The Exhibitor's Travel Guide to New York City

New York City hosts more trade shows than any other city in the Americas. That is not hyperbole. Between the expanded Javits Center, a dozen satellite venues, and a calendar that runs 52 weeks a year, the city processes an extraordinary volume of exhibitors. It also happens to be one of the most expensive and logistically demanding cities on earth. This guide is built to help you navigate both realities.

Whether you are setting up a 10x10 inline booth at NRF or running a 40-foot island at the New York Auto Show, the difference between a productive trip and a miserable one comes down to planning. Here is everything you need to know.

Convention Centers & Venues

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

The Javits Center is the gravitational center of trade shows in New York. After a $1.5 billion expansion completed in 2023, the facility now offers 3.3 million square feet of total space, including a stunning rooftop pavilion and a completely modernized exhibit hall. If you are exhibiting in NYC, the odds are overwhelming that you will be here.

The major shows that call Javits home include:

• NRF (National Retail Federation) Big Show -- the largest retail trade show in the world, held every January
• Toy Fair New York -- the Western Hemisphere's biggest toy industry event
• New York International Auto Show -- one of the most attended auto shows in North America
• BookExpo -- the publishing industry's flagship event
• Fancy Food Show -- the premier specialty food and beverage event in North America
• BDNY (Boutique Design New York) -- the leading hospitality design trade fair

Javits sits on 11th Avenue between 34th and 40th Streets on Manhattan's far west side, directly adjacent to the Hudson Yards development. It is not near a convenient subway station -- that is the single most important thing to know about its location. More on transit below.

Browse all trade shows in New York in our directory.

Best Hotels Near Javits Center

Hotel selection in Manhattan is a game of trade-offs: proximity to Javits versus proximity to restaurants, price versus quality, and quiet versus convenience. The hotels below are all within a realistic distance of the convention center, and each has been selected because exhibitors actually stay there -- not because they look good on a map.

Best Neighborhoods to Stay

Hell's Kitchen / Hudson Yards

This is the exhibitor's neighborhood. Hudson Yards is directly adjacent to Javits, and Hell's Kitchen stretches from 34th to 57th Streets between 8th Avenue and the Hudson River. You can walk to the convention center in under 15 minutes from most points. Restaurants on 9th and 10th Avenues are excellent and priced below Midtown averages. The area has transformed dramatically in recent years, and it is now one of the best places to stay in Manhattan, period.

Midtown West

The blocks between 6th and 8th Avenues, from 34th to 50th Streets, put you within striking distance of Javits while keeping you connected to the rest of the city. Penn Station and the subway hub at Times Square--42nd Street are both accessible. This is the default choice for most business travelers, and for good reason.

Times Square

Yes, the locals will judge you. No, it does not matter. Times Square hotels offer unmatched transit access, late-night dining, and the ability to entertain out-of-town clients who want the full New York experience. The trade-off is noise, crowds, and inflated restaurant prices on Broadway itself. Step one block west to 9th Avenue and prices drop significantly.

Chelsea

South of Javits, Chelsea runs from 14th to 34th Streets. It is quieter, slightly more affordable, and home to an excellent restaurant scene around the 20s on 7th and 8th Avenues. The taxi ride to Javits is short and predictable. The downside: fewer hotel options compared to Midtown, and the subway connections to Javits are no better than from anywhere else.

Getting There & Getting Around

Airports

Three airports serve New York City, and which one you fly into matters more than you might expect:

• John F. Kennedy International (JFK) -- 15 miles from Midtown. Taxi flat rate to Manhattan is $70 plus tolls and tip (typically $85-95 total). The AirTrain + LIRR combination to Penn Station takes about 50 minutes and costs around $18. Rideshares run $65-120 depending on traffic and surge pricing.
• LaGuardia (LGA) -- 8 miles from Midtown. No flat-rate taxi; metered fares run $35-55 depending on traffic. The LaGuardia AirTrain (opened 2025) connects to the 7 train at Mets-Willets Point, putting you on a direct subway line to Hudson Yards. Total cost under $10.
• Newark Liberty International (EWR) -- across the river in New Jersey. Often has the cheapest flights. NJ Transit train to Penn Station takes 30 minutes and costs about $16. Taxi to Midtown runs $60-80 plus tolls. Rideshares are comparable.

