Whichever nickname you prefer — The Big Apple, Fun City, The City that Never Sleeps — there is no denying New York City is like no other city on earth. America’s largest metropolis (population 8 million) has long been a dominant force in the global economy and exerts a huge influence on domestic and international trade and commerce. CEOs and major financiers are frequent visitors to this epicenter of free-market capitalism where big deals are commonplace and billions of dollars change hands every day. Home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other city, it is a magnet attracting the best and brightest from coast to coast and around the world who come here year after year in search of fame and fortune.

While New York City is made up of five boroughs — Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island — Manhattan is where the action is and much of the wheeling and dealing revolves around the traders, brokers, lawyers and investment bankers who work in the downtown financial district which is responsible for approximately 20 percent of the city’s annual earnings. Last year was a banner for the New York Stock Exchange as the stock market attained record heights and some of the biggest bonuses in history were distributed to the employees of Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street firms. Among the corporate giants with headquarters in Lower Manhattan are Lehman Brothers, American Express and Dow Jones.

The New York real estate market is especially hot right now as property values continue to rise citywide. Meanwhile, the construction business is also flourishing with new commercial and residential buildings going up and renovations of existing structures taking place at a phenomenal rate. By the end of this year, 5,000 new hotel rooms will be added to the city’s current inventory of 71,000 rooms. Building is also underway on the expansion of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center which will increase convention space to more than one million square feet while enlarging exhibit areas, adding meeting rooms and boosting ballroom square footage.

The soaring real estate market and associated construction boom have been accompanied by a steady growth in tourism which is vital to New York City’s economic well-being. Latest statistics compiled by the New York City Convention & Visitors Bureau show that an all time high of 44 million visitors spent more than $24 billion in 2006.

Tourism spending last year generated more than $5 billion in city, state and federal taxes which helped finance essential services including the police and fire departments, public education, sanitation services and the transportation infrastructure. More than 7 million international arrivals in 2006 solidified New York’s No. 1 ranking as the favorite U.S. destination among foreign visitors. The strength of the pound and euro against the dollar was a major factor encouraging visitors from the continent. In fact, the number of overseas visitors surged during December when more than one million Europeans flocked here on Christmas shopping sprees.

LODGING

WARWICK NEW YORK HOTEL

Built by legendary publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst in 1927, this midtown favorite is across the street from the Museum of Modern Art and just a short walk from Central Park, Broadway and Rockefeller Center. The Renaissance revival structure was originally a residential hotel with private apartments for Hearst’s Hollywood friends. The 359 guestrooms and 67 suites are exceptionally spacious and stylishly furnished with mahogany armoires and marble baths. Other amenities include wireless Internet access, voicemail, data port, cable TV, in-room safe and 24-hour room service.There are also seven meeting and banquet rooms that can accommodate up to 650 people. The newly renovated Murals on 54 restaurant serves innovative continental cuisine while Randolph’s Bar and Grill features its signature cocktail “The Rosebud.” $$$$.
WARWICK NEW YORK HOTEL
65 W. 54 St.
tel 212 247 2700, fax 212 247 2725
http://www.warwickhotelsny.com

THE WALDORF-ASTORIA

This 42-story, 1,425 room (including 276 suites) art deco masterpiece was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1931. It is one of the top meeting places in the city with 60,000 square feet of meetings’ space. The centerpiece of the ornately decorated lobby is the mammoth bronze and mahogany clock from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Hotel amenities include a multilingual staff, business services, fitness center and spa, beauty salon, afternoon tea and 24-hour room service. The ultra-exclusive Waldorf Towers has a separate entrance, reception desk and concierge. The Waldorf also has three restaurants and four bars; the Bull and Bear is known for its USDA-certified Angus beef, while Oscar’s is an American brasserie and Inagiku offers Japanese cuisine. $$$$
THE WALDORF -ASTORIA
301 Park Ave.
tel 212 355 3000, fax 212 872 7272
http://www.waldorf.com

TRIBECA GRAND

This 203-room hotel is situated in the heart of the trendy TriBeCa neighborhood, just a short distance from the financial district. It is built around an eight-story atrium covered by a huge glass skylight; on the atrium’s ground floor is the fashionable Church Lounge which serves as a bar, cafe and dining room offering a limited menu. For a more extensive menu, guests can dine at the hotel’s Chambers Restaurant. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the well-appointed, sleekly furnished rooms feel much larger. All rooms have web TV and high-speed Internet access. There are also meeting rooms, a business center and an exercise room. $$$-$$$$
TRIBECA GRAND
2 Ave. of the Americas
tel 212 519 6600, fax 212 519 6700
http://www.tribecagrand.com

