I just can't express enough how important the setting is to how an interview comes off. Central Park with a bit of a reflector instead of lights might be a good option. Lots of pretty and quiet settings there.

How long do you have the executive for? Do you need an executive-type setting?

If you're flexible on these, I would recommend looking for photo studios right across the river in Brooklyn or Queens

http://www.contextnyc.com/contact/index.html
http://brooklynphoto.com/downloads/BPS_Studio_Price_10.pdf
http://www.space523.com/
http://www.3rdward.com/studio-rates/

These are good starting places because they give you rates. Park might be good too if the setting is nice and you et a view of high rises. Depends what you want in the background, how much light control you need, how much sound control too.

Other ideas:
If the exec is located in a building with many tenants, are there empty properties in the building? You might be able to go a few floors up or down and find a location with a window.

You've asked hotels about conference rooms. What about suites or ballrooms? Yeah, it's money but a suite might be nicely furnished with decent views.

Three cameras implies you need a big space that looks good from a few angles.

I went back to reread your post. The still photo studios are still a nice option. I've been in a few in SF that had big windows and nice views. I've also lit a few things in empty properties in high rises, and used larger suites in the St Francis and Fairmont here. These places weren't cramped.

There may also be dance rehearsal spaces that work. Libraries may offer meeting rooms. The city parks department may have properties (I've been in several in SF that had big rooms but old creaky floors). Clubs may have big rooms.

One possibility is to try to contact a location scout in NY. They'll need to get paid but they might be able to hook you up with a location that's cheap. What is probably most important is convenience for the interviewee.

Rob

Every restaurant has a back dining room that is unused during the day. Pay for some food and drinks for your crew and guests, and its use for your interview will likely be gratis.

Every restaurant has a back dining room that is unused during the day. Pay for some food and drinks for your crew and guests, and its use for your interview will likely be gratis.

This is not as far-fetched as it might sound if you use a place that doesn't serve lunch and if you're planning on a short day. You need to wrap before the kitchen starts working, otherwise you'll have noise issues. And of course the room might look like a dining room or like nothing at all. Since it's a three camera shoot you probably need the place to look like something appropriate.

It's hard to pick places when you're coming from out of town and don't have time to scout.

What about the exec's home? It's another option. We did a couple of handfuls of interviews at the homes of VCs this year and for the most part it worked out well.

Rob

If you're flexible on these, I would recommend looking for photo studios right across the river in Brooklyn or Queens
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You can rent them cheap in Manhattan as well.

There are also rehearsal spaces for rent.

John

Do yourself a favor and get a place where you have control over audio. Photo studios can seem like a good idea, except for the music and noise filtering in from the next space. Rehearsal spaces can be even worse (deoending whether they happen to be holding auditions for an opera next door or a tap dance show upstairs -- both of which have happened to me.) Don't even think about a park location - unless you can guarantee the weather and have clearance from the parks department to get them to keep their mowing workers away.
There are plenty of hotels that have quiet conference rooms, and of course there are sound studios that really are quiet. Or upgrade your hotel room to a decent sized suite (we shoot in them all the time for press junkets with two or three cameras), and some hotels - such as the Regency - actually have suites that are already wired with additional power for lights so you don't have to worry about blowing circuits (or paying extra for an electrician to come and give you an electrical drop. Plus of course a suite will give you a nicer place to stay while you're in town.