The former Radisson Hotel Boston has undergone a dramatic transformation to be reborn as the brand new independent Revere Hotel – Boston Common. The new property opened last month, on April 18! Located on Stuart Street in the heart of Boston’s vibrant theater district and steps away from the Boston Common, the luxury property boasts 356 guestrooms, an auditorium, a versatile, multipurpose setting for events and an exciting night life concept.
The Revere is inspired by Boston’s revolutionary spirit! Paul Revere played a key role during the American Revolution when the British troops invaded Boston. While paying reverence to the city’s rich history, the hotel embraces a modern edge with a décor that reflects a contemporary aesthetic. The sense of style is apparent as soon as guests enter the lobby where they encounter a functional art piece inspired by the work of famed sculptor Richard Serra that takes center stage and gracefully guides them through the first floor.
The hotel’s spacious and stylish guestrooms, described as “livable glamour”, are designed to cater to the modern traveler. They are over 300 square feet and each has a private balcony with panoramic views of the city. The rooms feature a 42” flat-screen Sony HDTV, plush luxury bedding, oversized workspace with ergonomic seating and local brand Skoah, “Personal Training for your skin” bath products. A 1,400 square feet glamorous and luxurious suite with sweeping skyline views is perfect for hosting special events.
The Revere offers over 35,000 square feet of diverse and innovative function space ranging from the traditional to the unexpected. This unique and avant-garde “industrial chic” meeting space features exposed brick, reclaimed wood and rustic metals. It is broken into a 4,900 square feet ballroom, four smaller breakout rooms and two new venues: “Theater 1” and “Space 57”. “Theater 1” is a 225-seat auditorium outfitted with plush seating, ambient lighting and the finest in projection and audio technology. Each seat has its own designated workspace and power sources. The venue also features a pre-function lobby with full bar. “Space 57” is a 6,700 square feet blank canvas and multidimensional event space. It boasts 25-feet ceilings, a built-in 30’ x 12’ AV screen and can accommodate up to 1,000 guests. The Revere also introduced the Emerald Lounge, a sophisticated and lively lounge designed to cater to a diverse and eclectic crowd.
In my opinion, one of their most interesting partnerships is their collaboration with the Massachusetts College of Art & Design for the design of all staff uniforms. They are both fashionable and functional. I can’t wait to check them out! Eleven different uniforms were created ranging from valet, to front desk, to cocktail server.
Learn more about our Boston hotels and the great free services that we offer when it comes to building your hotel packages by visiting our website. You will also find a very handy interactive map that shows where our convention centers, hotels and venues are located. For information on the Revere Hotel – Boston Common, visit the hotel’s website.
Pre-function Space |
Guest Room |
Emerald Lounge |
Theater 1 |
Space 57 |
Lobby |
Summertime in Boston for conference attendees—it just doesn’t get any better! The city is alive with museum exhibits, outdoor concerts and performances, al fresco dining, walking tours, ethnic festivals and harbor cruises. From the hip to the historic, Boston has it all and there is so much to do. To make it easy for you, we narrowed it down to 10 top things to do and see:
See Boston Landmarks and Dive into the Charles River
Taking a Boston Duck Tour is a fun way to see highlights of Boston in 80 minutes. The "DUCK" is an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. After seeing the main Boston’s landmarks, the DUCK goes right into the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, the kind of view you won't get anywhere else!
Take a Cultural and Historical Walk
Put your walking shoes on! The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 nationally significant historic sites including museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, ships, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. Another great stroll is the Boston Harborwalk, a 38 miles long continuous walkway along the waterfront, which passes by museums, parks, restaurants, cafes, and more. It’s a beautiful walk with scenic harbor views.
Take Advantage of our Maritime Heritage
Cape Cod Maritime Days (May 13-June 10) and the Salem Maritime Festival (Aug 3-2) are celebrations of Massachusetts rich maritime history. The annual celebrations feature events and activities including lighthouse and walking tours, free harbor cruises, live music, traditional craft demonstrations, nautical art exhibits, outdoor theatres, lectures, boat-building exhibits and kayaking excursions.
Mix in with the Jugglers, Clowns, Magicians, and Musicians
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the seat of American history and the site of one of America's most famous shopping and dining experiences. Walk through the marketplace and people watch, grab a bite and take in the beautiful architecture that surrounds the area. The street performers are entertaining and the place is as lively by night as it is by day. Don’t forget to go inside Faneuil Hall itself. The hall is impressive and historically significant. There is a lot to see and do within a 5 minute walk in any direction.