Getting to Javits

The single most important piece of transit knowledge for Javits exhibitors: take the 7 train to Hudson Yards (34th St-Hudson Yards station). This is the western terminus of the 7 line, opened in 2015, and it puts you a short walk from the convention center's main entrance. The subway costs $2.90 per ride with an OMNY contactless payment (just tap your credit card or phone) or a MetroCard.

Other options for getting to Javits:

• M34 Select Bus -- runs crosstown along 34th Street directly to Javits. Costs $2.90.
• Taxi/Rideshare -- from Midtown hotels, expect $12-20 before tip. During morning rush, allow 20-30 minutes.
• Walking -- from Times Square hotels, the walk is 1.0-1.5 miles depending on your exact starting point. Manageable in fair weather, brutal in January.

Where to Eat & Entertain Clients

Near Javits / Hudson Yards

The Hudson Yards dining scene has matured rapidly. For a client dinner within walking distance of the convention center, these deliver:

• Peak (Hudson Yards, 101st floor of 30 Hudson Yards) -- modern American with staggering views. Book two weeks ahead during major shows. $$$
• Mercado Little Spain (Hudson Yards) -- José Andrés's Spanish food hall. Perfect for casual team dinners or a quick lunch between sessions. $$
• Queensyard (Hudson Yards) -- British-inspired cuisine, excellent for business dinners. Sophisticated without being stuffy. $$$

Midtown Steakhouses

The classic exhibitor move: take a client to a New York steakhouse. These are the ones that close deals:

• Keens Steakhouse (72 W 36th St) -- mutton chops and 130 years of history. The most atmospheric steakhouse in the city. Walking distance from Javits. $$$
• Quality Meats (57 W 58th St) -- modern steakhouse, inventive sides, strong cocktail program. Impresses without the old-school formality. $$$
• STK Midtown (1114 6th Ave) -- lounge atmosphere, good for younger clients who want energy with their ribeye. $$$

Chelsea Market & Surrounding

Chelsea Market (75 9th Ave) is a 10-minute cab ride south of Javits and functions as an unofficial exhibitor canteen during major shows. The food hall format lets everyone in your group eat what they want. Standouts include Los Tacos No. 1 (fast, excellent tacos), The Lobster Place (seafood counter), and Miznon (Israeli street food). For a proper sit-down nearby, Buddakan on 16th Street delivers dramatic ambiance for group dinners.

Hell's Kitchen - 9th Avenue

Ninth Avenue between 42nd and 56th Streets is the exhibitor's secret dining corridor. Dozens of restaurants span every cuisine at prices that are genuinely reasonable by Manhattan standards. For Thai, try Pure Thai Cookhouse. For Italian, Becco offers an all-you-can-eat pasta deal that is legitimately good. For sushi on a budget, Totto Ramen and its perpetual line are worth the wait.

Exhibitor Packing Tips for NYC

New York punishes bad packing decisions. Hotel rooms are small. Distances are long. Weather is unpredictable. Pack deliberately.

• Comfortable shoes are non-negotiable. You will walk 15,000-20,000 steps on a show day, minimum. The Javits floor is concrete under carpet. Your feet will pay the price if you prioritize fashion over function. Break in your shoes before the trip.
• Check the forecast obsessively. NYC weather varies wildly by season. January means single-digit wind chills along the Hudson (Javits is on the river). August means 95 degrees and suffocating humidity. April and October are pleasant but unpredictable. Layer accordingly.
• Pack compact. Manhattan hotel rooms, even in upscale properties, are notoriously small. A hard-shell carry-on and a single garment bag will serve you better than a checked bag you have nowhere to store. Most hotels will hold luggage after checkout.
• Bring a portable charger. Your phone is your subway pass (OMNY), your rideshare app, your lead capture device, and your restaurant reservation system. A dead battery in Manhattan is a genuine problem. The Anker 313 power bank fits in a jacket pocket and provides two full charges.
• Carry a quality business card holder. Despite the digital shift, business cards remain currency at NYC trade shows. A slim metal card holder keeps them presentable after a full day of networking. Combine with Scannly for instant digital backup of every card you receive.
• Leave the umbrella at home. Buy a $5 umbrella from a street vendor the moment it starts raining. Trying to carry one through Javits security and across a crowded show floor is not worth it.

Pro Tips for NYC Trade Shows