Located on the corner of 50th Street and Lexington Avenue, The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York offers meeting planners a boutique setting in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The historic landmark hotel completed a $25 million renovation in 2024, refreshing its 209 guest rooms and 97 suites with contemporary design elements, curated artwork, and a modern American dining concept featuring warm wood finishes, bold lighting, and gold accents.
For meetings and events, the hotel offers 2,200 square feet of flexible space suited for Executive board meetings, interviews, private receptions, and other intimate gatherings.
That combination of location and atmosphere appealed to Sara Webster, director of brand and customer experience at RMR Group, a nationally integrated commercial real estate platform, when she planned a 15-person board meeting at the property.
“We selected The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York because of its intimate atmosphere and central Midtown location, which made it incredibly convenient for our guests,” Webster says. “Compared to other venues we considered, The Benjamin felt elevated without being overly formal, which was exactly the tone we wanted.”
From the planning stages through the event itself, Webster says the hotel’s team proved to be an invaluable partner.
“Our event spanned several days and required quite a bit of coordination. The team at The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York exceeded expectations at every step,” she says. “From the initial planning calls through the week of the event, they were very responsive and invested in its success. They shared photos of the spaces and helped us optimize the room layouts to fit our needs. And you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted their ‘croffle!’ Onsite, their professionalism allowed us to focus fully on our guests rather than the logistics.”
SPACES DESIGNED FOR CONNECTION
The executive committee and board members met in the 380-square-foot Sonesta Work Suite, the 576-square-foot Corner Room, and the 240-square-foot Avery Room. Groups looking for larger private events can buy out The Parliament Restaurant, the hotel’s 2,300-square-foot dining destination, which accommodates up to 120 guests for receptions. And with Executive Chef Rakmin Lee overseeing the menu, private events are complemented by thoughtfully crafted cuisine. For executive retreats or VIP gatherings, the 1,516-square-foot Benjamin Penthouse with terrace and the 971-square-foot Beverly Penthouse with corner terrace provide exclusive meeting and entertaining options.
“Overall, the team’s partnership made the event feel effortless,” Webster says. “Everything down to the final details was handled flawlessly. I would highly recommend The Benjamin Royal Sonesta New York to any team looking for a polished, well-executed event experience in New York City.”
When business wraps up, some may want to visit the hotel’s Royal Reflection Wellness Spa for a relaxing massage, facial, or body scrub. But if sightseeing is on the list, attendees are within walking distance of iconic Midtown attractions, including Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall, making it easy to incorporate networking outings or post-meeting exploration into the agenda. For more information: https://nyc.sonesta.com/the-benjamin/