Enjoy Boston by Bicycle
The Hubway bike-sharing program allows residents and visitors to use bikes throughout the city for short term rentals. Most of the 61 docking stations are concentrated in the historic downtown areas and near the convention centers and hotels. They are close to each other so users can easily drop off their bike at any other location. Fun guided sightseeing bike tours are also available with Urban Adventours.
Watch a Movie under the Stars
The Intrigue Café, located on the water side of the Boston Harbor Hotel, hosts a summer movie series called Movies by Moonlight. Customers and pedestrians can watch movies on a large outdoor screen set up on the side of the gazebo. With a location right along the harbor, the atmosphere is upscale and nautical. This year’s programming includes classic movies like Pink Panther and An Affair to Remember.
Take a Summer Cruise
Boston offers a variety of cruises during the summer. Music cruises have 3 floors of entertainment with live bands, DJ, and large top deck for dancing under the stars. There is even a Summer Harbor Salsa Cruise Series for Latino music lovers. Elegant dinner cruises in the Boston Harbor or on the Charles River deliver a delightful combination of dining, entertainment and spectacular views. Or board a whale watching high-speed catamaran to find the biggest creatures of the ocean.
Check Out the New Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
The new museum (opens on June 25) tells the story of The Boston Tea Party with a combination of interactive exhibits and live historical performance. Visitors will be able to experience three historically restored ships and their tea chests, watch a film, and sample the five types of tea thrown from the ships while learning about the proper brewing technique. The museum also includes a reconstructed 18th century tavern serving delicious fare characteristic of the period.
Enjoy Outdoor Performing Arts
Shakespeare on the Common (July 25-August 12) is a Boston tradition. Watch a free play by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company on the Boston Common, the oldest park in the country. Listen to the Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell (July 3-4). The Hatch Shell is a bowl-style outdoor stage located on the Esplanade, which is the park that extends for 3 miles along the Boston shore of the Charles River.
Cheer for our Legendary Boston Red Sox
How about laying back, enjoying the sun, a beer and a hot dog? Even better, go see a Red Sox game in the majestic Fenway Park! Generations of cheering, bonding, heartbreak, and triumph are part of every brick and beam of this ballpark, which is one of the best-known sports venues in the world. Baseball season runs from April to early October.
Find Art on the Beach
The Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere Beach (July 13 & July 17) is an annual contest that attracts famous sculptors from all over the world. The artists must follow strict rules during the contest. Each sculptor is given 10 tons of sand and is assigned an 18’ x 18’ square exhibit area. The sand sculptures are evaluated using four categories: degree of difficulty, originality and creativity, quality of sculpting, and overall visual impact.
Last Sunday, the world got a little bit closer to Boston when Japan Airlines began the first nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport and Tokyo.
Japan Airlines Flight 008, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner with 42 business class seats and 144 economy seats, landed at Boston Logan International Airport bringing with it the promise of increased productivity for New England firms doing business in Asia and increased tourism and convention activity for Boston.
Travelers heading to Boston from Japan are now able to make the flight without touching down along the way for the first time in history!
“This nonstop flight reflects the spirit of collaboration between Japan and Massachusetts and will allow us to continue to grow our partnership culturally, educationally and economically, to grow jobs and support businesses in the global marketplace,” said Governor Deval Patrick.
The Boeing 787 is an all new airplane, with a 21st century wing design, built with cutting edge manufacturing and composite materials. The result is the lightest, fastest, most environmental friendly commercial passenger jet of its kind in the world. Some highlight of the revolutionary aircraft include larger windows with liquid crystal dimmable shades, higher ceilings, lower cabin pressure, better humidity and mood lighting to enhance the ambiance onboard using LED lights.
Both the inbound and outbound flight--JAL 007--were full and bookings for the service for the next several months are excellent. The flight will run four times a week until June 1 when it will depart Boston daily.
Boston was a natural choice with its strong business travel demand and healthy year-round leisure travel related to its many tourist attractions and world-renowned academic institutions,’’ said Masaru Onishi, Chairman of Japan Airlines.
In fact, last year, Patrick Moscaritolo, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, had foreseen a significant increase in international visits: “For the second year in a row, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data, Boston has seen overseas visitor increases despite the recession and anticipates a significant increase of Asian visitors in 2012 as a result of this new Tokyo flight,” and this year makes it the third year in a row!
