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Mighty. Beautiful. Ideal. Pittsburgh.

What do New Zealand, Finland and Pittsburgh have in common? They are among top four worldwide locations named as the “Best Places to Travel in 2017” by Harper’s Bazaar. “We’ve gone as far as to dub the ‘Burgh America’s Most Underrated City—and for good reason,” the magazine states. “It’s not the first thing you think of when dreaming of a weekend getaway, innovative food scene or art hub, but it delivers on all accounts in droves.”

Delegates can see a show at any of the nine Cultural District theaters, stroll or bike along river trails and be amazed at The Andy Warhol Museum. Yes, Pittsburgh is packed with possibilities – and boasts 300-plus restaurants all within easy walking distance from the 20 hotels located near the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Meeting attendees shouldn’t forget to look up when they’re in Pittsburgh, as the city was also recently named among “America’s Favorite Cities for Architecture” by Travel + Leisure. “Pittsburgh is naturally gorgeous,” writes Peter Schlesinger. “Thankfully for today’s visitors, the city’s architecture has managed to match the surroundings.” 

Arriving in Pittsburgh International is a pleasure for convention attendee and tourists alike. Air Transport Magazine, part of the Aviation Week Network, named Pittsburgh International as its 2017 “Airport of the Year,” joining an impressive list of past winners around the world, such as London Heathrow and Hong Kong International, and is the first U.S. airport to win. In selecting Pittsburgh International Airport, the magazine cited the rapid ascent in air service gains as well as increased community engagement. The conveniently located Pittsburgh International Airport is less than a 90-minute flight from 50 percent of North America’s population.

During the past two years, Pittsburgh International has increased its nonstop destinations more than 80 percent to include 68 markets. Today, airlines serving Pittsburgh International include: Air Canada, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Frontier, OneJet, Porter, Southwest, Southern Airways Express and United Airlines. Two new international nonstop flights to Europe begin in June with Condor Airlines flights to Frankfurt, Germany, and WOW to Iceland.  

On Thursday afternoons, for example, local musicians and artists of all genres perform in the Baggage Claim area as part of the airport’s Performing Art Series. The Art in the Airport program features rotating and permanent installations of amazing art that enhance the airport experience. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout all four airside concourses and the AIRMALL food courts. And, the AIRMALL, with its “street pricing” policy uncommon in most airports, features an impressive mix of high-end national brand stores and locally-inspired products to give travelers a complete shopping experience.

It’s perhaps no surprise that TripAdvisor ranked Pittsburgh International a Travelers’ Choice Favorite for Shopping in 2016. And Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast both named Pittsburgh International a top 10 Domestic Airport in 2016.

No doubt about it, Pittsburgh makes for one of the most ideal meeting destinations in the country. To learn more visit http://www.planpittsburgh.com/.

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