Boskone Access area can help you with any accessibility issues before or during Boskone. Contact Access at access@boskone.org. During Boskone, we’ll be located in the Concourse/Galleria (lower level) at the Information/Volunteers table. This is a quick reference for accessibility at Boskone; for detailed information, check our Access FAQ.
General Overview of the Hotel
The Westin Boston Seaport District is a newer hotel and is accessible. The Lobby Level includes the hotel’s registration desk, a large casual seating area, bars, restaurants, a gift shop restrooms, and elevator access throughout the building. Free WIFI is available in the Lobby and in the Concourse.
The Westin has six elevators from the Lobby Level to guest room tower as well as two separate elevators from the underground garage to all of Boskone’s function rooms, to the Concourse/Galleria (lower level), and to the Lobby area. The elevators for the garage/function rooms and the guest rooms are at opposite ends of the hotel lobby. All elevators have Braille signs and buttons. Several sleeping rooms are wheelchair accessible and include roll-in showers. Once hotel bookings are open, make your reservation, then contact hotel@boskone.org and let them know your specific sleeping room request so they can verify this with the hotel.
Food & Drink
The lobby, registration area and restaurants are all on the same level and can accommodate wheelchairs and mobies. The lobby level has restaurants and bars that serve breakfast, lunch, dinner and evening snacks. They are also able to accommodate special dietary requests.
Function Space
Boskone has function space in the Harborwing Concourse Level (Galleria: Dealers Room, Art Show, Con Suite, Volunteers/Information/Access, Children’s Activities), the Harborwing Lobby Level (Program, Coat Check), and the Harborwing Conference Level (Registration, Events, Program, Readings, Gaming). Elevators on the Harborwing side provide access to each level as well as to the underground garage.
- View Boskone’s Floor Plans online.
Convention Publications
Publications and schedules are available in print at the convention as well as online in PDF, HTML, and via the our mobile scheduling app, which can all be found on the Boskone Website (boskone.org).
Local Transit
The hotel is just over a block from the Silver Line (World Trade Center Exit) when traveling from Logan Airport. The Silver Line’s World Trade Center stop has an elevator between the train level and the sidewalk to the Westin/Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. There are no steps between the driveway and the entrance into the hotel.
Boston’s South Station is accessible and is 0.8 miles from the Westin Boston Seaport District. You can take the Silver Line from South Station to the World Trade Center Exit or take a taxi cab.
The city of Boston has approximately 100 wheelchair accessible taxi vehicles and they have provided a useful PDF document that lists the cab companies and their usability ratings. (While our focus is on accessibility within the Westin Boston Seaport District itself and not the street conditions of northern cities during winter, some sidewalks may have ice and or snow on them and may not be ideal for wheelchairs or mobies.)
- Read the Message from the City of Boston for people who need transportation assistance.
- Visit the City of Boston’s page regarding Accessible Cabs.
- More information about renting Mobies from Scootaround.