In Need of a Reason to Visit Boston?

Perhaps the city skyline from the JFK Library should be your excuse!  We love this photo snapped by the cell phone of one of our recent clients.

Travel & Meetings: Making a Rebound

Our friends and family often ask us “how’s business?”  They ask both because they are concerned about us AND because they see our industry as an indicator for the economy.  THEY ARE RIGHT! And it is supported by the experts listed below.  Travel and events are often the first place cut back and the last place added back in.  People are recognizing the value in face to face meetings and a little bit of fun to keep their teams motivated and on target!

Group Travel Spend Expected to Grow by 7% in 2011 published at conworld.net, explains the growth of business travel spending, which was initially expected to increase by 5% in 2011, is now expected to advance by 6.9%.  According to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), their Travel Index has reached its highest point since 2008 and the forecast is continued to rise.  And the best part of this news?  “Business travel spending is a leading indicator of future job growth.”  Hoping for an employment surge!

In keeping with this sentiment, an article published by Successful Meetings entitled CFOs Tell AmEx They’ll Spend More on Business Travel, Meetings This Year, expands upon the forecast growth.  The overall increased economic optimism currently held by many corporations means that companies are “prepared to invest more money in strategic growth this year – including business travel and meetings.”  According to the figures determined by American Express, finance executives plan to spend 41% more on travel in 2011, up 15% from 2010, because they understand the correlation between business travel and revenue growth.  Highlight?  34 percent of finance executives “plan to increase spending on meetings with new or potential clients.”

We love all of this good news!  Have you found new business because of the rebounding economy?

Why Should You Come to Boston? Hunter Holcombe Defines What Makes Boston Ideal

Destination Management industry news leader, Meetings Focus, has a great article in their December 2010 – January 2011 issue on the city of Boston.  We couldn’t resist passing on the positive commentary on our great home!

Boston: Pride Runs Deep – by Hunter Holcombe

With a distinctive identity overflowing in revolutionary history, New England character and city pride, it’s easy to feel a special bond with Boston in almost no time.  “America’s Favorite City” has so much to offer in terms of culture, entertainment and meetings infrastructure, it is surprising to realize the city itself is only the 20th largest in the country.

Yet with its low-rise neighborhoods, quaint brick buildings and intimate streets, downtown Boston is at once inviting and unintimidating, especially compared to other prominent East Coast cities.

Beyond the city, American history extends well into the countryside, but you only need travel a short distance to access major draws like Cambridge’s Harvard and MIT, the picturesque shorelines to the north or the inviting communities of Merrimack Valley.

Boston
Though its residents are known for their city pride, Boston doesn’t really need to sell itself. Fascinating history seems to wait around every corner, and visitors return home with cameras full of gas lamp-lit streetscapes in Beacon Hill, dozens of Revolutionary War-era colonial buildings, idyllic scenes of the park at Boston Commons and the mandatory snapshot of the Cheers bar. And don’t forget baseball, of course.

“Taking in a baseball game at Fenway Park, America’s most beloved ballpark, always ranks as No. 1 on delegates’ and meeting planners’ lists,” says Patrick B. Moscaritolo, president and CEO of the Greater Boston CVB. “And why not, since it’s a unique ballpark a short walk away from the Hynes Convention Center and 4,000 hotel rooms in the Back Bay.”

While history buffs may feel as giddy as a kid in a candy store here, there are major draws for almost every sort of enthusiast. Newbury Street’s shopping scene in upscale Back Bay has become comparable to Rodeo Drive, and its restaurants top the charts as well. The city’s North End draws visitors and locals alike for its well-preserved Italian culture and cuisine. And the walkable downtown packs together history galore with its world-renowned parks, beautiful waterfront and adjacent Chinatown.

It is these mainstays that draw more than 16 million visitors annually, but when they are coupled with Boston’s significant investment in modern meetings infrastructure, the city becomes an ideal destination for planners.

“As a result of our $15 billion underground transportation system from Logan International Airport, delegates can be in the city to hotels and convention centers within minutes,” says Beth Stehley, vice president of sales and convention services. “And our largest and newest convention center in the Seaport District [the Boston Exhibition and Convention Center] is 10 minutes from the airport, with its own tunnel exit.”

