Hartford, CT Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	213
Total Sleeping Rooms	25,706
Committable Meeting Rooms*	19
Largest Exhibit Space	140,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $104
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $56
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $394
*Maximum for a single hotel

Hartford, CT Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to our Hartford meeting planning guide – a city guide for meeting planning in Hartford, CT. With a knack for preserving and celebrating its history while still modernizing its amenities, Hartford boasts the much-deserved nickname of "New England's Rising Star." Leading the way to cementing this glowing reputation is the modern, spacious Connecticut Convention Center. At 540,000 square feet, the center is the largest meeting space between New York City and Boston. Designed to resemble the natural movement of the neighboring Connecticut River, the center's curvilinear lines and 110-foot-tall glass atrium are unique additions to the city's traditional architecture.

Though the newer Hartford event venues are certainly creating buzz, the city's numerous historic attractions are available to impart a true New England feel to any event. The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art is a classic space for large or small events, while the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts' famed Art Deco interior lends a stylish feel to dinners and receptions. The center's glass-enclosed Autorino Great Hall, adorned by a 14-foot-tall bright red chandelier, is a striking facility for events of up to 320 people. Or, enjoy New England's great outdoors by hosting an event at Elizabeth Park, home to the oldest municipally-operated rose garden in the United States.

Visitors are happy to discover that reaching Hartford and its array of attractions is quick and convenient. In fact, more people - 23 million, to be exact - live within 100 miles of Hartford than any other U.S. city except New York. Visitors from destinations such as New Haven, Providence and Boston, all fewer than 100 miles away, can easily reach the city by car on one of four recently expanded major U.S. interstates.

Air travel is also a breeze, with the city's Bradley International Airport offering nearly 300 national and international flights each day and is serviced by low cost carriers such as Southwest and America West. Once inside the city, travelers can take advantage of the free Hartford Star Shuttle making stops at most downtown attractions.

Hartford's economic mainstay is the insurance industry, and it is headquarters for insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna, Lincoln, Mass Mutual and Travelers. Higher learning also holds a strong presence within the city, as Hartford is home to Trinity College, the University of Hartford and the University of Connecticut's Schools of Business and Law.

About Hartford, CT / Additional Info

The capital city of Connecticut, Hartford is home to 124,512 people in the city area itself, making it the 2nd largest in the state. Its 469-square-mile metro area, though, is the largest in the state and 45th largest in the country with over 1.1 million residents. Poised on the west side of the Connecticut River, Hartford is nestled among the rolling hills of the fertile Connecticut River Valley, creating the lush setting for which New England is so well known.

With its location at the forefront of the navigable portion of the Connecticut River, Hartford was a prime landing site for early explorers and settlers. Settled as Dutch trading post Good Hope in 1623, the area was later re-colonized by English settlers and prospered as a center for trade of goods such as molasses, spices, coffee and rum. To protect the valuable trade, the insurance industry developed. The Hartford Insurance Company, the nation's oldest such organization, opened at that time and still operates in the city today.

As its economy grew and expanded, so did Hartford. Waves of immigrants flooded the city, giving rise to its present-day diverse and historic neighborhoods. Visitors can soak up the global flavors of cultures from all over the world in this small New England town. Stop by an authentic Italian bakery or restaurant in South End, home to Hartford's Little Italy. Near downtown, Park Street in Frog Hollow and Parkville comes alive with the sights and sounds of Latin America. Enjoy authentic Portuguese cuisine such as the house Paelha, a traditional rice and seafood dish, at O'Porto, or stop by El Mercado, a busy hub where visitors can pick up traditional cooking ingredients including nine varieties of yams.

Though its multicultural citizens are certainly adding new life and vibrancy to Hartford, its rich and storied history has not been forgotten. Connect with New England's maritime history at Mystic Seaport, the country's leading maritime museum and home to more than one million maritime photographs. Explore the regal Connecticut State Capitol to see the government at work or to peruse the impressive display of flags carried into battle by Connecticut soldiers. See a concert or Broadway show at the elegant Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, dedicated to bringing world-class entertainment to Hartford.

