Boston could well be dubbed “the little town that could.” With a history firmly rooted in tradition the capital of Massachusetts stands proudly among the country’s — make that the world’s — top cities.

Founded in 1625 when William Blaxton became the first European settler to take up residence on what was then the Shawmut Peninsula, Boston has fared well through almost four centuries of growth and change. Still, the city was beginning to show its age toward the end of the 20th century when city planners and government officials began touting the “Big Dig” as the road to the future. The $15-billion (and counting) construction project took more than 20 years to complete, but was worth the wait as a new underground central artery took shape and eventually replaced the elevated steel-and-concrete highway that had long divided the city.

While finishing touches are still being added — including the landscaping of 27 acres of newly created green space where the elevated central artery once loomed — the new look is a great improvement.

A major tourist destination, Boston has never lacked interested visitors, but recent improvements and hotel expansion are upping the ante. A spokesperson for Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s office said the city’s hotel room capacity will be up 11.1 percent by January of next year. It’s no wonder the National Business Travel Association selected Boston as the site of its annual conference set for July 22-25. More than 6,000 people are expected to attend, making it the largest group of delegates in the event’s 39-year history.

Things have certainly changed since the NBTA last came to Boston nearly 20 years ago. Until recently, inadequate convention space squelched the city’s chances of hosting a conference of this magnitude. The city’s ability to host large events got a significant boost with the opening of the new Boston Convention & Exposition Center in June 2004. Located on the South Boston waterfront, the BCEC is the largest convention facility in New England. Since its opening, Boston’s imprint on the convention landscape has become more prominent. The city hosted the Bio International Convention this year and the Democratic National Convention in 2004. Twenty- six major conventions — three of which will draw 5,000 or more visitors — are already on the books for 2008.

The BCEC also stepped up the revitalization of the South Boston waterfront. The new Westin Boston Waterfront is connected to the convention center, InterContinental Boston opened last year and the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel is expected to open later this year. Plus, Hilton Boston Logan has undergone significant renovations, as has the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Other areas of the city that have seen a dramatic improvement in recent years include Kenmore Square, the gateway to Fenway Park and a mainstay of Boston University’s bustling urban campus. The square (look for the landmark Citgo sign) experienced a turnaround following the 2003 opening of the four-diamond Hotel Commonwealth as exclusive shops and world-class eateries replaced decaying storefronts and seedy bars.

The Theater District also got a much-needed boost in 2001 with the opening of the Ritz-Carlton Boston Common. The elegant hotel, just steps from some of the city’s major theaters, has provided the impetus for a neighborhood renaissance. Long-dark theaters are being renovated and pride is returning to an area known as the “combat zone” in the later years of the 20th century when strip clubs lined the streets. The Opera House is a prime example of changes taking place. The stately theater was nearly lost in 1991 following flood damage, but a $30-million restoration project returned the majestic structure to its former glory. Since reopening in 2004, The Opera House has staged nationally known productions including “The Lion King,” Aretha Franklin in concert and the Boston Ballet.

Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) has also benefited from the Big Dig. New terminals and public transit options have made the airport more user-friendly. In addition, Boston now offers nonstop air service to 79 domestic and 37 international destinations. No longer do New Englanders need to travel to New York City for nonstop flights to international destinations.

LODGING

WESTIN WATERFRONT HOTEL

Location, location, location. No doubt about it, the Westin Waterfront has it. Adjacent to the BCEC, the Westin is convenient to Logan Airport, the Financial District, historic sites, shopping and cultural attractions including the new Institute of Contemporary Art. The high-rise structure houses 793 guestrooms all featuring the brand’s crisp, clean design. In-room coffee service features Starbucks coffee. Other amenities include wireless high-speed Internet and workout room privileges. $$$$
WESTIN WATERFRONT HOTEL
425 Summer St.
tel 617 532 4600
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin

TAJ BOSTON

Taj may be a five-star Indian luxury hotel brand, but this property is trademark Boston elegance. Taj Boston occupies one of the most prestigious addresses in the city. The iconic building, directly across from the Public Garden at the corner of Arlington Street and Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay, was once home to the Ritz-Carlton. Built in the 1920s, it joined the Taj group earlier this year. Taj is honoring the building’s history — big band greats Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman once wowed crowds in the rooftop garden — while adding modern-luxury flair. Management’s three-year modernization plan includes a new spa and a remodeled dining room. $$$$
TAJ BOSTON
15 Arlington St.
tel 617 536 5700
http://www.tajhotels.com

THE ELIOT

Boston’s claim as the most European of American cities is evidenced at The Eliot Hotel in the Back Bay. The small, boutique hotel, built in 1925, is privately owned. Its 95 rooms are furnished with lush draperies and antique accents reminiscent of period furnishings in neighboring brownstones. The hotel overlooks the expansive Commonwealth Avenue mall, a city park designed to resemble the Champs Elysee in Paris. The boutique hotel is just steps from upscale shopping and a short walk from Symphony Hall. $$$$
THE ELIOT
370 Commonwealth Ave.
tel 617 267 1607
http://www.eliothotel.com

DINING

LOCKE-OBER

Dignitaries, movie stars and presidents have dined at this elite establishment for more than 100 years. A strict dress code dictates jackets for men and “tasteful” attire for women: Jeans and sneakers and are a no-no. Quintessential Boston staples — lobster and chowder — are Locke-Ober classics, but the menu is anything but limited, with options including BBQ bluefish, Dover sole and filet mignon. $$$$
LOCKE-OBER
3 Winter Place
tel 617 542 1340
http://www.lockeober.com

CLIO
This exclusive restaurant is located on the ground level of The Eliot in Back Bay. Chef Kenneth Oringer, who began his culinary education at nearby Bryant College in Rhode Island, runs one of the most celebrated kitchens in the area. He is known for creating exotic French masterpieces with a touch of Asian influence. Adventurous palates can also indulge in Oringer’s neighboring sushi bar, also located on The Eliot’s ground level. $$$$
CLIO
370A Commonwealth Ave.
tel 617 536 7200
http://www.cliorestaurant.com

EASTERN STANDARD

It might be located in the heart of Boston University’s campus, but Eastern Standard is no frat boy hangout. Only a couple of doors down from Hotel Commonwealth in Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard is a dimly lit metropolitan lounge and restaurant, complete with an extended marble bar and patio seating. Its refined look draws a sleek crowd of young professionals and academics, and its intricate menu beckons epicureans. Fresh seafood and native New England crops are staples of Chef Jamie Bissonnette’s creations. It doesn’t get any more local than seared cod accompanied by baby brussels sprouts, beet greens and pumpkin. A raw bar and cheese board help round out the culinary experience. $$$
EASTERN STANDARD
528 Commonwealth Ave.
tel 617 532 9100
http://www.easternstandardboston.com

DIVERSIONS

The city’s working-class grit may be what draws film crews to Boston, as seen in Oscar-winning films “The Departed,” “Mystic River” and “Good Will Hunting,” but Boston prides itself on its old world sophistication.

Huntington Avenue, known as Avenue of the Arts is a mile-long stretch encompassing Symphony Hall (tel 617 266 1492, http://www.bso.org), home to the world famous Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops, Museum of Fine Arts (tel 617 267 9300, http://www.mfa.org) and Huntington Theater (tel 617 266 0800, http://www.huntingtontheater.org).

Art aficionados will also enjoy a visit to the Institute of Contemporary Art (tel 617 478 3100, http://www.icaboston.org), next to the BCEC. The ICA moved from its long-time digs in the Back Bay to its eye-popping new facility earlier this year.

What would a visit to Boston be without a stroll on the Freedom Trail
(http://www.thefreedomtrail.org)?The redbrick path winds through Boston and neighboring Charlestown, tracing history along the way. History aside, it is one of the best ways for visitors to get their bearings in the city. Besides, it’s free and it leads walkers through major food and shopping hubs like Faneuil Hall, Downtown Crossing and the North End.