DINING

BOND 45

For the quintessential New York dining experience check out this oasis of sophistication in the heart of the theater district near Times Square. The restaurant occupies a landmark building that was formerly the Hammerstein Theater where the Ziegfield Follies performed on the roof. These days, it is a favorite of theatergoers who dine on fresh antipasto, homemade mozzarella, veal, seafood and USDA prime steaks aged 28 days. $$$
BOND 45
154 W. 45 St.
tel 212 869 4545
http://www.bond45.com

NICE MATIN

This culinary treasure on the upper west side is named after Nice, France — and it exudes the joie de vivre atmosphere of the Riviera hot spot. The Nicoise cuisine features starters such as pissaladiere (pizza with slow cooked onions, olives and thyme) pistou (thick vegetable soup with pesto) and grilled sweetbreads. Among the entrees are casserole of chicken with morels and buttered leeks, savory grilled rosemary leg of lamb, and roast codfish with ratatouille. $$$
NICE MATIN
201 W. 79 St.
tel 212 873 6423
http://www.tourdefrancenyc.com

MICHAELS OF BROADWAY
Especially convenient for those doing business in the financial district, this family-run restaurant is just steps away from Wall Street. Specialties include Michael’s famous grilled steaks and chops and classic seafood dishes. Try the crab cakes and cold seafood platter. $$-$$$
MICHAEL’S OF BROADWAY
65 Broadway
tel 212 480 1010
http://www.michaelsofbroadway.com

DIVERSIONS

There is no better place to combine business with pleasure than New York City. After the sun goes down, Times Square is transformed into a dazzling, neon wonderland where gigantic electronic billboards sizzle and blast bold messages above Broadway marquees. From its former state of grime and crime, the area around 42 Street and Seventh Avenue extending for several blocks in all directions has undergone a dramatic makeover and nowadays is a much cleaner and safer neighborhood where crowds linger past midnight.

From uptown to downtown throughout the night and into the wee hours, the beat goes on in auditoriums, performance halls and nightclubs where world class musicians and entertainers play to packed houses Monday through Sunday. There are symphony concerts at Carnegie Hall (W. 57 St. at Seventh Ave., tel 212 747 7800, http://www.carnegiehall.org), opera and ballet performances at Lincoln Center (W. 62 St. to W. 66 St. between Broadway and Amsterdam, tel 212 875 5000, http://www.lincolncenter.org), and rock-and-roll concerts at Radio City Music Hall (1260 Sixth Ave., tel 212 247 4777, http://www.radiocity.com ). Or take in a performance at one of the city’s finest jazz clubs such as the Blue Note (131 W. Third Street, tel 212 475 8592), Birdland (315 W. 44 St., tel 212 581 3080), or Iridium (48 W. 63 St., tel 212 582 2121).

“Working hard and playing hard,” could well be the motto for this city that moves full speed ahead 24/7. Step outside your hotel and you will be caught up as throngs of jostling pedestrians pound the sidewalks amid the cacophonous honks of taxis blaring in unison with the subterranean rumblings of the subways. For a refreshing day-time change of pace, head to Central Park. The 840-acre expanse of woodlands interspersed with gardens, meadows and lakes is an urban oasis. The park is a terrific place to observe New Yorkers in a romantic mood as couples stroll arm-in-arm or cuddle on the spacious lawns. Motor traffic is banned on weekends when people engage in a variety of recreational pursuits including jogging, bicycling, rollerblading and horseback riding.You can also go for a ride around the park in one of the famed horse-drawn carriages.

World Trade Center Update

The loss of 3,000 lives and the destruction of the 16-acre World Trade Center site on 9/11 tested the resilience of New Yorkers. Five years later, rebuilding is underway on the site with the 1776-foot Freedom Tower slated for completion sometime in 2010. The tower will house 2.6 million square feet of office space, along with a rooftop restaurant and observation deck. A state-of-the-art transit center — the World Trade Center Transportation Hub — is also under construction. When completed, it will be home to New Jersey PATH trains; connect to 11 subway lines via the Fulton Street Transit Center; and link pedestrians to the World Financial Center and Hudson River ferry terminals.

INFO TO GO

International visitors arrive at either John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Domestic flights arrive at both JFK and EWR, plus LaGuardia Airport (LGA).It takes between 50 to 60 minutes to get to Manhattan from JFK by taxi. The flat rate is $45. From LGA to Manhattan, the ride takes 30 to 40 minutes at a cost of $30-$35. It is a 40- to 60-minute taxi ride from EWR to Manhattan with the fare averaging $55-$60. In all cases, toll charges are applied in addition to the total fare.