Best Business Event Cities

In choosing a city to hold your next business conference or meeting, it's easy to get swept away by popular destinations like New York and L.A., but are these places really the best venues for your event? Each area has a unique flavor and depending on what's most important to you, the best city for your particular needs will vary. You don't have time to research the differences in them all, but I do. I've chosen the best cities in America based on six unique factors: affordability, entertainment, best airport, best food, best transportation and most conference centers.

Affordability

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville may not be one of the most popular cities to hold a business event, but it's one of the most affordable. As a matter of fact, a study done by GetThere DirectMeetings evaluated 4-star hotels that included business services as part of their amenities, taking into account food, beverages and meeting room rates and concluded that Jacksonville was the most cost effective by far. With increasing pressures to cut costs, Jacksonville is great option for meetings.

Because Jacksonville is in Florida, you're never far away from beautiful sandy beaches and plush golf courses. Their transportation is easy as well. They have 3 trolleys that operate downtown but because Jacksonville is centrally located, a cab ride is just as easy to navigate. If you're looking for a marine adventure or a simple ride across the St. John's River, try Jacksonville's marine taxi.

Jacksonville's biggest convention center is one that OfficeArrow recently visited for the Administrative Professionals Conference and Expo. Prime F. Osborn hosts several conventions and is conveniently located downtown close to shops, hotels, and restaurants. Search for other conference centers and hotels by clicking here.

Entertainment

Las Vegas, Nevada

I know we all perk up a little when we read those words. The sound of slot machines, the lights, the food...what's not to love? Las Vegas has long been a premier destination for corporate events, so I won't try to rewrite history here. The city is the entertainment capital of the world with highly acclaimed concerts, comedy and other shows. You're never without something to do in Vegas.

Vegas is, in one word, convenient. They have over 136,000 hotels rooms and hold over 23,000 meetings in a year. They also have 3 of the country's biggest convention centers for your large events and all are in close proximity to the airport. To find your venue, search here.

Of course, Vegas is most renowned for its entertainment and casinos, but it also has world class dining and shopping. Many of the world's amazing chefs call Las Vegas home. To find your dinner, check here to search by cuisine and location. Don't forget about the golf in Vegas either. They've got some of the most beautiful (and most difficult) golf courses in this country.

In most cases, you can walk to your meeting, your hotel and dinner with little effort; however, if you're looking to venture off the strip, the city has taxi service as well as the first ever automated monorail.

Best Airport

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago's O'Hare Airport has been voted the country's "Best Airport" for nine years running and is the only dual hub. Because of its high volume of flights, the tickets are often reasonable which makes Chicago a very desirable destination.

It's easy to get around Chicago as well. They have an exceptional rail system leading to Chicago from both O'Hair and Midway airports. Once you're in the city, transportation is just as easy. Whether you take a taxi or a bus, you're just minutes from your destination because everything is centrally located.

McCormick Place is the city's premier convention center. Located on Lake Michigan, the center boasts four buildings all of which can accommodate your events big and small. They also have the Navy Pier which has a grand ballroom perfect for banquets and exhibitions. If you're looking for something on a smaller scale, their hotels aim to please. Chicago has over 30,000 committable rooms for your guests and, according to their visitor's bureau, they are the pinnacle of service. Search here for hotels.

You will find the dining in Chicago some of the world's best. With its 5,500 restaurants, you'll find everything from deep dish pizza to elegant steakhouses. And, who can forget the shopping? Chicago's Magnificent Mile is just steps from downtown and offers chic little shops and large department stores all within walking distance of each other.

Food

Washington DC

Washington DC is another long time premier destination for corporate events. The area has a unique focus not found in other cities. There is much to experience in DC, but if your forte is food, you're in for a treat.

You'll never be disappointed with your dining experience here. With about 100 restaurants in the DC area, 40 of them received Zagat scores of 25 (of 30) or higher. Check here for a list of unique dining ideas.

With a ton of unique venues, whether it is a hotel or convention center, your attendees are sure to be impressed. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is practically brand new and centrally located downtown and has its own Metrorail station. It has approximately 70 meeting rooms and is beautifully designed with granite and limestone and a 100 foot curved glass entry way. The center also offers a number of environmentally friendly programs.

Of course, when we think of DC, we can't help but to be reminded of our rich U.S. history. There are some must-sees in Washington DC; I just hope you can get to them all. Perhaps the most popular attraction, the Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History is awe inspiring. Get tickets and explore the museum here. Other big attractions include the National Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial all of which are absolutely breath taking in person.

Transportation

New York, New York

When most of us envision the city of New York, we likely see a bustling metropolis with an abundance of yellow cabs, underground subway entrances, and buildings stretching to the sky as far as the eye can see. In a city where over half of its citizens don't own a car, it's no wonder New York is the top pick for transportation.

New York's transportation system includes taxis, subways and even fairies. It is effective and affordable as New Yorkers have been using all of them for eons. You can get anywhere you need to go using the subway and a taxi is only as difficult to find as waving your hand in the air.

New York is one of the most dynamic cities in the world. It's got some incredible dining, masterful museums and fantastic shopping. For any country dweller, it's always an eye opening experience to visit such a location with its towering skyscrapers and famous landmarks.

The city is not without plentiful conference accommodations either. They have some incredibly unique venues, but beware that while New York is beautiful and fun for visitors, you're going to pay a pretty penny to entertain your attendees.

Conference Centers

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is no stranger to corporate events. They actually have 14 conference centers and numerous hotels at which to hold your event. With the most conference centers in the country, the city is equipped to host conventions big and small.

The areas historic Back Bay is home to the John B. Hynes Veteran Memorial Convention Center which has a Sheraton Hotel attached to it for easy transition. The city also boasts a plethora of unique venues, sure to leave your guests in awe. For a complete list, click here.

You'll definitely want to check out all the attractions Boston has to offer. Whether you're looking for museums, history or nightlife, Boston's got it. Believe it or not, the Visitor's Bureau lists 30 free things to do while you're there and they don't sound half bad. Check here for other area attractions.
Of course, dining shouldn't be overlooked. Restaurants are scattered all over the city, but the Visitor's Bureau attempts to narrow the search down for you. Be sure to try some New England seafood while you're there.

In choosing the right city for your next business event, it's important to remember that you don't have to be an event planner to get it all done. Almost all of these places offer event planning services to make sure you're getting the most from the area. Check each of the websites I've included for interactive tools and information on planning your event. Any of these destinations would be a good choice for a memorable event, but you must take into account all of your needs. Work with the city and begin planning as early as possible to ensure maximum attendance with minimal effort.