Best Convention City (2014)

Although Indiana Convention Center isn't near as many attractions or entertainment options as other cities can boast, it gets top marks for being near hotels and restaurants.  And if you're a football fan, it's pretty thrilling to be across the street from Andrew Luck and the Colts come fall.  The city is affordability and easy to get around, making Indy's convention center and its schedule all the more inviting.  
Photo courtesy of Lavengood Photography

Easy to reach and even easier to navigate, Boston offers a top-of-the-line convention center to attendees and exhibitors. Capable of handling even the biggest of shows at The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, the city also offers convention-goers good access to hotels, restaurants, fascinating historical sites and things to do after hours. The nearby Freedom Trail includes the Boston Tea Party site, Old North Church and several other landmarks. It's affordable to get around this compact New England hub and honestly, how many convention cities have water taxies?  
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Nashville's brand-spanking-new Music City Center, in the heart of downtown, is loaded for bear when it comes to amenities and extras.  It's also connected to the new Omni hotel and the newly expanded Country Music Hall of Fame. A short stroll away are the honky-tonks of Broadway and unlimited free entertainment. Exciting city development plans have the convention center front and center, so amazingly, it only gets better.  
Photo courtesy of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corporation

Salt Lake City is easy to reach and magnificent Temple Square - the city's prime attraction - is right across the street.   The city is so affordable overall that convention-goers don't mind having to grab a cab to see other attractions or find entertainment options.  Salt Palace Convention Center is adept at handling large-scale shows and has plenty of nearby hotels and restaurants, making quick breaks easy.  Salt Lake shopping is also intriguing, and mountain views are a daily bonus.
Photo courtesy of Adam Barker

Georgia International Convention Center is just minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International, making an Atlanta convention super easy and affordable to reach. The city's subway, MARTA, also delivers visitors right to the heart of the city where the Georgia World Congress Center is located.  Accessing the plentiful nearby hotels and restaurants can be done with ease, and visitors will be spoiled for choice when trying to decide where to stay.  With tempting regional cuisine and a boatload of downtown attractions to choose from, any convention trip will be complete.
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Denver's Colorado Convention Center gets the highest of scores for having a state-of-the-art facility capable of handling huge shows and offering convention attendees great amenities.  It also ranks high for having hotels nearby, a critical component for exhibitors and visitors.  Access to a major airport (DEN) and the ease/affordability of getting around means most people don't mind grabbing a cab to reach area attractions. Larimer Square and Colorado State Capitol are just a short walk away from the center itself.
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Exciting and beautiful New Orleans sited its convention center right on the Mississippi, near an abundance of hotels and restaurants. Grabbing a bite or scooting back and forth to your room is easy. World-class entertainment (Bourbon Street, Preservation Hall) is only a short cab ride away.  New Orleans International Airport is served by enough airlines to get visitors there with only one plane change from nearly anywhere in the country.   
Photo courtesy of Jamie Grill/Tetra Images

Washington D.C. gets near-perfect marks as a convention center, according to our Expert.  The Walter E. Washington Convention Center is up-to-date and more than equipped to handle large-scale exhibitions.  A wealth of hotels, restaurants, entertainment and attractions -including the White House and the National Mall - are all within walking distance.  To top it off, it's incredibly easy and inexpensive to reach D.C. and to get around once you arrive.
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Located a few blocks from a sprawling park, downtown shopping and all sorts of entertainment options and attractions, the Minneapolis Convention Center is a big draw throughout the year. It's pretty easy to reach the Center from MSP airport and a substantial number of hotels and restaurants are nearby, adding to its appeal. Minneapolis is also affordable, so the traveler who wants to build a weekend around a special event won't have budget issues.  
Photo courtesy of Meet Minneapolis

America's largest convention center, McCormick Place, can be found conveniently located on Chicago's beautiful lakefront. Traveling to this massive, modern space is a snap with plenty of public transportation options, including CTA buses.  Visitors can also take a scenic route to their event by strolling the pedestrian promenades and sky bridges.  Convention-goers can indulge in an onsite massage at Mi Bon Spa before heading back to one of many nearby hotels.  Chicago's other convention center–Donald E. Stephens–is minutes from O'Hare International, helping make Chicago one of the most travel-friendly convention cities.
Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago