Perhaps not the easiest state to find on the map, Connecticut may be small but its group-friendly opportunities are quite large. The Constitution State is in fact a major destination in the Northeast meetings realm, due in large part to Hartford, its capital city and cultural heart, and Mystic, a quintessentially New England spot that delegates can’t wait to visit.
Greater Hartford
The old real estate adage, “location, location, location,” is regularly used in describing the Greater Hartford region, according to Michael Van Parys, president of the Greater Hartford CVB (GHCVB). The Northeastern meetings magnet at once offers convenient access to more than 23.5 million people within a 2.5-hour drive, including New York City and Boston; acts as one of New England’s top gateways via Bradley International Airport, which is just 15 minutes from downtown Hartford; and is known for its richness of attractions in a lovely setting.
“With beautiful scenery in every season, there is appeal here all year round,” Van Parys says. “However, autumn is definitely our busiest season with many groups booking here to capitalize on fall foliage’s leaf-peeping while they are here.”
Delegates needn’t go far for a proper leaf-peep, as they’ll often find incredible views near meeting sites. Van Parys says that standing on the plaza next to Hartford’s Connecticut Convention Center (CCC) to look down the Connecticut River, or seeing the Farmington Valley from the historic Hill-Stead Museum, a unique off-site venue in Farmington, are two options for possible picturesque viewing sites.
“Many of our historical and cultural arts attractions have become unique venues for off-site meetings and social events,” Van Parys says. “Our GHCVB has developed partnerships with numerous attractions, local catering firms and transportation companies to package these venues to meeting planners seeking something different and memorable.”
When the National Association of Sports Commissions visited this past spring, for example, the welcome event was at Hartford’s historic Bond Hotel, which offers a sweeping view of the city. Local restaurants and attractions were present with booths to provide info to attendees, Van Parys explains, and during the evening, each restaurant or attraction welcomed the group at the podium and drew raffle names to give away gift certificates that could be enjoyed during the conventioneers’ stay.
In short, the GHCVB wants planners to know the list of attractions that double as off-site event venues in Hartford is long, and they’re available to help out in the decision-making process.
The list includes the Connecticut Science Center, which has soaring space on many stories and, like the nearby CCC, overlooks the Connecticut River for pretty foliage viewing during autumn; Lady Katharine Cruises, which hosts banquets and cocktail receptions onboard while traveling down the Connecticut River; The Bushnell, Connecticut’s premier performing arts center in downtown Hartford; the Portland, Conn.-based Saint Clements Castle, a beautiful French Tudor and Bavarian structure with spectacular views of the Connecticut River; and, straddling the West Hartford/Hartford line, the Pond House in Elizabeth Park, an indoor and outdoor meeting and dining space in an immaculately groomed historic public park featuring a 2.5-acre rose garden with 800 varieties of roses.PageBreak
Joining the Connecticut Convention Center on Hartford’s roster of standby meeting sites are the XL Center and the largest group-friendly hotels, including the Hartford Marriott Downtown, attached to the CCC, the Hilton Hartford, attached to the XL Center, the Residence Inn Hartford Downtown by Marriott, the Ramada Plaza Hartford Downtown and the Homewood Suites Hartford Downtown.
For unique culinary outings while convening in Hartford, groups might check out Woody’s Hot Dogs, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and has been featured on several national food shows. Also, an increasing number of regional microbreweries are popping up, including those with their own eateries featuring the Connecticut-born hamburger. They can be discovered along the Burgers & Brews Trail. (Brochures are available via Center of CT at www.centerofct.com).
And in the spring, Van Parys adds, a number of local restaurants serve up dishes featuring the Connecticut state fish, the shad. Among them are the group-friendly ON 20 Restaurant and Hot Tomato’s in downtown Hartford, and Max’s Oyster Bar in West Hartford.
Nearby Farmington is another meetings-equipped destination in Greater Hartford. Major hotels include the Hartford Marriott Farmington, Hampton Inn and Suites Hartford-Farmington and the Homewood Suites by Hilton Hartford-Farmington. And in Southbury, situated close to the Litchfield Hills, is the Heritage Hotel Golf, Spa and Conference Center.
