Links to American history and culture run deep in Massachusetts, and the central and western parts of the state are no exception; the region has long been known for its resourcefulness, innovation and pioneering spirit. Home to the second- and third-largest cities in the state—Worcester and Springfield, respectively—it is one of the most scenic areas of New England, encompassing sparkling lakes, pastoral farmlands and the mountains of the Berkshires.
While the region is a popular leisure destination, it also offers a diverse lineup of facilities and venues able to accommodate a range of groups and events.
Worcester
Location is a key selling point for Worcester, the metropolitan hub of Central Massachusetts, which is just an hour’s drive from Boston; Providence, R.I.; and Hartford, Conn., and three hours from New York City.
The accessibility of Worcester and the surrounding region is captured by the Central Massachusetts CVB’s tagline, “The Heart of New England.”
“We are primarily a regional destination for meetings and conventions and rely heavily on the drive market, with most attendees coming from New England and its vicinity,” says Donna McCabe, president of the Central Massachusetts CVB, adding that the city is an especially popular meetings destination for religious and educational groups.
One of the most unique downtown venues preferred by religious gatherings is the Wesley United Methodist Church, which has meeting space for up to 1,000 people and is close to restaurants and hotels, as well as the DCU Center, the city’s main convention and entertainment venue.
The Worcester metro area is also home to 11 colleges and universities, including Holy Cross, Clark University and the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy.
The DCU Center is a versatile, three-level meeting and convention venue with just over 100,000 square feet of exhibit space as well as meeting rooms, a 12,200-square-foot ballroom and an arena that can seat up to 15,000 for concerts. The new Hilton Garden Inn, which opened in October with 200 guest rooms and 7,000 square feet of meeting space, will soon be linked to the DCU Center by a $4 million sky bridge, and other hotels within walking distance of the center include the Crowne Plaza Worcester Downtown and the Courtyard by Marriott Worcester.
“We host several repeat events at the DCU Center each year, such as the Summer Nationals Antique Car Show, which draws over 200,000 visitors at the end of June and the beginning of July,” McCabe says.
With several new developments gracing the city, Worcester is enjoying a revitalized urban atmosphere. One of the city’s most extensive redevelopment projects is known as City Square, which will reshape and revitalize the downtown area adjacent to City Hall. One of the main objectives is to replace the Worcester Common Outlets, a 1 million-square-foot mall, with a mixed-use facility containing housing, office and retail space, along with restaurants and parks. The project is scheduled for completion in phases over five years.
“We also are refurbishing the old Hanover Theater and bringing it back to its glory days as a 2,300-seat performing arts center,” McCabe says.
While Worcester has big-city culture, theater and nightlife, the CVB also markets and promotes 60 towns, communities and cities throughout central Massachusetts, several of which offer meetings-ready hotels, including the recently renovated Doubletree Hotel Boston/Westborough and the new 121-unit Springhill Suites by Marriott in Devens.
Meanwhile, history is a highlight of the region.
“Three regions closely associated with American history are Blackstone Valley, the Johnny Appleseed Trail and the Sturbridge area and the Brookfields,” McCabe notes.
The Blackstone Valley area along the 46-mile Blackstone River between Worcester and Providence played a pivotal role in America’s Industrial Revolution, and there are more than 10,000 historic buildings and sites.
According to legend, John Chapman (aka Johnny Appleseed) walked across this section of Massachusetts planting apple seeds that eventually sprouted into apple orchards. Every autumn, thousands of visitors travel to the Johnny Appleseed Trail to pick apples and participate in local festivals. The trail passes through 25 towns that offer a unique blend of cultural, historic and recreational activities. Groups and special events are often hosted at the Fruitlands Museum, set in a one-time Shaker Village, while nearby Wachusett Mountain is Massachusetts’ most popular downhill and cross-country ski area.
Old Sturbridge Village is a living history museum that recreates New England village life in the 1830s. Just a short distance from Old Sturbridge is the Sturbridge Host Hotel and Conference Center, which has boardrooms as well as a 12,000-square-foot exhibit hall.
Springfield
Established as a trading post in 1636 on the banks of the Connecticut River, Springfield grew steadily and emerged as a leading industrial center by the 1800s. Much of its early renown came from the Springfield Armory, which produced the first American musket in 1795 and later manufactured weapons used by troops in the Civil War.
Nowadays, Springfield remains the center of business, finance and industry in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley and has also continued to expand its tourism infrastructure.
Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield CVB (GSCVB), says the region has several group selling points.
“The quality of our properties and our location and easy accessibility are key selling points, along with value for money and the variety of area attractions and amenities,” she says.
Springfield is situated on the Massachusetts Turnpike and can be easily reached by major New England arteries, while Boston and New York City are less than three hours away by car. There is also an Amtrak station downtown, and Bradley International Airport in Connecticut is less than 30 minutes south of Springfield.
The MassMutual Center (MMC), which opened in December 2005, is one of the newest convention facilities in the Northeast and has greatly enhanced Springfield’s status as a meetings destination. Its 100,000 square feet of meeting, exhibition and ballroom space and 6,677-seat arena make it suitable for hosting conventions and trade shows, as well as consumer shows, live entertainment and sports events.
There are roughly 1,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the MMC, including meetings-friendly properties such as the Springfield Marriott, the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place, the Holiday Inn Springfield, and the Hilton Garden Inn Springfield, which is located next to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, one of the city’s biggest attractions and most popular off-site venues for groups.
Along with the MMC downtown, the 175-acre Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield augments the city’s diverse appeal as a destination by hosting over 100 annual shows and events.
Among the many locales in Western Massachusetts that appeals to history and art buffs is Amherst, a collegiate town that is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst and boasts numerous museums and art galleries.
The Berkshires
There is no better place to combine business with pleasure than the Berkshires, which markets itself as “America’s Premier Cultural Resort.”
The region’s rich heritage of literature, drama, art, and music is celebrated during summer at festivals that continue a tradition begun in the 19th century. The best-known festival takes place at Tanglewood in Lenox, which is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). More than 250,000 people come here each summer to hear concerts by the BSO as well as the Boston Pops and other noted musicians.
Besides being home to Tangle wood, Lenox has some superb resorts for groups, such as the Cranwell Resort, Spa and Golf Club, which hosts many Fortune 500 companies every year and is renowned for its banquet and event service.
Also situated in Lenox are two other properties with ideal settings for meetings and conferences: Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, which is one of the leading health resorts in the nation and offers interesting team-building programs, and the recently renovated Wheatleigh, which resembles a Florentine palazzo.
One of the most historic properties in the Berkshires, the Red Lion Inn, originally established as a saloon in the late 18th century, recently completed renovations to several of its 109 guest rooms. The property features gracious surroundings and can accommodate meetings of up to 100 people.
Meanwhile, the 179-room Crowne Plaza Pittsfield contains several meeting rooms and the largest ballroom in the Berkshires.
From Williamstown near the Vermont border south to Ashley Falls on the Connecticut border, the Berkshires attracts visitors with its natural landscape of hills, peaks, forests, orchards, rivers, and waterfalls, as well as plenty of recreational pursuits to take it all in.
Towns and villages throughout the region are replete with historic homes and antique shops, and remnants of early America are on view in places like the Hancock Shaker Village, where 20 restored buildings in this “City of Peace” are dedicated to recreating the way the Shakers lived and worked.
For More Info
Berkshire Visitors Bureau 413.743.4500
www.berkshires.org
Central Massachusetts CVB 508.755.7400
www.centralmass.org
Greater Springfield CVB 413.787.1548
www.valleyvisitor.com