Hartford's famed writers left their mark on the cultural and arts scene in the city as well. Just 30 minutes from the city, the fanciful Dr. Seuss National Memorial invites visitors to stroll among life-size bronze sculptures of the author's most famous characters, including the Grinch Who Stole Christmas and the Cat in the Hat. In the city itself, guests can pay a visit to the stately Harriet Beecher Stowe Center to catch a glimpse of the life and works of the accomplished author.

At the whimsical Mark Twain House and Museum, guests can step into the room in which Twain penned his popular novels The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Perhaps Twain described it best when, asked why he chose Hartford as a residence, he said, "of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see, this is the chief." After exploring Hartford, visitors will undoubtedly agree.

Hartford, CT Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET)
Convention Center(s):

Hotel at Convention Center? No
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 0

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
217
Population
1,212,381
Restaurants
156
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.00%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
10-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Hartford, CT

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Providence, RI	75 mi	1 hr 32 min	3 hr 23 min	USD $460+
Boston, MA	100 mi	1 hr 43 min	3 hr 15 min	USD $480+
Albany, NY	111 mi	1 hr 57 min	3 hr 6 min	USD $425+
New York, NY	117 mi	2 hr 14 min	1 hr 3 min	USD $280+
Philadelphia, PA	216 mi	3 hr 53 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $425+
Washington, DC	343 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 23 min	USD $450+

Hartford, CT Climate Information

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg. High (°F)	34	37	46	60	71	80	85	82	74	64	51	38
Avg. Low (°F)	17	19	28	38	47	57	62	60	52	41	33	22
Rec. High (°F)	66	73	87	96	97	101	102	101	101	91	83	74
Rec. Low (°F)	-26	-21	-8	9	28	37	44	36	27	17	1	-14
Rainfall (in)	3.4	3.1	3.9	3.9	3.7	3.5	3.3	4.0	3.8	3.6	4.1	3.9

Hartford experiences four distinct seasons, ranging from warm, muggy summers to cold, snowy winters. The average annual rainfall is 44 inches and annual snowfall averages 48 inches, occurring most heavily from mid-November to late March. The city's warmest month is July, with average high temperatures in the mid-80s. January is the coldest month, with average high temperatures in the mid-30s.

Late spring and early fall are popular times to visit Hartford, as mild temperatures range between the 60s and 70s during these times. Fall visits are especially ideal, as the season offers a spectacular display of colorful foliage and crisp, fresh air.

Meeting Planning in Hartford, CT

Connecticut Convention Center

The Connecticut Convention Center is a visually striking facility that offers excellent in-house services and superior floor plans. The largest convention center found between New York City and Boston, the $267 million center opened in June 2005 to rave reviews. In fact, in its first year of operation alone, it hosted more than 260,000 attendees and 350 events.

Capable of hosting 20 to 70,000 people, the Connecticut Convention Center's design is both spacious and eye catching. Built along a grand public plaza and a tree-lined riverfront esplanade, the center's striking 110-foot-tall glass atrium allows light to flood a warm interior marked by golden yellow limestone, black granite and lush carpets. Though the center's sweeping lines are meant to mimic the neighboring Connecticut River, the design is functional as well. The ballroom's curved ceiling hides ceiling components for rigging sound and lighting, giving the entire space a seamless, unobstructed appearance.

The modern convention center offers 140,000 square feet of exhibit space divisible into two areas; 14 meeting rooms totaling 25,000 square feet; an elegant 40,000-square-foot ballroom; two executive boardrooms; 25,000 square feet of unobstructed pre-function space; and 20 convenient loading docks. The attached eight-story parking garage has 2,600 parking spaces and several multi-level entrances to the center. Convention guests also have direct access to the 22-story Hartford Marriott Downtown, which offers 409 guest rooms and 13,500 square feet of additional meeting space.

The Connecticut Convention Center offers comprehensive meeting amenities, including exclusive in-house catering, state-of-the-art telecommunications and audio-visual services, and full event management support. Free wireless Internet is also available throughout the center. The center's upscale catering services offer gourmet, restaurant-caliber menus, tailored to accommodate anything from coffee breaks to formal, coursed dinners.

