommodate up to 15 people. There are also Arlo locations in Midtown, NoMad, and Williamsburg.

If you're going to spend most of your time in Manhattan in a conference room, you better make sure it has a good view. The Standard East Village certainly fits the bill, with its sleek Penthouse event space that boasts panoramic views of the city. This space can transform to include theater seating arrangements, comfortable conversation chairs, or U-shape conference tables.

While the main event space can accommodate up to 150 people, the hotel has several smaller meeting spaces to hold more intimate conversations. An inviting sitting area called the Perch can act as a casual workspace, located just off the more traditional boardroom.

The Standard also offers private dining options for your team in addition to their on-site restaurants, Cafe Standard and Partridge.

Once frequented by the likes of Edgar Allan Poe and Ralph Waldo Emerson, The Beekman Hotel has been an integral part of the New York art scene since the building became one of Manhattan's first skyscrapers in 1881. The hotel would be an ideal setting for publishing or literary conferences, or any organization that wants to tap into its decades of creative energy.

Your guests are sure to be awestruck by the grandeur of the venue’s Victorian architecture, from the ornate main atrium to the vintage details in the four meeting rooms. But don't let the delicately preserved details of the hotel fool you, they still have state-of-the-art audio-visual systems to make sure you can share your history-making ideas.

The Beekman can host up to 130 guests in their largest event space, Clinton Hall, and the entire lower level can be booked for up to 225. They also offer guided tours if your team would like to learn more about the hotel's fascinating history.