Your Next Meeting: Where in the World?

Scenario:
You have just been told by your Senior VP of Sales that he needs to meet with the company's 200-plus-member sales team. The sales team is scattered all over the continental U.S., so logistically this could present a nightmare. Bob the COO from East Osh Gosh hates connections, Sally the CFO from Oregon needs her nights out on the town and, of course, your VP of Sales wouldn't dream of staying at anything less than a 4-star property.

You need a destination with easy airport access, non-stop flights, good food, plenty of entertainment options and first-rate hotel selections. So where do you go?

No need to panic. Here are some cities that will fit the bill:

Boston – With a mix of colonial charm, urban sophistication and world-class hotel/meeting facilities, Boston is a great meeting site for groups of all kinds. The metropolitan area boasts some 33,000 hotel rooms and two world-class convention centers.

Boston is “America's Walking City.” Downtown is compact and convenient to all of the major hotels, attractions, shopping and restaurants. In addition, the city has an excellent public transportation system and taxis are always readily available. The recent completion of the “Big Dig,” the largest road construction project in history, has dramatically improved the flow of traffic in and out of the city. A new underground tunnel directly links Logan International Airport to several major roadways.

Boston is dynamic and exciting. With a wide array of diverse and interesting attractions, plus more than forty colleges and universities, visitors to Boston are never at a loss for something to do. Boston's many museums, concert halls, theatres and nightclubs are always abuzz with activity and excitement. Boston is also well represented in the world of professional sports – this city is the proud home of the 2007 World Champion Boston Red Sox, the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots, the Boston Bruins, and the Boston Celtics.

Boston's Logan International Airport handles over 1,200 flights daily, with 52 carriers serving the airport including 14 international airlines. Boston is considered the “hub” of New England and major highways link Boston to points throughout the Northeast. With its proximity to so much in New England, Boston offers a wide variety of activities within a short range.

Ft. Lauderdale – This city has everything you need to bring a group or event here: outstanding facilities, easy access, and accommodations for every taste and budget. With palm-fringed beaches, picture-perfect waterfront, year-round sunshine, world-class al fresco dining, nightlife, cultural attractions and nonstop shopping, this destination makes any meeting a get-away in itself. Its proximity to Miami (30 minutes by car) makes it a convenient destination to reach for international visitors.

Greater Ft. Lauderdale's 33,000 hotel rooms are found in more than 565 hotels that range in category from sprawling oceanfront resorts to intimate, superior small lodging properties and everything in between. This roster will continue to expand with the addition of chic new luxury properties in the very near future.

When you step off your plane into the terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport you'll immediately see that Greater Fort Lauderdale considers convenient transportation a top priority. Everything at the airport is new, from its parking garage and terminal to connecting superhighways. It's only minutes away from the Broward County Convention Center, major hotels, beaches and Port Everglades, the world's largest five-star cruise port. The airport provides nonstop service to more than 30 U.S. cities, Canada and the Caribbean. A total of 28 scheduled airlines provide service with 671 flights per day.

Houston – This is the nation's fourth largest city, home to two million people and a hub of international businesses. Houston is also the proud home of performing arts groups, professional sports teams, and excellent restaurants. Relaxing is easy, with great golf courses, beautiful parks, sumptuous spas, inspiring museums and spectacular shopping. Want a terrific quaint hotel or special bed-and-breakfast? Houston has it all, offering over 60,000 rooms in the greater Houston area.

Traveling to Houston has never been easier. The Houston Airport system was named "Airport of the Year" by the FAA for outstanding primary commercial service. The city's two major commercial airports, Bush Intercontinental, with nonstop service to more than 115 domestic destinations and nonstop or direct service to more than 70 international locations, and William P. Hobby, are both just a short commute from major hotel hubs and convention facilities. Houston's Airport system serves more than 130 U.S. and 70 international destinations and is ranked one of the top airport systems for on-time arrivals and departures.

Las Vegas – This ever-changing fantasy-land of a city continues to capture the world's imagination as the destination where anything is possible. With more than 133,000 guest rooms, 9.5 million square feet of convention and exhibit space, award-winning restaurants, luxurious spas, fantastic shopping, world-class golf, and truly unique entertainment, Las Vegas remains one of the most exciting convention, meeting and incentive destinations in the world.

McCarran International Airport, the Las Vegas Airport, serves over 40 air carriers, with over 1,100 flights arriving and departing daily. For added convenience, McCarran offers direct flights to more than 125 U.S. cities.

New Orleans – The cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. After the terrible devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, the Big Easy has rebounded and is better than ever. There are more restaurants, a stronger spirit of hospitality, newly refurbished hotels and a brand new convention center. New Orleans offers 31,000 rooms scattered in a stunning array of world-class accommodations throughout the downtown area. There is something for every taste and budget – ranging from elegantly appointed, modern corporate high-rises to an eclectic mix of beautiful and enchanting boutique properties and quaint, historic bed and breakfasts.

New Orleans is one of the world's busiest ports of the South, yet the city is remarkably compact and easy to navigate. Visitors are always pleasantly surprised to learn that many of the city's attractions, accommodations and event venues are within walking distance of each other; in fact, “hoofing it” is a favorite means of transportation. Louis Armstrong International Airport offers 122 flights daily serving 37 cities.

Seattle – Excellent connections, ample meeting space and quality lodging are the key ingredients for a successful event. Seattle delivers these elements amid a thriving city center that is situated on the shore of Puget Sound between two incredible mountain ranges—the snow-capped Olympics and the craggy Cascades, hence it's nickname “metronatural.”

The Seattle metro area has 31,000 rooms. From the graceful Washington State Convention & Trade Center to the famous Pike Place Market, and the intriguing International District to historic Pioneer Square, Seattle's downtown is compact and easy to get around. In fact, Seattle was voted one of the top three most walker-friendly cities in the U.S. by the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Sea-Tac Airport hosts non-stop flights from 71 U.S. cities and 16 international cities, and it's only a 20-minute drive via Interstate 5, which passes right through downtown. Seattle is easy to get to, but hard to leave behind.

Toronto – Canada's largest city and the fifth largest city in North America is considered a dynamic cosmopolitan venue. The city boasts an optimum blend of entertainment, culture, sports, high fashion and big business, not to mention the CN Tower, which at 1,815 feet is the world's tallest tower. If an unusually wide variety of venue options is what a group is looking for, they'll find it among the more than 7,000 restaurants and 35,000-plus hotel rooms in over 120 hotels. More than 60 percent of the U.S. population is within a 90-minute flight of Toronto and there are more than 350 flights arriving to the city daily. Once you get there, traveling within the city is just as easy on one of North America's finest public transportation systems. In fact, there is as much going on in Toronto's underground as there is up above on the streets. One could spend entire days in some of the malls located below street-level.

That's a start. This list of seven options for the ideal meeting destination is by no means an exhaustive study of the selections that may be appropriate for your convenient, desirable, easy-to-get-to meeting. In fact, the best way to select just the right place for your next meeting is to sit down with a certified meeting planner and outline your total list of “must-haves.” For help with planning your next successful meeting, please contact Atlas Meetings + Motivation at 508-488-1117. We will take the hassle out of all your planning and make you shine!