Boston was large enough to absorb nearly 30,000 room nights in April, when it hosted the 2010 Symposium & Congress of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators. But while finding oversized name cards may have been a challenge for Paula K. Schneider, director of meetings and conventions for the two associations, finding event space was not.

“The city, in addition to its rich history, has so much to offer the meeting attendee,” she says. “In addition to the educational conference, the society also hosted a number of events at different venues throughout the city. The events were in unique locations, and the attendees were very pleased with the venues, transportation and food and beverage.”

In terms of meetings infrastructure, Boston offers far more than its size would imply. For the major gatherings, there is the 1.3 million-square-foot Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, with 516,000 square feet of continuous exhibit space and 84 meeting rooms; the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, with 176,000 square feet of space, a 24,000-square-foot ballroom and 41 meeting rooms; and the Seaport World Trade Center, featuring a 118,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 200,000 square feet of meeting space and a 396-seat amphitheatre. The Hynes Center features a brand-new fine dining restaurant, Georges Bank, with private dining space for 80 people.

Upscale meetings will find plenty of hospitality in Boston, home to a wide range of luxury hotels. The regal Taj Boston is a favorite, with an ideal park-front location, stately guest rooms dating back to 1927, more than 18,000 square feet of function space and its well-known rooftop function room, offering panoramic city views. Nearby in the Financial District, the Langham Boston is another standout property, holding court in the elegant former Federal Reserve Bank building. On Beacon Hill, the Liberty Hotel is an imaginative luxury property housed in the former Charles Street Jail.

In contrast to these historic properties, the 150-room Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel on Boston’s waterfront and the 148-room Mandarin Oriental in the Back Bay are each just 2 years old.

Larger groups will have breathing room at the 793-room Westin Boston Waterfront, connected to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, or the 471-room Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel. Another top choice on the waterfront is the 424-room InterContinental Boston, with 32,000 square feet of meeting space. Additional meetings hotels include the Boston Park Plaza, Hilton Boston Back Bay, Boston Marriott Copley Place, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Sheraton Boston and Westin Copley Place. Recently joining the collection are the 114-room Ames Hotel (Morgan Hotel Group) and the 234-room W Boston Theatre District Hotel.

Completion of the New Rose Kennedy Greenway, formerly known as the “Big Dig,” has made a major impact on the accessibility and beautification of the city’s waterfront, offering 15 acres of manicured parks. Additionally, the new 44-mile Boston HarborWalk is finished. The new harbor-front Northern Avenue Liberty Wharf development is slated to open on the HarborWalk within the next month. The $60 million, three-building complex will include four restaurants.

Cambridge
Home to two of the world’s most prestigious universities—Harvard and MIT—the small city of Cambridge could easily boast the highest concentration of sharpened brains in the U.S. Located just across the Charles River from Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood and well-linked with the city’s subway system, Cambridge feels more like a neighborhood of Boston than a separate city. Its academic base gives it a lively nightlife, yet this is balanced by several renowned museums and galleries, ideal for small events.

As far as meetings, Cambridge makes it easy on planners, with its Cambridge Conference Collection, a group of eight meeting hotels within a two-mile radius. The collection brings together more than 102,000 square feet of meeting space and 3,500 guest rooms at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge Sheraton Commander (which recently finished a $15 million renovation), Doubletree Guest Suites, Hotel Marlowe, Le Meridien Cambridge, Marriott Cambridge Center, Royal Sonesta Hotel and Charles Hotel. The city’s newest addition, Hotel Veritas, brings an additional 31 upscale guest rooms.

Beyond Boston
While Boston’s charms are irresistible, planners should remember that there is a small world to be explored just outside the city limits. Recreation, seafood and quaint communities are the big draws north of the city in Essex County, with similar appeal to the northwest in Merrimack Valley.

Both offer considerable meetings options, such as the Sheraton Colonial Boston North Hotel & Conference Center in Wakefield, the Wylie Inn & Conference Center in Beverly and the Wyndham Boston Andover. Meanwhile, the historic Andover Inn recently reopened after undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation.

