Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in Hartford, CT

Hotels	213
Total Sleeping Rooms	25,706
Committable Sleeping Rooms*	409
Committable Meeting Rooms*	19
Convention Center Space	40,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Exhibit Space	140,000 Sq. Ft.
Largest Ballroom	540,000 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

Hartford, Connecticut is a destination built for meetings. The expansive Connecticut Convention Center, a wide variety of accessible downtown hotels, easy access to the airport and the highway, and a free downtown circulator shuttle leaves you with more time to meet, explore, and connect in this vibrant redeveloped downtown.

At the center of it all is the Connecticut Convention Center. Combining ample meeting space – including 140,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space – with visually stunning touches and unparalleled service the Center is the premier meeting destination in the Northeast.

Hartford also boasts a variety of historic and unique venues for off-site events or smaller meetings. 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 interio¬r 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, head to the new Dunkin' Donuts Park, a 6,056-seat baseball park in downtown that also has several suites and party decks available, as well as group seating.

Getting from work to play has never been easier when first-class entertainment and restaurants are just steps from your meeting. Enjoy tantalizing bites at over 40 independent restaurants, see a show at one of the nation's leading resident theaters, the Hartford Stage, or catch the pulse pounding action of the Hartford Wolf Pack hockey team at the XL Center. Or better yet, do it all.

Attendees are happy to discover that reaching Hartford and its array of attractions is quick and convenient. More than 23 million people live within a two and a half-hour drive from Hartford. Nowhere in the United States are you closer to as many people, except for Manhattan. No matter where your attendees come from they'll find getting to Hartford convenient and hassle-free, which will allow you to virtually guarantee attendance, if not increase it significantly. Located at the intersection of two major U.S. interstates, visitors from across the Northeast can easily reach the city by car. Air travel is also a breeze, with the city's Bradley International Airport only 15 miles away from downtown Hartford. Bradley is serviced by the top airline carriers in the U.S. and offers nearly 300 national and international flights each day. The Bradley Flyer bus provides quick and easy access to Hartford seven days a week. Once inside the city, travelers can take advantage of the free Hartford dash Shuttle connecting visitors to hotels, restaurants, and attractions.

Hartford, CT Key Stats for Meeting Planners

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

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes
Sleeping Rooms 1 Mile from Convention Center: 1,600

Airport(s):

Bradley International Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
217
Population
124,705
Restaurants
156
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
6.35%
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

For more than 10 years the exceptional staff at the Connecticut Convention Center has been impressing its guests and creating experiences that exceed expectations. From intimate upscale gatherings to large trade shows and conventions their experienced team will work with you to shape this stunning facility into the perfect space for your event.

Limitlessly functional and endlessly customizable, the Connecticut Convention Center is the largest convention facility between New York and Boston. The Center combines ample meeting space — including 140,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space (divisible into two halls), a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom (divisible into three rooms), 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and two executive boardrooms — with visually stunning touches, creating the ideal backdrop for any event.

The Center's award-winning event planning and in-house catering team combine with spectacular function space to make every event unforgettable. Every facet of hosting an event has been taken into consideration — from state-of-the-art audiovisual, to flexible spaces and abundant pre-function areas, to ample onsite sheltered parking. Plus, the attached 409-room Hartford Marriott Downtown, with 13,500 sq. ft. of additional meeting space, ensures all of a planner's event needs are met.

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XL Center

Total Meeting Space - 100,000 Sq. Ft.

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Hartford, CT Airport Information

Bradley International Airport (BDL)

Approximate taxi fare: $60 USD

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 as the region's central rail and bus station.

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. 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. In addition, the CTfastrak system provides direct service to and from Waterbury, Cheshire, Southington, Bristol, Plainville, New Britain, Newington, West Hartford, Hartford and Manchester with routes that take advantage of the bus-only CTfastrak roadway.

CTtransit offers several cash, ticket and pass fare options for its regular bus routes. CTtransit express buses operate on a zone fare system based on distance traveled from downtown Hartford.

Hartford Dash

Operated by CTtransit, the Hartford dash 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 dash runs Monday through Friday every 15 minutes from 7 AM to 7 PM. Dash hours are often extended for major downtown events.

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 $45 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+