“Our GHCVB has also developed several cluster markets in suburban communities to cross-promote hotels and attractions,” Van Parys says, citing those in Windsor and Cromwell.
Cromwell, host of the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship golf tournament since 1952, is home to a meetings cluster comprising 550 guest rooms and 30,000 square feet of meeting space. Situated 10 minutes from downtown Hartford, 25 minutes from Bradley International Airport and within five miles of 25 retail and dining outlets are Crowne Plaza, Comfort Inn, Courtyard by Marriott and Super 8 properties.
The Windsor cluster, located by Bradley International Airport and totaling 721 guest rooms and 20,000 square feet of event space, includes the Hartford-Windsor Marriott Airport, Hilton Garden Inn Hartford North-Bradley International Airport, as well as Courtyard by Marriott and Hyatt Summerfield Suites properties. PageBreak
Southeastern Connecticut
Mystic, according to Ed Dombroskas, executive director at Mystic Country Connecticut/Eastern Regional Tourism District, has great appeal as a destination marked by New England charm and character, and offers world-class attractions such as the Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea, Mystic Aquarium, shoreline villages, great seafood, the Connecticut Wine Trail and casino resorts located within a short distance.
Like Hartford, its neighbor to the north, the Mystic region of Eastern Connecticut is easy to get to from major Northeast cities for drive-to meetings. It’s also accessible via air, of course, as Bradley International Airport and TF Green International Airport in Providence, R.I., are both less than an hour’s drive away.
Dombroskas adds that because of a mild New England climate, meetings may be held year-round in the Mystic area, and planners will appreciate the area’s affordability.
“Mystic Country is generally less expensive than Northeast cities to hold meetings, from free parking to lower overnight room rates,” he says. “So-called shoulder seasons of spring and late fall offer great values on accommodations and meeting space. The Mystic area is most popular to individual guests on weekends, so mid-week meetings offer additional value year-round.”
Area hotels are eager to welcome meetings and groups of all sizes and interests, including the Hilton Mystic, Inn at Mystic, Mystic Marriott Hotel and Spa in Groton, the Spa at Norwich Inn and the Holiday Inn Norwich.
“Group-friendly properties are focused on what the client is looking for in a relaxed yet refined environment,” he says. “Whether large or small in size, meetings are important to the economy, and customer service is second to none. There’s so much more flexibility in what can be offered to planners—the sky, or the budget, is the limit—and meeting planners will be surprised with the level of service and return on their investment.”PageBreak
Rounding out options for planners are area independent hotels and inns with fewer guest accommodations and smaller meeting spaces, and off-site venues that feature private function spaces.
The Mashantucket Pequot Museum is one such special off-site venue that features event spaces and wonderful views of the Connecticut woodlands.
“Great attractions like the Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium have very unique venues and food service and can accommodate formal or fun and casual experiences,” Dombroskas says. “Mystic Aquarium and Mystic Seaport offer great social opportunities, and it’s easy to extend a stay for some rest and relaxation. Ocean Blue Catering caters at the aquarium, where guests are entertained by charming beluga whales.”
Other options include intimate event spaces at wineries along the Connecticut Wine Trail, the Branford House Mansion at Avery Point in Groton, schooner sailing along Long Island Sound and, from Stonington to Woodstock, small inns that promise memorable events in scenic surroundings.
Another major draw to Southeastern Connecticut is the nearby Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort casinos. The two meetings-ready entertainment standouts feature function space and guest rooms to accommodate a large number of attendees, and on-site amenities including casinos, golf courses, spas, shopping opportunities and eclectic dining options.
The Mohegan Sun boasts 1,200 guest rooms and 100,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including a 38,000-square-foot ballroom with no pillars. The property also has 30 individual meeting rooms accommodating 5,300 people, plus executive boardrooms and a wealth of prefunction space.
Together, The Foxwoods Resort Casino and the MGM Grand at Foxwoods offer 150,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest pillar-free ballroom in the Northeast at 50,000 square feet and a prefunction area totaling 16,000 square feet.
About 30 miles west of Mystic is Water’s Edge Resort and Spa, which overlooks the Long Island Sound in Westbrook. The property accommodates groups of up to 300 in 12 spacious meeting rooms and features 101 guest rooms and suites as well as 68 villas.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus East.
