Sofitel New York Hotel

Like a 30-story ship's prow steaming through the tall towers of midtown Manhattan, the rounded glass-and-limestone facade of Sofitel New York strikes a distinctive profile in a neighborhood rich in architectural statements. Location remains key for this urban boutique-inspired tower; each of its 398 well-appointed guest rooms enjoys prime proximity to New York's most celebrated incentives, including Times Square, Central Park, Fifth Avenue shopping, Broadway theaters, and a cornucopia of trend-setting nightclubs and restaurants.

With seven conference rooms that accommodate 10 to 60, Sofitel New York specializes in quality over quantity when it comes to event space. That said, its 2,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which seats 200, remains a meeting planner's favorite as the only ballroom in town flooded with natural light, thanks to windows that soar two-and-a-half stories high.