When choosing a conference venue, we consider three main criteria:

• Comfort and layout of meeting space;
• Total cost of attendance, including travel;
• Accessibility and desirability of the city.

The Hilton Pittsburgh offers ideal meeting space and first-class accommodations.  The hotel is located at the famous Golden Triangle, formed by the Three Rivers.  The group rates we were able to negotiate for our attendees (see travel page for details and deadlines) are a bargain compared to comparable venues in other major cities.

Pittsburgh is within 500 miles of more than half the U.S. population, and the city is less than 90 minutes flying time from 20 states and Canada.  Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) is a hub served by 19 airlines, making it easily accessible.

Once a steel town, Pittsburgh’s economy is now driven by technology, medicine, finance and tourism. Home to nine Fortune 500 companies, Pittsburgh offers big-city amenities in an atmosphere that is small-town friendly.  Pittsburgh remains one of the nation's safest cities, with a crime rate that is half the national metropolitan average.

Pittsburgh’s downtown restaurants, theaters and shops are easily accessed on foot or on the  "T" – the subway is free between downtown stops. Or enjoy a sightseeing cruise on one of the many riverboats sailing from Station Square.  Visitors can also enjoy a variety of world-class museums and cultural institutions, such as The Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, while the city’s jazz legacy is carried on at clubs throughout the area.

For more information about the city, www.visitpittsburgh.com is a great resource.

 
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Source Photos courtesy of GPCVB. 
Photoshop editing by Rika Yasukochi Everett.