Pittsburgh is a one-of-a-kind city that continues to impress meeting planners, attendees and media alike.
Most recently, Harper’s BAZAAR named Pittsburgh among their list of “Best Places to Travel in 2017.” The geographic location, green and unique spaces, culinary and cultural options, budget-friendly shopping and the fact that Pittsburghers are famously friendly are among a number of reasons that make Pittsburgh an ideal destination for meetings.
Centrally located within 500 miles of nearly half of the U.S. population, Pittsburgh is an easy-to-access meeting destination. Even more, it’s within a 90-minute flight for half of North America and within a five-hour car or train ride from nine states, as well as Washington, D.C, and Canada.
Once here, the beautiful and versatile David L. Lawrence Convention Center offers meeting planners the perfect meeting space. The 1.5 million-square-foot building uses natural light, along with a natural ventilation system, which allows fresh air to cool the building. The total 313,400 square feet of exhibit space features 236,900 square feet of column-free space. Along with a 31,600-square-foot ballroom and 53 meeting rooms, the center’s space is able to meet a variety of meeting planners’ needs. Best of all, it’s located in the heart of Pittsburgh’s urban core, near everything attendees could want or need, including dining, attractions and hotels.
Just steps away from the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, attendees can soak in the arts in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, offering a variety of entertainment for attendees. Located within an easy walk all downtown hotels, the Cultural District includes ten downtown theatres, numerous art galleries, public art projects, riverfront access and a variety of dining and shopping. Just a short walk across one of the city’s “sister” bridges, attendees will find the North Shore, which offers even more entertainment and dining options including Rivers Casino, PNC Park, The Andy Warhol Museum and more.
These, and the other world-class attractions the city has to offer, are perfect options for unique venue spaces. Host an event at the Mattress Factory, a funky contemporary art installation museum or sip local wine and learn about legendary Pittsburgh Pirate Roberto Clemente at the Clemente Museum. Be inspired by champions and meet at the PPG Paints Arena, home of the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, the Pittsburgh Penguins. Or, immerse your attendees in the history of the region and host a meeting at the Senator John Heinz History Center.
You’ll also find plenty of top-rated accommodations ready to host your attendees. Downtown Pittsburgh hosts more than twenty hotels, all within an easy walk of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center as well as numerous dining and entertainment options. Every major hotel brand is represented from Marriot to Omni to Westin and more. New hotels include the Drury Plaza, Embassy Suites and Kimpton Hotel Monaco.
Pittsburgh’s culinary scene is sure to impress as the city is consistently ranked among the top foodie cities in America. In 2016, three semi-finalists for the 26th annual James Beard Foundation Awards hailed from Pittsburgh: Best New Restaurant: Morcilla, 2016 Outstanding Baker: Rick Easton, Bread and Salt, and Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic: Justin Severino, Cure. The city has made such an impression that Zagat named Pittsburgh the “No. 1 Food City in the U.S.”
Another great aspect is Pittsburgh’s affordability. In fact, Moneybox named Pittsburgh “the most affordable city in the world.” With no sales tax on clothing and several free and almost free things to do, a trip to Pittsburgh won’t break the bank.
If you haven’t considered Pittsburgh, it’s time to take a closer look. If you’ve been here, you know what the city has to offer and it’s time to start planning your return because Pittsburgh is ready to host your meeting.
For information on familiarization tours and bookings, contact Karl Pietrzak, Vice President of Convention Sales at VisitPITTSBURGH. Visit our website at PlanPITTSBURGH.com.
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