It’s hard to be the little guy. As America’s third-smallest state, Connecticut sometimes gets short shrift when it comes time to brainstorm meetings destinations. Yet the state’s intimacy is one of its best features: The culturally rich city of Hartford and the small towns to the southeast offer ideal opportunities for small to midsize meetings.
Greater Hartford
With roots that stretch back over 400 years, Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the country and claims a fascinating role in the birth and development of America. Along with having a major hand in the drafting of the Constitution and being a center of the abolitionist movement, Hartford is home to the nation’s oldest continuously published newspaper, the oldest public art museum and the oldest public park.
Yet despite all of this historical appeal, the city has made major gains in the modern world in the last decade, both economically and in the meetings arena. In 2004, for example, the Hartford metropolitan area was ranked second in the nation for per-capita economic activity, only behind San Francisco. Traditionally, the city’s wealth has come from its standing as the insurance capital of the U.S., but major investments by both the city and private
enterprises underline the fact that Hartford is undergoing a new metamorphosis.
"Our state’s capital is big enough for a big-city feel but small enough and friendly that groups feel like the only game in town," says Michael Van Parys, executive vice president of sales for the Greater Hartford CVB. "We have so many dining options within the core area of the city that attendees can practically go around the world in eight square blocks."
The impressive Adriaen’s Landing project is one of the most significant changes to the face of Hartford—an ensemble of shopping, apartments and restaurants located ideally on the bank of the Connecticut River. At the heart of this is the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center, the largest between New York City and Boston. Opened in 2005, it offers 140,000 square feet of exhibit space, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom and 16 additional meeting rooms. Attached to the center is the 409-room Hartford Marriott Downtown Hotel, with 13,000 square feet of its own meeting space.
As the latest addition to Adriaen’s Landing, the new state-of-the-art Connecticut Science Center opened in June of last year. The facility offers 150 hands-on exhibits, a 3-D digital theater, and daily programs and events. Along with earning Gold LEED certification, the facility was also designed with group events in mind, and offers a number of different event packages, including catering.
The final phase of the Front Street project at Adrien’s Landing will combine residential, retail and entertainment—the last piece that will make a virtual mini-city of the walkable new area, and everything a group might need during an event or meeting.
"I love that I can walk to so many dining and entertainment venues or just hop on the free Hartford Star Shuttle that loops around downtown to find all types of activities in the city," Van Parys says.
Despite all the focus on Adriaen’s Landing, there are plenty of meeting options outside this bubble. The XL Center, home to University of Connecticut basketball as well as regular concerts and performances, is also popular for trade shows and events. Located downtown, its exhibition center provides 68,000 square feet of flexible floor space, along with nine meeting rooms. For accommodation convenience, the Hilton Hartford is connected to the XL Center via skywalk, with 393 guest rooms and more than 15,000 square feet of meeting space. The Connecticut Expo Center also works well for small to midsize trade shows and events, with 88,000 square feet of contiguous space
and an additional 3,000 square feet of meeting space.
Accessibility is another area where Hartford shines, both in terms of airlift and driving.
"Hartford distinguishes itself from other cities in the Northeast because of its location," Van Parys says. "Hartford has over 23.5 million people within a two-hour drive. Only New York City can claim more people living within a two-hour drive of the city."
Brady International Airport, just 15 minutes from downtown, brings in groups beyond the immediate Northeast, and several airport properties are available for even more convenient meetings, such as the Sheraton Bradley Airport Hotel and Doubletree Hotel Bradley International Airport.
Meanwhile, just outside of downtown Hartford, there is the Hartford Marriott Farmington, The Heritage Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Southbury.
Southeastern Connecticut
As the perfect counterpart to Hartford’s urban modernity, southeastern Connecticut offers idyllic small towns that evoke the charm of colonial America, sweeping natural countryside and picturesque seascapes. No wonder, then, that the area was dubbed Mystic Country.
The village of Mystic lies at the cultural center of Southeastern Connecticut, and its strong historical roots as a seaport give it much of its modern nautical flavor. For groups with any interest in historical American seagoing, it doesn’t get much better than this.
"The greater Mystic area has become more attractive to meeting planners looking for settings that are historic, easily accessible, a bargain compared to first- and second-tier cities, and the proximity of quality attractions,"
says Janice Putnam, marketing and sales manager of Mystic Country, Eastern Connecticut Regional Tourism District. "Nowhere else in New England can one feel the essence of maritime history, yet have easy access to entertainment and world-class amenities found at the nearby casino resorts."
Because it is a major tourist draw, Mystic has evolved to offer a solid range of accommodations, dining and entertainment. Aside from the town itself, the major points of interest include the Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea, the world’s largest maritime museum. Located on the Mystic River, it offers such draws as a recreated 19th century village, a huge collection of preserved historical ships, and a preservation shipyard that actively demonstrates how ships like these are restored.
On the modern side of oceanic appreciation, the Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration combines a modern aquarium with a state-of-the-art oceanography institute. Among the most noted exhibits are Beluga Whales and Stellar sea lions. The in-house Ocean Blue Catering team takes care of groups renting out the aquarium for private events, and the visually stunning main exhibit floor can seat up to 350 people.
Despite its small-town quaintness, ideal for small meetings, Mystic Country also offers something for larger groups, particularly in its two large casinos, both of which are found just inland from Mystic. The MGM Grand at Foxwoods will quickly make you feel like you’ve teleported to Vegas, with its modern, 50,000-square-foot casino. The 2-year-old property features regular concerts and performances in its 4,000-seat theater, several upscale restaurants, a golf course, 115,000 square feet of meeting space (including a 50,000-square-foot ballroom) and 825 guest rooms. The Mohegan Sun casino resort provides a whopping 1,200 guest rooms, 100,000 square feet of meeting space, 300,000 square feet of gaming space, a 20,000-square-foot spa, a 10,000-seat arena, a 350-seat cabaret theater and 130,000 square feet of retail shops.
Along with the many unique meeting events in Mystic Country, attendees can also meet and stay at such standards as the Hyatt Place Mystic, Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa and the Hilton Mystic.
Because of its blend of indoor and outdoor attractions, as well as its central Northeast location, Mystic Country has proved a popular year-round destination for both drive-in and fly-in groups, but planners can still take advantage of
reduced rates. "Many companies that have multiple offices in New England and New York convene in Mystic as a central meeting point," Putnam says. "We’re a year-round destination—it’s the fact that we’re smaller, have charming towns and villages, yet have access to world-class entertainment. But in the off-season, it’s still picturesque, yet less crowded, and rates are lower."
Hunter Holcombe is a freelance writer who covers leisure travel and the meetings, conventions and incentives industry.
