The capital and most populous city of Massachusetts State, Boston is a key economic and cultural hub for the New England region. Having played a crucial role in the American Revolutionary War due to its seafront location, Boston has remained an important seaport on the US east coast. The city’s economy today, however, is robustly diversified, with multiple key industries - including education, technology and biotechnology - contributing to its continued growth. Consequently, there is an impressive number of corporate venues in Boston, not to mention a healthy number of Boston serviced apartments, catering to the frequent business travellers visiting the city. Read on for our countdown of the top corporate conference spaces and venues for events held within the ever-growing Boston business centre.
World Trade Center Boston
Catering to business events of all sizes, from the grand to the intimate, the World Trade Center Boston is suitable for virtually all forms of conventions and conferences. Located on the iconic Commonwealth Pier, the centre boasts impressive views of Boston harbour and the Boston Main Channel waterway. The pier dates back to 1901, at which time it functioned as a maritime cargo handling facility; it was the largest pier building in the world at the time. The centre finished construction in 1986, from which point it functioned as a business hub for events and conferences.
Commonly referred to as the WTC, the centre is often the site of major exhibitions and trade shows, but also offers a diverse range of function spaces – including meeting rooms, office spaces and an auditorium. Easily reached via the nearby Interstate 90 freeway, the centre is also served by the World Trade Center Station bus transit link, and is directly opposite the Boston Logan International Airport – making it ideal for Boston business travellers new to the city heading straight to a conference or meeting.
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Home to an astonishing 516,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center is one of the largest exhibition centres in the Northeastern United States, and certainly one of the best corporate venues in Boston. Located close to Boston Seaport and a plethora of eateries and bars, the centre is just a stone’s throw from the WTC, but offers an entirely different exhibition experience.
Three exhibit halls comprise the main floor space of the centre, with a combined capacity of 51,458. The enormous spaces are regularly booked for large-scale business exhibitions, with the exhibition calendar populated with both national and international corporate events throughout the year. For smaller cohorts, the centre also has 82 capacious meeting rooms with customisable lighting and environment settings, integrated audio and video technology, and sound proofed partition walls. The Boardroom Suite, meanwhile, is ideal for smaller meetings and presentations – featuring a dropdown A/V screen, mahogany table and reception anteroom. As a Boston business centre, the Boston Convention and Exhibition building is unsurpassed in its scale, technology and convenience.
The Exchange Conference Center
The ornate Exchange Conference Center building provides a more traditional setting for a business meeting or conference. Featuring a beaux-arts architecture style, with vaulted ceilings and impressive arches, the centre has a grandiose aesthetic suited to celebratory evenings or award ceremonies. One of the centre’s finest features is its unequalled panoramic view of Boston harbour – a fantastic backdrop to any business occasion – which can be enjoyed from its spectacular Harbour Terrace.
Although one of the smaller corporate venues in Boston, The Exchange is certainly unique. Adding to its charm is the centre’s exclusive onsite catering company, East Meets West, which serves quality cuisine on-site and arranges bespoke décor for a multitude of events – catered to the taste of the client. With expansive windows, projection screens, dry-erase boards and large conference tables as standard, a business event at The Exchange can be muted and corporate, or extravagant and opulent, as required.
The Gardens at Elm Bank
Located on peaceful grounds just 30 minutes from downtown Boston, the Gardens at Elm Bank provides a stately locale for a rural corporate conference. The gardens themselves – of which there are twelve – feature beautifully manicured lawns, impressive floral displays, and English-country-manor-style fountains and pathways. For those who like to host business events in the great outdoors, there are few better corporate venues in Boston.
Receptions can be held in the many gardens on offer as well as the Hunnewell Building – a stately carriage house boasting a great hall with 3,000 square feet of event space, a projector screen and a catering prep kitchen. Smaller scale affairs can be conducted in the Cheney Room, suitable for up to 50 guests and again featuring a projector screen – ideal for business presentations and lectures. While less convenient than the centrally located urban conference centres in the heart of the city, the Gardens at Elm Bank is a Boston business centre like no other.
If you’re ready to embark on your business trip to Boston, why not read our guide to the top 21 things to do in the city during your stay? For corporate housing inspiration, discover some of our finest serviced apartments in Boston and book your stay with SilverDoor to ensure a successful trip.
