The six states that make up the New England region have a storied past and continue to set a progressive tone for both business and leisure.
“We are today and always have been a city of innovation and invention, providing a setting that is a pretty unique window to America’s past and America’s future,” said Patrick Moscaritolo, president and CEO of the Greater Boston CVB, referring to the city.
The same can be said for all of New England as evidenced by the growth happening in the region.
Massachusetts
In Boston, it seems there is always a new property opening, a hotel breaking ground and renovations underway, and 2016 has been no exception. According to the Greater Boston CVB, there are over 40 hotel projects in the works that could potentially add up to 5,000 new hotel rooms over the next four years.
“Our ever expanding hotel supply includes newly built skyscrapers to one-of-a-kind boutique properties in repurposed historic buildings across the city, offering planners and their attendees an exciting set of options for their meetings and events,” Moscaritolo said.
Recently, the Boston metro area welcomed a dual-branded Aloft and Element hotel development in the city’s Seaport District, the 330-room Aloft Boston Seaport and 180-room Element Boston Seaport. Also new is the 152-room AC Boston North located in Medford and The Godfrey Hotel Boston, a four-star boutique property situated in the Blake Building in Downtown Crossing. And those are just a few.
“Boston is a popular destination because it so seamlessly is able to offer meeting planners the authenticity of the ‘old with the new’ and ‘the historic with the contemporary,’” Moscaritolo noted.
One property that has done just that is the 1,060-room Boston Park Plaza Hotel, originally opened in 1927, which completed a $100 million, multiyear restoration and redesign project in June.
Connecticut
As H. Scott Phelps, president of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau, says, it’s all about “location, location, location.” And Hartford is all about location because it is less than two and half hours from most Northeast destinations and situated between the New York and Boston metropolitan areas. It’s also about location within the city.
After the opening of the Connecticut Convention Center in 2005, the surrounding neighborhood, now known as the Front Street District, began to develop, revitalizing the downtown area along the Connecticut River. The district now includes a collection of restaurants, live entertainment venues, retail outlets and housing, allowing for convention attendees to access most needs right outside the convention center doors. The development has seen recent growth, including plans for the Hartford campus of the University of Connecticut to move into the old Hartford Times Building within the next year.
“With the Front Street District and new restaurants, bars and venues opening across the city, Hartford is a more walkable city than ever,” Phelps said.
The state is also home to two of the largest casinos in the U.S., Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, both of which also offer one-stop convenience for meetings and events with dedicated function space on-site, accommodations, endless food and beverage options, entertainment and of course, gaming.
Mohegan Sun is nearing completion on the new 388-room Earth Tower. The $130 million hotel tower is expected to be open in November, and plans for the existing 1,200-room Sky Tower to undergo a two-year, $50 million renovation project are underway.
Rhode Island
Located in the smallest state in New England, Providence was named one of the “52 Places to Visit in 2016” by The New York Times and recently ranked No. 3 for America’s Favorite Cities by Travel + Leisure.
“There are countless reasons why Providence is such a great meeting city, and ease of access is at the top of that list,” noted Christina Robbio, communications and social media manager for the Providence Warwick CVB. “Conveniently located along the I-95 corridor, Providence is easy to reach for attendees living in the densely populated Northeast.”
Many downtown hotels in the city have been renovated within the past two years. One key transformation was the Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel, which completed its extensive, multimillion-dollar interior renovations in June.
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Construction of the hotel’s building, originally designed to be a Masonic Temple, began in 1927, but due to the Great Depression was never completed until the hotel opened in 2007. The renovations mix the historic elements of the structure with elements reflecting the arts and design community in the city.
Known for its grandiose mansions and yacht-filled harbor, Newport embraces its charm and history.
“Newport has a diverse spectrum of lodging properties ranging from name-brand convention-style hotels to unique boutique properties—plus new properties on the horizon—as well as one-of-a-kind off-site venues such as the legendary Newport mansions, classic 12-meter yachts, exquisite museums, wineries and more,” explained Evan Smith, president and CEO, Discover Newport. “But what truly sets Newport apart as a distinctive meeting destination is this is a place where ‘business’ or ‘pleasure’ isn’t a mutually exclusive concept.”
One notable Newport property is the historic Hotel Viking, which has hosted many famous guests including generations of Vanderbilts and Kennedys. In May, the hotel celebrated its 90th anniversary and kicked off its 91st year with renovations, while keeping historic elements like the original lobby clock. The hotel can arrange for group activities and teambuilding programs, from touring the historic mansions to sailing an America’s Cup yacht.
Maine
Though lobster may top the list when thinking of food in Maine, the state—Portland in particular—has expanded its culinary offerings and become a destination for foodies and craft beer aficionados. And, according to Elissa English, director of sales and marketing, a couple of neighborhoods have recently been revitalized to create destinations within a destination for tourists and groups.
Thompson’s Point, a development along Portland’s Fore River, has been transformed into a live/work/play area that is an extension of the city. In the community, there are now breweries, food trucks, a circus conservatory, artist co-op space, a museum and a pavilion for live music.
“Thompson’s Point is an amazing addition to the Portland region providing groups something a little different than a metropolitan center,” English said. “Rather, it gives attendees a contained development to work, play and stay all within a historic space with quintessential Maine waterfront charm. Additionally, it gives us more space to fill when the downtown compression has reached its peak and rates are at their highest, opening up markets we weren’t able to previously take easily.”
South of Portland, Cliff House Maine reopened in August following a $40 million renovation.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s state motto “Live Free or Die” still rings true today. Along with quaint towns and acres of natural beauty, the state offers a change of pace and a getaway from the larger metropolitan areas, though business is still going on.
The Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods was acquired by Omni Hotels & Resorts in December 2015, which it had been managing since 2009. Along with the acquisition, the property debuted the renovated Main Dining Room restaurant and new teambuilding activities. Groups can arrange for a private American whiskey tasting or a Prohibition Tea Party, both at The Cave, the resort’s prohibition-era speakeasy. Or in the kitchen, groups can take part in a chef demo and hands-on cooking lesson, or for the more adventurous, different themed scavenger hunts can be arranged.
“We found there was a need for unique offerings that we could tailor to attendees’ interests while complementing the planner’s overall agenda,” explained Craig Clemmer, director of sales and marketing for The Omni Mount Washington Resort.
The RiverWalk Resort at Loon Mountain completed and opened its first phase this past June just north of Concord. In addition to accommodations and resort amenities, including a convertible swimming pool/ice skating rink, there is a commercial production winery and tasting room, Seven Birches Winery.
Vermont
Properties in the Green Mountain State, with its covered bridges, famous fall foliage and multiple skiing destinations, celebrate its beauty and love for the outdoors.
Lareau Farm, which recently debuted a rehabilitated 1790s dairy barn that can host 60 people in the summer months, is just one example. Offering an agritourism experience, the 25-acre farm, located in the Mad River Valley, focuses on local and sustainable agriculture while offering true farm-to-table dining at American Flatbread restaurant at the Lareau Farm Inn.
For those looking for a less rustic experience, Kimpton Taconic Hotel, Kimpton Hotels’ first Vermont property, opened in late 2015. Located in Manchester Village, the resort prides itself on offering groups uniquely Manchester-style experiences, such as photography expeditions lead by a local photographer.
