SITE: The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park

ADDRESS: 2 West St., New York, NY 10004

PHONE: 212/344-0800

WEB SITE: www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_york_battery_park/

OPENED FOR BUSINESS: January 2002

VISUALS & VIBE: Views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, art deco architecture, public spaces and guest rooms featuring works by more than 100 of the city's top artists.

EVENT AREAS: 4,500-square-foot Ritz-Carlton Ballroom with 3,060-square-foot Harbor Vista pre-function room; 1,800-square-foot Manhattan Ballroom; 607-square-foot Heritage Room; 506-square-foot Boardroom; 465-square-foot Liberty Room.

WHO'S HERE: New York-based event planning company Forward Miller & Co. and New York-based conference management firm Bedlam Entertainment both have staged events at the property recently.

SPECIAL SPACE: The Rise (45-50 reception capacity; 30-35 seated capacity). The hotel's 14th-floor bar offers 180-degree harbor views and an expansive outdoor deck with room for 60 reception guests.

SITE: The Westin New York at Times Square

ADDRESS: 270 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036

PHONE: 212/201-2700

WEB SITE: www.westinny.com

OPENED FOR BUSINESS: October 2002

VISUALS & VIBE: A 45-story architectural landmark close to Jacob K. Javits Center featuring 863 guest rooms, fitness center, spa, sushi bar and steakhouse.

EVENT AREAS: 34,000 square feet of meeting and event space, plus a connection to adjacent Loews Cineplex featuring 13 stadium theaters — the largest with room for 500 seated guests.

WHO'S HERE: Clientele includes SG Cowen, New York Society of Association Executives, American Hotel & Lodging Association, Alaska Airlines.

SPECIAL SPACE: Majestic Ballroom (325 reception capacity; 300 seated capacity). The 3,500-square-foot fifth-floor Majestic features modern technology, and can be divided into two sections.

SITE: Hudson Hotel

ADDRESS: 356 W. 58th St., New York, NY 10019

PHONE: 212/554-6000

WEB SITE: www.hudsonhotel.com/

OPENED FOR BUSINESS: September 2000

VISUALS & VIBE: “An inspired piece of organized chaos,” a hotel spokesperson says. “A reflection and distillation of New York itself, its environment is an exciting urban adventure.”

EVENT AREAS: Two floors of banquet and meeting space totaling 9,000 square feet; 15th-floor Sky Terrace; the verdant, glass-roofed Private Park.

WHO'S HERE: Actor Kevin Spacey threw the launch party for his “online film festival” site triggerstreet.com in Hudson's Library Bar in November; the after-party for the post 9/11 “Concert for New York” was held at the hotel.

SPECIAL SPACE: The Apartment and Rooftop Garden. This 2,000-square-foot space features a panoramic view of New York and the Hudson River.