The 30,000-square-foot Tsongas Arena and the historic 20,000-square-foot Lowell Memorial Auditorium provide additional options for groups.

The Luck of the Irish

Let’s face it, in this city there’s a little Irish in everyone!  Last week, we designed and managed a great Irish-themed farewell dinner for one of our corporate incentive programs.   For an intimate group of 30, the second floor of Solas Irish Pub located in the Lenox Hotel, was the ideal venue for their final dinner.

Guests were welcomed into a room aglow with candle light.  Tea lights, luminaries and white and green florals complimented the already existing Irish accents in the space, creating a warm and cozy environment for the diners.

After enjoying cocktails, an array of passed hors d’oeuvres and an overflowing raw bar of maritime delicacies, guests took their seats at three banquet tables set for ten.  A magician was on hand for the first hour of the evening, floating amongst the crowd, impressing and baffling guests with his slight of hand tricks.

Once seated, guests were able to select from a traditional Irish menu – Shepherd’s Pie, London Broil and Fish & Chips were the entree options for the evening.

Later in the night, the raw bar transitioned into a dessert station where guests could enjoy warm banana bread pudding and flourless chocolate cake with a whiskey sauce, mingle and dance the night away to the sounds of an Irish acoustic duo.

Dining Out

Just to ensure that we are always on the edge of what’s new, unique and noteworthy, we are having our own “Restaurant Week” of sorts.  The Corinthian Events team is on a dedicated mission to determine if local newcomers and old favorites are up to snuff for all of our special clients!  Stay tuned for highlights from our culinary adventures.

P.S. Those local to Wayland should put Spice ‘n Pepper (236 Boston Post Road, Wayland, MA – 508.358.5300)  on their list of restaurants to try.  This new Thai spot just received a glowing review from Courtney!

Island Time

You don’t even have to leave the Boston Harbor to experience the fresh air, the sea breeze and the stunning views that come with being on an island.  If you follow us on Twitter, you might already know that yesterday Jill, Amy and Laura ventured out to Spectacle Island for a tour of one of the Harbor’s most popular islands.   We were whisked out on the water by Boston’s Best Cruises for an easy fifteen minute trip to the Island.  Passing ferries and sailboats, the city’s waterfront, and a spattering of lush green islands along the way, the bustling harbor was the perfect backdrop for the ride.

Once upon the island, we were taken on a short walking tour by our very knowledgeable DCR ranger, Bill.  Abound with a fascinating history, the Island was formerly home to a resort, then a glue factory and then a landfill.  In the last twenty years, efforts to make the land usable were executed simultaneously with the Big Big.  The island was in need of a material to cover up the waste on top of it and the city was looking rid itself of excess dirt from the Big Dig.  After shipping tons of dirt, adding a thick layer of gravel and dense top soil, Spectacle Island was born into what it is today.  Open to the public since 2006, it is now one of the most beautiful and accessible Islands in the harbor.  In fact, it is so clean that you can swim from its beaches!

The island is also home to great event spaces!  The visitors center and adjoining tent provide a home for catering by Jasper White’s Summer Shack.  Can you imagine a better place for a clambake than over looking the surrounding islands and the city?  With a multitude of spots for a tent and beautiful views in three hundred and sixty degrees, the island is ideal for anything from a scavenger hunt to an amazing race, a field day to a barbecue!

Fifteen minutes to paradise?  Yes, please!

Bring Fenway Park to Your Hotel

Or anywhere, for that matter!  Celebrate the best of Bostons sports culture with a Fenway themed event highlighting pure Red Sox enthusiasm.   We recently transformed the Westin Waterfront ballroom into a dinner destination for sports enthusiasts inviting guests to enter through the turnstile and pass under the “Fenway Park” entrance for an evening of baseball fun!

Upon entering the ballroom, guests were greeted by scattered high top tables with bar stools dressed in blue and red linens and adorned by festive centerpieces.

Anchored in the center of the room was a replica of the Cheers bar – and beyond guests could check out the “Green Monster” along the back wall.  LCD screens televising the nights game were surrounded by soft lounge seating for those interested in keeping up with every inning.