The center's superior service has not gone unnoticed. It is a recipient of the Blue Ribbon Award from the Connecticut Real Estate Exchange for its enormous positive impact on Hartford and the state of Connecticut as a whole. The Connecticut Convention Center has hosted such groups as the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. It has also hosted such events as the popular Hartford Boat and Fishing Show, Connecticut Home Builders Show and Connecticut Business Expo.

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Other Convention Centers in Hartford, CT

Name	Address	Total Meeting Space
XL Center	One Civic Center Plaza Hartford, Connecticut 06103	30,000 Sq. Ft.

Hartford, CT Train Information

Hartford Amtrak Station

Amtrak service is available to Hartford via two routes. The Northeast Limited route runs daily along the northeast corridor between Newport News, Virginia, and Boston, while the Vermonter route travels daily from Washington, DC to St. Albans, Vermont.

Located in the city's Union Station Transportation Center, the Hartford Amtrak station is open daily from 6 AM to 9:30 PM. Union Station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and also serves major intercity bus lines and taxi service.

Hartford, CT Public Transportation

CTTRANSIT Bus Line

CTTRANSIT Hartford provides downtown and surrounding suburb area bus service among 30 local and 12 express routes. Most local routes operate seven days a week, while express routes are in service only on weekdays. With more than 35 million passenger trips per year, CTTRANSIT Hartford operates more than 525,000 hours of service and seven million miles annually among its fleet of 180 buses. Stops include the Bradley International Airport and Connecticut Convention Center, as well as areas in New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, New Britain, Bristol, Meriden and Wallingford.

CTTRANSIT offers several cash, ticket and pass fare options for its regular bus routes. Regular one-way cash fare is $1 for children ages 5-18 and $1.25 for adults. Fare for children under 5 is free. An all-day pass is $3.25 for both adults and children, while a 10-ride ticket is $9 for children and $11.25 for adults. Three-day, five-day, seven-day and 31-day passes are also available.

CTTRANSIT express buses operate on a zone fare system based on distance traveled from downtown Hartford. Children ages 5-18 pay regular fare for all express bus routes and children under 5 ride for free. Adult cash one-way fare for express routes is $2.25 for Zone 2, $2.95 for Zone 3, $3.60 for Zone 4 and $4.30 for Zone 5. An adult 10-ride express ticket is $20.25 for Zone 2, $26.50 for Zone 3, $32.50 for Zone 4 and $38.75 for Zone 5.

Hartford Star Shuttle

Operated by CTTRANSIT, the Hartford Star Shuttle is an enormously popular free shuttle that operates on a downtown loop. The shuttle provides easy access to locations such as the Connecticut Convention Center, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art and Bushnell Park, as well as to major downtown hotels. The Hartford Star Shuttle runs Monday through Friday about every 12 minutes from 7 AM to 11 PM and Saturday from 3 to 11 PM.

Greyhound Bus Service

Greyhound service is available for the Hartford area from the Greyhound station at the city's Union Station Transportation Center. The Hartford Greyhound station operates daily from 5:45 AM to 10 PM.

Car Rentals

Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National and Thrifty are all represented at the Bradley International Airport. Car rental counters are located adjacent to Parking Lot 3 near the East Concourse.

Taxis

Hartford has numerous taxi companies, many of which service the Bradley International Airport. Travelers should expect a $44 fare from the airport to downtown Hartford.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Providence, RI	75 mi	1 hr 32 min	3 hr 23 min	USD $460+
Boston, MA	100 mi	1 hr 43 min	3 hr 15 min	USD $480+
Albany, NY	111 mi	1 hr 57 min	3 hr 6 min	USD $425+
New York, NY	117 mi	2 hr 14 min	1 hr 3 min	USD $280+
Philadelphia, PA	216 mi	3 hr 53 min	1 hr 10 min	USD $425+
Washington, DC	343 mi	5+ hrs	1 hr 23 min	USD $450+