Why have your event in Pittsburgh?

The Event Group is a global event planning company and all of our event planners enjoy working in different cities and countries around the world. We appreciate all of the different attributes that every city and town has to offer. However, for the past 27 years, The Event Group has called Pittsburgh home and the city holds a special place in our hearts. Nothing makes us happier than when we hear great praise of the city (and the event) from our out-of-town clients. Besides our love for Pittsburgh, there are some very concrete reasons as to why you should host your next convention, meeting or event in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s days of being labeled a smoky steel town are long gone. Pittsburgh, now, an innovative and beautiful city should be a top contender when thinking about locations for your next meeting, convention or event. There is a reason Brendan Gill, of The New Yorker said, ‘The three most beautiful cities in the world are Paris; St. Petersburg, Russia; and Pittsburgh. If Pittsburgh were situated somewhere in the heart of Europe, tourists would eagerly journey hundreds of miles out of their way to visit it. Its setting is spectacular…’

From its affordability to its safety, Pittsburgh presents incredible and unique attributes like no other city in the world.

Left: A Sales Meeting held at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center by The Event Group

Environmentally Friendly

Pittsburgh has the most certified green buildings in the U.S. The David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC) is a Platinum LEED certified convention center. Host your convention or conference in Pittsburgh and you’ll be doing your part to help the environment, too. Not to mention, the DLCC is right in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh (also known to Pittsburghers as ‘dahntahn’) with gorgeous, sweeping views of the city.

Amenities

The DLCC is in a central location and is attached to The Westin Pittsburgh Convention Center and Hotel. Also within walking distance of the DLCC are fabulous restaurants and other hotels such as the historic Omni William Penn Hotel and the modern Fairmont Pittsburgh. The Wyndham Grand is another large hotel that is situated where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River. Recently renovated, the Wyndham Grand’s guest rooms offer incredible views of Point State Park and Mt. Washington.

And those restaurants we mentioned? Bon Apetit is calling Pittsburgh the next big food town in 2014. From Asian to Italian, Pittsburgh offers incredible restaurants. Not to mention, the famous Primanti’s sammich (that’s Pittsburghese ‘sandwich, for all of you non-Pittsburghers).

Hosting your next event in a city with a plethora of world renowned hospitals and universities definitely has its pluses. Pittsburgh was ranked the country’s #1 smartest city, a literate city and the most well read, too. With rich culture and history, Pittsburgh offers stimulating intellectual experiences. While you are in town for your event or conference, head to the Theater District to take in the latest ballet, symphony or concert, or head to one of the many museums such as the world famous Andy Warhol Museum or Carnegie Museum. There is truly something to please everyone’s tastes and preferences.

Affordability

Forbe’s rated Pittsburgh the country’s most livable city and it is for good reason. Pittsburgh is the country’s 5th most affordable metro area in the U.S. and the housing prices are much lower than the national average. Hosting your next event in Pittsburgh is highly beneficial due to the reasonable cost of the resources that you will need to plan the perfect event (not to mention, unemployment in Pittsburgh is below the national average). Hollywood, for example, shoots many movies in Pittsburgh because of the low cost of production. Have you seen The Dark Knight Rises, Silence of the Lambs or The Perks of Being a Wallflower? Yes, all filmed in Pittsburgh.

Happiness

Pittsburghers are happy and happy people offer better service. In a national study, Pittsburghers rated their happiness at a 7.8 compared to the national average of a 7.4 (based on a 10 point scale). Another fun fact: the smiley emoticon was invented in Pittsburgh by a Carnegie Mellon University student. If that’s not enough to convince you, even our cookies are happy!

Safety

When choosing a city for your next event, thinking about safety is a very important component of your decision. Well, Pittsburgh was ranked the third most secure large city behind Bethesda, Maryland and Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has the lowest crime rate of the 25 major cities in the country.

And if all of this doesn’t have you convinced, we’ve rounded up a list of some fun facts about Pittsburgh:

  • Pittsburgh has more bridges (445) than Venice!
  • The Carnegie Museum opened in 1895 and was the world’s first museum of modern art.
  • Jonas Salk invented the Polio Vaccine at the University of Pittsburgh.
  • The Pittsburgh Steelers have won the most Super Bowls of any football team in the NFL (that’s 6, by the way!).
  • Alcoa, based in Pittsburgh, invented the first pull-tab on cans
  • Forbes Field, built in 1909, was the first professional baseball stadium.
  • Pittsburgh was home to the first nighttime World Series. It was the Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Boston Americans.
  • Kennywood, a national historic landmark, is one of the oldest amusement parks in America.
  • Pittsburgh is within 500 miles of half of the U.S. population.
  • Pittsburgh is home to 3 professional sports teams, each with their own venues. The Pittsburgh Steelers, have the most Superbowl wins in the NFL! Even if you are not a Pittsburgh sports fan, people travel from all over the country just to visit the amazing stadiums: Heinz Field, PNC Park and Consol Energy Center.

 

We agree with Andrew Zimmern! So what are you waiting for? Host your event, convention or conference in Pittsburgh and you will get a taste of all that the city has to offer.

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

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