Looking for interactive fun?  We had a speed pitch where guests could test their toss, ping pong tables for a heated match, and foosball tables for added competition.

Let us take you and your guests out to the ballgame!

Where the tourists don’t go…

There are hidden gems everywhere.  No matter where you visit there’s always that must-see spot or activity boasting something that can’t be found anywhere else.  One of the best things about being in Boston is that these hot-spots or unique experiences are far from rare if you know the right people (like we do), so you can get in on all the excitement!

A dynamic group of professionals visited our city last week with a killer agenda.   Determined to experience the history, explore the culture and soak up the academia of Boston, we ensured that their activities were specifically tailored to their mission.  From a discussion with one of the country’s renowned professors at the Harvard Business School, to experiencing the epitome of Boston pride while watching a Red Sox game at Fenway Park.  From their very own “Head of the Charles” experience rowing down Boston’s idyllic river, to the grand finale – a tour of one of the cities most prestigious stem cell labs, these guests left with memories, insight and a wonderful experience.

When planning your next program, let us know if there are specific motives or agendas.  We know the right people and the best places to make your Boston visit unique, personalized and memorable.

Summer in the City

With the surge in beautiful weather, we know that mother nature is calling you outside for a day of fun!  Being specialists at creating dynamic and engaging activities for the impending warm weather, you need not look any further for your spring or summer corporate affair.  Whether you are hoping to get out on the water in Newport, enjoy a casual New England clambake on the Cape or an intricate scavenger hunt around the city, we have the expertise to plan every detail of your outing to be fun, engaging and memorable.

SCAVENGER HUNT:

Are you looking for an active way to spend time with colleagues and enjoy the day?  Then a scavenger hunt is it.  We will divide your group into teams and send them exploring through your chosen location, anywhere from the center of Boston to Thompson Island, Provincetown to Rockport.  Each team will be given a sheet of questions to answer, articles to locate and places to have their photo taken, as well as a backpack of materials and a camera.  Then it’s the first to the finish line for the privilege of bragging rights!

AMAZING RACE:

Race to the finish!  Following the premise of the popular television show, we will divide your office into teams for an afternoon full of competition.  Teams will be given a variety of locations to visit where an eagerly waiting staff member will challenge them with the activity they are required to complete in order to receive a clue to move on.  Activities include relay races on giant tricycles, brain teasers, potato sack races or smell/touch tests.  Obtain your clue and head onward to the finish!

SUMMER OLYMPICS:

Or you could spend the day showing off your team pride while competing for the gold!  Your group will be divided into teams with each team donning a different color t-shirt customized for the day.  Teams will then come head-to-head in a variety of customizable activities, from volleyball to mini golf, tug-o-war to life-sized checkers, all will have the opportunity to fight for a medal!

CARNIVAL:

Fun for all ages, your very own carnival will be a day seeped in entertainment and activity.  Carnival games will test the patience of guests as darts are thrown, rings tossed or ducks fished.  Later, participate in a pie eating contest or the dunk tank!  Roving entertainment will wow guests with a card trick, create ornate balloon animals, or tell jokes from their position on stilts.  Guests will forever remember their day of fun when they gather in a custom photo booth or have their photo snapped while putting their heads through the carnival themed cut out!

Top it all off with a picnic and your day is no doubt a huge success!

The Power of Attendance

The event industry’s first psychological study was performed recently by FaceTime, a UK event marketing company, and has produced fascinating results regarding the power of trade shows on their consumer.  Explained in Ian Whietling’s article on MeetingsReview.com, “Analysis Study Reveals Psychological Effects of Live Events,” the study examined the mindset of guests before and after a live event, resulting in an over-riding positive outlook towards the featured brand or event after attendance.

According to the study, the most profound impressions had by guests are at events with a strong emotional engagement.  Ultimately, it was determined that attendance at live events proves to be one of the most effective marketing tools a company can use to engage their consumers or supporters and establish a positive and continual brand perception.

Bringing in a custom bar like above and below, soft seating, additional decor and signage can further enhance visitors to your specific booth.  Let us help you make a lasting impression!