Boston Logan, five minutes from downtown Boston, offers nonstop service to 72 domestic and 31 international destinations and, in 2011, handled 28.9 million passengers. No city delivers faster travel times between the airport and its convention centers. Learn about our international clients and why they are coming to Boston by visiting our website.
Last week, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority James E. Rooney, and local business leaders, launched
www.bostonsnewwaterfront.com.
The South Boston waterfront and its various areas—including the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC)—are thriving with new businesses, shops, restaurants, new residents, and an ever-evolving landscape. The website’s mission statement says it all: “Many say it’s the new heart of the city, and no wonder. It literally pulses with energy, corporate announcements of another headquarters moving here or another start-up setting up shop here. It’s alive with people headed to work, attending a convention, touring Boston and meeting friends for dinner.”
This new website, and the accompanying mobile app for iPhones and Androids, are a fantastic source of information for show organizers using the BCEC, exhibitors and attendees! The website features maps, directions, information on public transportation, listings for all restaurants, stores, museums, hotels, events, parks, walks. “Thousands of national and international visitors attend conferences at the BCEC each year”, said Rooney. “This site will be a wonderful tool to showcase all that the waterfront has to offer our guests.”
The mobile app allows users to easily find their destinations, new places to visit and how to navigate the area. It connects directly with Boston’s New Waterfront’s Facebook page. Information can also be found on Twitter with the hashtag #BostonsNEWWaterfront.
Check out the waterfront’s hot restaurants, chic fashion, contemporary museums, amazing harborside walks, green parks and cool concerts and make sure your attendees take advantage of them! Visit: www.bostonsnewwaterfront.com.
Press conference unveiling new website with Mayor Menino and J. Rooney
The third PAX East expo drew a record crowd of almost 75,000 video game enthusiasts from around the globe!
The show took place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) April 6-8, 2012 and was an absolute spectacle. PAX East is expected to grow to over 100,000 attendees in the coming years to become the largest video gaming event in the world.
Attendees were eager to demo the hottest upcoming titles, participate in live tournaments and contests, chat with developers, listen to expert panels, and show off their impressive costumes.
PAX had 150 of the biggest names in the gaming industry including 23 exhibitors from Massachusetts. The impact on the gaming scene is big here in the Boston area because of its huge number of independent developers. For three days, the video game industry was focused on Boston! PAX East is set to be held at the BCEC every year through 2023.
To my surprise, the best part of the show was the fans, who dressed up like their favorite video game characters. The show floor was packed with wild costumes too big for escalators. Princesses, elves, sword-wielding demons and knights, Ghostbusters, Alices in Wonderland, tech ninjas, futuristic soldiers, and the strangest creatures you couldn’t possibly imagine invaded the South Boston Waterfront. It was splendid!
Watch our 2 minute video and see how fans dressed to impress!
Last Tuesday, the plaza in front of the Boston Public Library was packed with bicycling advocates and riders as Mayor Menino kicked off the second season of New Balance Hubway bike-sharing program with an inaugural speech. It was a beautiful spring day and all I could see around me were smiling faces. People seemed so excited to ride their Hubway bike again.
“The first season for New Balance Hubway was a great success, and we expect season two to be even better,” Mayor Menino said. “As warm weather returns and more residents and visitors are spending time outside, it’s great to see so many people eager to explore our great city through Hubway. It’s a pleasure to be able to say that we are well on our way to being a world class cycling city.”
The 61 docking stations across the city include new locations such as the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and the Seaport Hotel. Most docking stations are still concentrated in the historic downtown areas and are close to each other so users can easily drop off their bike at any other location. Downtown stations can be found within walking distance from the Hynes Convention Center and major convention hotels.
Boston--already known as “America’s Walking City”—is ideal for cycling and has now 50 miles of bike lanes. It is a compact city with easy access to restaurants, shops and landmarks. There is a rich variety of things to do and see without having to travel great distances.
The program allows residents and tourists to use bikes throughout the city for short term rentals. In addition to annual memberships, the program offers casual 24-hour and 3-day memberships, which are perfect for visitors.
Bikers can locate stations near them by visiting Hubway’s website. The interactive map tells them how many bikes are at a particular station and how many remain for use at any given time. A free Spotcycle mobile app that helps users navigate the system in real time is also available.
