MetroWest Boston combines history and innovation
Since the first inn opened in 1716, hoteliers in the 19 cities that make up MetroWest Boston have been welcoming visitors in style. Whether your group wants to stay in a historic property, a hotel fashioned after a castle or an all-suite property, the options are manifold. From Ashland and Framingham to Sudbury and Westborough, culture, cuisine and entertainment abound.
Travel Secrets
“MetroWest Boston’s region is equidistant from Boston’s, Worcester’s, and Providence’s airports; the region is just a half hour from Boston but costs a fraction of big city prices,” said Stacey David, deputy director with MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau. With a variety of transportation options, including trains, buses and airport shuttles, getting to the region is easy as well.
Stay Here
Center
In addition to 47 hotels and over 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting space—including a trade center and several large conference hotels—the I-90-close area also boasts venues that make a conference something entirely more memorable. From museums to historic properties to amusement parks, these spaces spur original thinking, creative problem solving and strong team building—gatherings that are both productive and unforgettable.
Longfellows Wayside Inn in Sudbury has been welcoming guests for more than 300 years—the longest continuously-running hotel in the country—and prides itself on sharing the stories of early inhabitants on the 100-acre property. From the ballroom and Hobgoblin Room to the event tent in Longfellow Memorial Garden, the story is part of the experience.
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Sheraton Framingham Hotel & Conference Center has long specialized in making attendees feel like royalty—and the front was modeled after a Tudor castle to prove it. But a renovation into a tri-branded property schedule to be complete this fall will unveil a 200-room, full-service Sheraton, a 95-room TownePlace Suites, and a 75-room Fairfield Inn, all connected to 25,000 sq. ft. of event space with 23 flexible breakout rooms.
The Verve Hotel Boston Natick, Tapestry Collection by Hilton shares inspiration from four decades of 20th-century American pop culture with guests. 17,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including the 400-person Apollo ballroom and three boardrooms embody modern convenience and energy. With 251 guest rooms and a dining room reminiscent of Julia Child’s kitchen, this is a property that leaves an impression.
Meet Here
For those looking for traditional meeting space, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center offers 67,500 sq. ft. of space, including 22 meeting rooms within the hotel and an additional 47,500 sq. ft. of highly customizable space in the adjacent trade center. With ample parking and 307 guest rooms, this property can handle large events, and is the only trade center in Massachusetts outside of Boston.
If you are ready for an extraordinary meeting experience, American Heritage Museum boasts 26,000 sq. ft. of space including a hangar full of antique planes. Hopkinton Center for the Arts serves up 6,000 sq. ft. of theater and gallery space plus a distinguished outdoor amphitheater. Apex Entertainment brings the team together at an indoor amusement park with 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
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Warren Conference Center is a team-building paradise on Ashland State Reservoir on 100 acres with watersports, a ropes course and 49 guest rooms in the well-appointed, modern inn with more in quaint cabins and a lodge. The property dates back to 1907 when the inventor of the Telechron clock, Henry Ellis Warren, ran a working farm on the property. Today, The Training Path facilitators lead Challenge by Choice exercises for groups looking to improve confidence, communication and purpose.
Drink This
Come for the meeting, but stay for the breweries. The area is home to 17 craft breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries. Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers is probably the most famous. Groups can gather in their full indoor restaurant, outdoor beer garden or private rooms. Lawn games, live music and even yoga in the brewery are regular occurrences.
This article appears in the September/October 2023 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
