How to get the best out of a business trip to Boston

Business trips to Boston can be both fun and productive – but you need to approach them in the right way. The city has a dense mix of finance, tech, biotech, education, and healthcare districts, as well as a thriving convention scene. What’s more, Boston is relatively compact compared to other American cities, so you don’t have to waste too much time dashing from one side of the city to the other in order to make all your appointments. That being said, putting in a little planning and knowing what to expect can help you to get more out of your Boston business trip than may otherwise be the case. Here’s what you need to know, and what you should consider before you book anything:

Pick the right area to stay

When looking for hotels in Boston to stay in, think about where you’re going to be spending most of your time, how you plan to get around, where you’re likely to be eating each evening, and so on. To give you a head start, here’s a quick guide to the areas you might be looking at:

Back Bay

Back Bay has strong transport links and is close to Copley Square and business amenities. It’s walkable and has a good range of restaurants. This makes it a popular location for business travelers.

The Financial District

As you might expect, the Financial District is a top choice for finance and legal travelers. It’s convenient for downtown offices, and is relatively quiet at night compared to Back Bay and other central areas.

Seaport District

The Seaport District is a major area for conventions and tech conferences. There are plenty of modern hotels and coworking spaces clustered around the district, along with good waterfront restaurants. However, it’s worth noting that this area can be expensive during big conventions and events, so if you’re on a budget, it might be worth staying elsewhere and commuting into the Seaport District. Luckily, the area has good transport links.

Cambridge

Cambridge, across the river, is good for biotech, academia, and research connections through its Harvard and MIT campuses. You’ll find it has a quieter, more bohemian feel than downtown Boston, but still offers good transport options into the city, plus plenty of excellent dining and entertainment.

Boston traffic and transport

Don’t be complacent about the traffic in Boston. Remember, Boston was largely designed and built long before cars were a factor, and as such, the streets can get very congested during rush hours. The narrow streets slow down car traffic, and there are frequent bottlenecks – particularly around Logan Airport. Bear this in mind if you’re driving or being driven through the city.

The plus side of being relatively old is that Boston is also relatively walkable. In central districts, it’s often easier to walk to your destination than it is to drive – although do check the weather forecast before you set out for a day on foot.

If you’re staying around the central city, the MBTA subway is often faster than both walking and driving. It’s very useful for getting you quickly from district to district, and pretty easy to use once you’re familiar with the routes you need.

In general, despite how compact the city is, it’s usually worth leaving time buffers between meetings to account for travel disruption. If you can, avoid overloading your schedule in order to cut down on logistical stress.

Take advantage of the culture

If you can, don’t let your trip to Boston be just about meetings. Add in some networking opportunities, and take advantage of Boston’s great informal networking culture.

Because of its location near Harvard and MIT, Boston has a unique overlap between academia and business, which often translates into an informal, conversational networking culture in which deals are struck over coffee and research opportunities are worked out over casual lunches. Furthermore, the city is a popular destination for conferences and conventions, which can yield valuable contacts without the need for formal meetings.

So, don’t be afraid to invite potential contacts for a quiet networking lunch, or to grab coffee with someone who could boost your business. If you’re not sure who to approach, research event attendees or relevant business leaders in the city.

Take some time off for local experiences

Boston is a historic city, and it would be a shame to come to Boston just to spend the whole time in meetings and conferences. If you can, make time for some sightseeing and other local experiences (or combine this with networking if you’re uncomfortable with taking ‘time off’!).

Boston’s historic atmosphere gives it a very different feel from many other US business hubs. It’s not hard to get from conference and meeting areas to some of the city’s most interesting historic areas. For example, Boston Common and the historic Beacon Hill neighborhood are just a short walk from the heart of the Financial District.

You can also easily get to the Boston Waterfront and Harbor and Fenway Park from most business and conference areas. It’s more than worth taking a bit of time out of your workday to stroll along the waterfront and take in some American history.

Conclusion

Boston is a great place to do business. You’ll find the business culture quieter, more relationship-based, and perhaps more reserved than in places like New York, which in many ways makes it a great place for a more networking-focused business trip than for hashing out hard deals. If you plan your location and transport strategy well, you will have plenty of time in your schedule to go for coffee with potential contacts and take in some of the historic sights of the city – or even to hop across the river and explore around Harvard and MIT. Hopefully, with the right preparation, you can have a business trip to Boston that’s both fun and productive.