You don’t have to be a baseball fan to appreciate Fenway Park (tel 617 226 6666, http://boston.redsox.mlb.com). The oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use, Fenway is more than just a baseball park; it’s an enduring symbol of Americana. Daily tours introduce visitors to the park where legends such as Babe Ruth and Ted Williams once played.

INFO TO GO

Boston is served by Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Manchester- Boston Regional Airport (MHT), an hour north of the city, and T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Providence, R.I., an hour south of the city. For information about getting to and from the various airports, visit http://www.massport.com.

At Home With Patrick Moscaritolo
President and CEO of the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau

As head of the GBCVB, Moscaritolo was instrumental in bringing the National Business Travel Association conference back to Boston.

Global Traveler: Why has it taken 20 years to get the NBTA conference back to Boston?
Patrick Moscaritolo: The NBTA was not able to return to Boston before this year because at their last convention here, which was held at the Hynes Convention Center, they had basically outgrown the available space. They could not provide exhibit space to all the companies that wanted to buy space in the exhibit hall and they could not accommodate all the attendees either. When the legislature was considering whether to approve a new convention center, I brought NBTA senior executives to the State House to meet with legislative leaders to explain what the lack of a major convention hall was really costing the Boston and Cambridge visitor economy and visitor industry. The NBTA then came back and actually testified at the legislative hearings and were among the reasons the legislature authorized the Boston Convention & Exposition Center. The NBTA in particular also pointed out they could not return until there was a major hotel near the convention center that could serve as their headquarters hotel. That, in part, led to the new Westin Waterfront hotel, which opened in June 2006. So with the BCEC up and running and the Westin Waterfront up and running the way was paved for NBTA to return to Boston.

GT: Why is it an important event for the city? What has changed in Boston since the NBTA was last here?
PM: The NBTA is viewed as one of the prized convention and tradeshows in our industry because of the quality and senior executive level of the delegates, exhibitors and attendees. It’s a “who’s who” of the corporate world with Fortune 500 companies in attendance, including the top 3,500 corporate and government travel directors who control upwards of $170 billion of expenditures worldwide. It’s the premier marketplace that attracts the world’s largest gathering of corporate travel decision-makers. So besides the immediate spending impact of these decision- makers and the 3,000-plus exhibitors and sponsors the NBTA convention drives about $13 million in spending into the local visitor economy. But that’s not the only benefit from NBTA. As important to us at the Convention & Visitors Bureau is the ability to showcase our destination and our region to decision-makers and corporate travel managers who will be deciding where to hold their own individual corporate meetings over the next one to three years. In essence the bureau utilizes NBTA as a showcase event for hundreds of millions of dollars in future corporate meetings business for our hotels and venues. It gives these decision-makers an opportunity to “kick the tires,” try out our properties, and leads to future business for us. This year the delegates and decisionmakers get to experience all that is new about Boston — new hotels, a new modern convention center, new airport terminals, new roadway system, new tunnel from Logan to the BCEC all part of the major infrastructure improvements that is called the “new Boston” — but at the same time they enjoy the historic, old world charm of the Boston they saw in 1988.

GT: The city has undergone some noticeable physical changes in recent years: the interstate has been put under ground and oncedilapidated areas like Kenmore Square and the waterfront are now home to luxury hotels and shops. What have the challenges been in achieving this change, and now, what are the benefits?
PM: Clearly there were major disruptions to life during the 15-plus years of this transformation for residents, and for people who lived in the suburbs and commuted to Boston for their jobs, but the benefits are clear for residents and visitors alike.With final touches that include the Rose Kennedy Greenway, new hotels opening in the Back Bay and on the waterfront, and the Seaport District coming to life Boston is now positioned as one of a handful of cities in the United States that can celebrate its historic nature as the birthplace of the country, but can do it with a contemporary flair that makes Boston a truly unique destination.