Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square have opened in the heart of Pennsylvania's countryside. The $177 million project incorporates the 110-year-old Beaux Arts facade of the former Watt & Shand Department Store and honors the historical significance of the area. For example, the facility is situated on a key site of Pennsylvania's Quest for Freedom trail, which honors the sites and stories of the African American journey to freedom from the time of the Underground Railroad and beyond. In addition, guests can view a water-collection cistern that was unearthed and preserved during the venue's construction; the object was once part of the Kleiss Tavern, owned by influential Congressman and abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens.

The hotel and convention center offer 90,000 sq. ft. of event space, including space for groups up to 5,000, a convention and exhibition hall, two grand ballrooms, and separate meeting and board rooms. The hotel's 299 guestrooms feature pillow-top bedding, LCD TVs, and a plug-and-play system. Interstate Hotels & Resorts operate both the hotel and the convention center. www.lancasterconventioncenter.com; www.marriottlancaster.com
—Nielsen Business Media