Business Travel Guide Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Once an industrial powerhouse of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, today Pittsburgh has reinvented itself as a center for finance, information technology, robotics, healthcare and education. Located at the confluence of three great rivers—the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela—this breathtaking city is sure to excite even the most blasé of business travelers. The Steelers' Heinz Field and Pirates' PNC Park (widely considered the most attractive ballpark in the country) enliven the North Shore, and construction of a gambling casino is in progress next door.
The downtown "Golden Triangle," once home to numerous Fortune 500 industrial companies, now houses major financial institutions such as PNC and BNY Mellon (headquartered in New York, but with major operations here). Heinz still makes its home downtown as well, but the major industrial companies—Bayer USA and Westinghouse—are in suburbs to the west and east respectively. The busiest part of town is Oakland, a neighborhood about three miles east of the city center, the location of major healthcare and higher-education institutions and Pittsburgh's largest employers. Here, doctors and nurses, students and faculty mingle in the busy streets in such numbers that savvy local motorists and taxi drivers know to avoid Forbes and Fifth avenues during peak hours.
Oakland is also home to The Carnegie Institute's first-rate Art Museum, and the Natural History Museum, where exhibits include a newly created dinosaur collection. The Carnegie also runs an excellent Science Center and the Andy Warhol Museum with its incomparable collection of work by the Pop-Art icon, who was born and raised in Pittsburgh.
Business travelers will find a down to earth but hospitable business community, and the opportunity for wonderfully enriching "time-out" opportunities. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
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Transportation:
Pittsburgh
International Airport, rated one of the world's
best, is located fifteen miles northwest of the
city center. Taxis are readily available, as are
scheduled bus services and airport limousines. Private
planes can arrive and depart here or at the Allegheny
County airport 15 miles southeast. Downtown hotels
do not provide shuttle service from the airport,
but those adjacent to the airport do.
Taxis
are mostly yellow (www.pghyellowcab.com).
The fare from the airport to Downtown runs approximately
$38. Within the city, taxis are found only at hotels
and cab stands or by telephoning the company dispatcher.
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Newspapers:
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Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh
Tribune-Review publish daily, the Pittsburgh
Business Times and City Paper weekly.
For events, restaurant listings, art and gallery listings
and lifestyle features, Pittsburgh Magazine
publishes monthly and also offers an annual City Guide.
The city has five television stations, including WQED,
the first Public Broadcasting station in the country
and home to Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. The first
commercial radio station in the country, KDKA, resides
here still. |
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Ready to book a trip now?
Click here for exclusive savings. |
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The soaring marble and glass-domed lobby welcomes you
to this stylish hotel, an affiliate of Historic Hotels
of America. The spectacular renovation of a 1906 landmark
building melds its Gilded Age charm with amenities required
by the contemporary business traveler—complimentary
Internet access in the guest rooms, a club level and lounge,
a business center, meeting facilities, smart phone service
and a fitness center. The hotel is conveniently located
for walks along the Allegheny River and the North Side,
which includes PNC Park, Heinz Field, The Warhol Museum,
and the theaters and galleries in the Cultural District.
Also within walking distance are the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center and most major downtown businesses.
Rooms, many with a fine river view, are furnished in the
style and quality of this upscale Marriott brand. In the
lobby,
an urbane martini bar offers a prelude to that important dinner when the big deal hangs in the balance.
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Conveniently located at one edge
of the downtown area, The Westin Convention Center offers easy access to the Cultural
District and sports venues. Nearby you'll also find
the entrance to the Strip District, a section of food
markets, warehouses, restaurants and nightlife. A skyway
connects the hotel to the new David L. Lawrence Convention
Center, nationally lauded for its "green"
design and construction. Extensive meeting rooms, exhibition
spaces, a full business center, complimentary high-speed
Internet service and an expansive fitness center comfortably
accommodate business travelers. Large, pristine rooms
lure with the Heavenly Bed.
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A
reflection of the city's wealth at the height of
the Industrial Revolution, the William Penn was built
by industrialist Henry Clay Frick in 1916. Today, this
Grand Dame of Pittsburgh hotels blends historic grandeur
with modern conveniences and business amenities. Fronting
Grant Street and bordering charming Mellon Square Park,
the monumental structure occupies the very heart of the
city. Stunning public spaces include a soaring lobby created
from elegant marble, crystal and gilt. The Palm Court
is ideal for discussing the finer points of business over
cocktails, while the dramatic Art Deco Urban room is designed
for special events. While there remains an undercurrent
of fading dazzle, restoration of this lavish lady is ongoing.
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Built
in the 1960s, this downtown hotel—which is non-smoking—is
typical of the Marriott chain. Select rooms have been
tailored specifically for the business traveler with high-speed
Internet access and a work desk. Fourteen meeting rooms
with wireless Internet, and three foyers add up
to 24,000 square feet of meeting space. There's
also a business center and two concierge levels. All guest
rooms boast complimentary broadband Internet access. The
hotel's location is ideal for attending events at
Mellon Arena. Another plus is The Steelhead Brasserie
and Wine Bar.
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One of the city's largest hotels, built during Pittsburgh's "First Renaissance" in the 1950s and '60s, the Hilton was once favored by visiting professional sports teams and other celebrities. The hotel is also grandly positioned at the "Point," where the city's three rivers converge. Its luster is returning under the new ownership and a $30 million remodeling project. All rooms and corridors have been renovated. The comfortable feather beds garner raves. The Towers level boasts an upgraded executive lounge and a business center. Meeting facilities have been expanded, including a brand new fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment. All rooms and public spaces enjoy complimentary high-speed Internet access. Shopping, cultural events and sports venues are nearby, but the Convention Center, government offices and some business addresses require a hike, despite the claims on the Web page. Shuttle service is offered between the hotel and destinations in downtown. |
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Look out Morton's and Ruth's Chris: Capital Grille steakhouse is rocking Pittsburgh's fine dining market. Both the food and the ambience are impressive. A chef-driven kitchen and well-trained front of house staff create an exceptional dining experience for business entertaining. Private dining accommodations include a fully-equipped conference room. The sophisticated and lively bar makes a great meet, chat and relax venue. Though part of a national chain, each city's restaurant fine-tunes the comfortable "clubby" environment. Here art extols such local notables as Mister Rogers and Steelers' founder Art Rooney. Premium steaks are meticulously dry-aged on-site, and top quality seafood arrives daily. Best bets: Steaks, of course, but also genuine Japanese Kobe beef carpaccio, pristine Blue Point oysters on the half-shell, a wonderful cold shellfish platter, lamb chops and the lobster "mac & cheese." For dessert—all are made in-house—splurge on the sinful flourless chocolate-espresso cake. |
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Also in Shadyside, Casbah, a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar, offers sophisticated flavors and an upscale yet casual dining experience. The décor taps into local artists and artisans working in glass, ceramic, wood and metal. The menu sails around all ports of call on the Mediterranean—Spain, France, Italy, the Middle East and North Africa. Connected to local farmers, the kitchen's hallmark is ultra-fresh, often organic ingredients. Casbah is a popular lunch and weekend brunch spot, and young professionals gather at the end of the work day for discounted martinis, an extensive list of wines by the glass and a thoughtful cheese tasting. |
At the Downtown edge of the Strip District, Eleven delivers
executive-class American fare with a wine cellar to match.
The setting, a dramatic contemporary space, draws on premium
materials, warm earth tones and subtle lighting to create
a comfortable ambience. For small gatherings, there's
a Chef's Table next to the open kitchen and an inviting
lounge, featuring a large green onyx-topped bar and tables
with cushy chairs. Upstairs, private dining rooms accommodate
parties, meetings and conferences. Amenities include A/V
and videoconferencing equipment. The inventive menu changes
frequently. Expect warm, rich flavors and seasonally fresh
ingredients. |
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For a sophisticated business lunch or dinner, take a short taxi ride to Mio Kitchen and Wine Bar in Aspinwall. Here casual fine dining moves to upscale and urbane—a reflection of chef/owner Matt Porco's experience as sous chef at Veritas, in Manhattan. The small, smart eatery incorporates attention to quality details: wrought-iron accents, warm neutral colors, comfortable seating; and a prominent temperature-controlled wine room supporting Porco's philosophy of balance between food and wine. The ambience speaks to discernment and success, as does the seasonal menu of contemporary American and French fare. For lunch, try a salmon burger on a Kaiser roll with remoulade sauce or a short rib melt, with provolone and honey thyme caramelized onions. For dinner, the most impressive meal is the Chef's Tasting knowledgeably matched to wines. Desserts are delicious. A private dining room accommodates elegant dinner meetings. |
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Owner Robin Fernandez calls his ultra-sophisticated Spanish-themed establishment a "comfort lounge." It's a bar, a gathering space and a special events venue. Sleekly modern, it's loaded with original art, including Picasso prints. Martinis, exotic cocktails, Red Bull populate the drink list. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, expect standing room only, a high voltage "scene" and a high decibel sound track. On other nights this is a great place to relax and enjoy cocktails and authentic Spanish tapas—with the added bonus of a five-minute walk to PNC Park, where you can take in a baseball game with colleagues and guests. |
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Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece country house, built around a natural waterfall, can be rented for special events—including private tours and receptions for business groups. Recently reopened after reconstruction of the massive concrete slab that anchors the house, Fallingwater cannot fail to impress. It is widely considered the region's foremost attraction. Recent visitors have included Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. There's an onsite café, which provides comprehensive catering services from simple fare to Champagne and caviar. For those wanting more of the master's work, the historic House on Kentuck Knob (www.kentuckknob.com) is nearby. |
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In Farmington, PA, approximately one hour and 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, this luxury resort and spa has several golf courses that include PGA-class Mystic Rock, award-winning restaurants and a vast array of activities from an equestrian center to a Hummer driving range. Nemacolin is just the place for a getaway business retreat or team-building exercise. Limousine service to Pittsburgh International Airport can be arranged, and there's an airstrip and helipad. |
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Opened
in 2001, the PNC Baseball Park is widely considered
the most attractive baseball park in the country.
The Pittsburgh Pirates play here, and you can definitely
bond with the boss at any of the home games held
from April through September—especially if
you score access to one of the luxury hospitality
suites. The stadium's seven World Series suites,
which accommodate 30 to 40 guests and include VIP
parking, feature amazing views of Pittsburgh's
skyline—not to mention a sense of exclusivity
while you sit back and watch America's favorite
pastime. You can even plan special events on non-game
days, with several different spaces available and
an on-site caterer. |
The
Warhol Museum
117 Sandusky St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
412-237-8300
www.warhol.org |
One
of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, The Warhol
contains the definitive collection of art and memorabilia
by pop-art icon and native son, Andy Warhol. You'll
discover fascinating tidbits, like how the artist
got his name. (It was really Warhola, but he decided
to keep the new version—the result of a typo
on an early exhibition poster.) In the museum's
permanent collection you'll find more than 12,000
works of Warhol art, and there are always current
shows by other modern artists. The museum regularly
features films, receptions, workshops and wine tastings.
From the gift shop, pick up a set of souvenir tomato
soup can refrigerator magnets for your secretary! |
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Click here for exclusive savings. |
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Image of Entrance to The Andy Warhol Museum with Self-Portrait © AWF. The Andy Warhol Museum Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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(Updated:
06/18/09 KR) |
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