Promote the program to your attendees! They will enjoy the green and fun option of hopping on a bike after their conference to go back to their hotel and explore the historic districts of Boston.
Mayor Menino's inaugural speech in front of the Boston Public Library
Boston’s international presence continues to grow with multiple honors from industry organizations. For the past three years, Boston has been named the top U.S. destination for International Association Meetings by the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Additionally, the International Association of Congress Centers (AIPC) based in Brussels has GOLD certified both the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) and the Hynes Convention Center following an extensive performance audit. The BCEC is also a member of the Global Congress Center Alliance (GCCA).
In response to the growing demand for Boston from international meeting planners, the Boston Convention Marketing Center (BCMC), which markets and sells the BCEC and Hynes, has added its first international outpost in London, headed by International Sales Manager, Michael Black.
Black joined the BCMC in November 2009 as a national sales manager in the Boston office, and, after moving to London in 2011, will now focus on widening Boston’s brand recognition in the global convention market, as well as bringing international clients and events to the BCEC and Hynes.
“This expansion represents Boston’s commitment to further developing overseas business by dedicating specific resources to position Boston as a premier destination for international meetings and conferences,” explained James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which operates the facilities. “It will also allow us to increase interaction with overseas clients and provide a more personalized service experience.”
Black’s background includes three years as the Director of Sales for the Boston-based Omni Parker House hotel, and one year as the Director of Leisure Sales for the Omni ChampionsGate in Orlando. Prior to his work with Omni, Black spent 10 years with the Walt Disney Company in Orlando and 12 years with Certified Vacations in Fort Lauderdale. Black has a broad range of experience in both international and domestic sales, marketing and travel operations.
“Michael’s comprehensive understanding of Boston and its convention facilities, in addition to his extensive sales experience, makes him the perfect person to represent the BCMC on a global level,” said Rooney.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to bring your international event to Boston, please contact Michael Black at mblack@AdvantageBOSTON.com or +44 (0) 203-589-0674. Learn about our international clients and why they are coming to Boston by visiting our website.
Michael Black, International Sales Manager for the Boston Convention Marketing Center
Break out your knives, forks and napkins and prepare to feast! Boston Restaurant Week 2012 is back for the winter season and the reservation lines are open!
From March 18 to 23 and March 25 to 30, 2012, Boston's best restaurants will be offering tasty prix fixe menus for lunch and/or dinner for an incredible bargain: 2-course lunch for $15.12, 3-course lunch for $20.12, and 3-course dinner for $33.12.
Boston Restaurant Week is presented by the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) twice every year—in March and August—for two weeks during which residents, visitors and convention attendees can enjoy some of the finest restaurants in the city at discounted prices. Restaurant Week is a great way for them to sample some establishments that may have otherwise seemed out of their price range. More than 200 restaurants in the Boston area participate in this two-week extravaganza!
“March is a great time to visit Boston because Restaurant Week can be combined with a Celtics or Bruins game, a concert, a theater performance, or shopping,” said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President and CEO of the GBCVB. “With so many restaurants to choose from, locals and visitors alike enjoy the exceptional value, variety, and hospitality of Restaurant Week Boston” added Moscaritolo.
Many participating restaurants are located near the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), the Hynes Convention Center, and Boston downtown hotels. To name a few, in the BCEC’s area, attendees can enjoy Del Frisco's Double Eagle, Morton's Steakhouse, and Anthony’s Pier 4. Near the Hynes and the convention hotels in Back Bay, there is The Capital Grille, The Top of the Hub, Abe & Louie's, Brasserie Jo, Legal Sea Foods and The Courtyard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library that I tried last summer with my colleagues and absolutely loved.
Visitors can go online to view all the restaurants, peruse menus, and make reservations on the official website, BostonUSA.com. They can search by cuisine as well as by neighborhood. Make sure your attendees are aware that reservations are highly suggested, particularly for many of the finer establishments!
For restaurants’ reviews, visit the Boston Magazine’s website, which studied the menus and weighted the options to suggest what they consider the best deals available.
If you miss it this month, Boston Restaurant Week will be back in August!
Last month, the New England Boat Show, which ran February 11-19 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, was another fun show!
The show had grown by 100,000 square feet this year, a 40 percent boost in exhibit space that made room for more than 700 boats of all shapes and sizes including motorboats for cruising, fishing, wakeboarding, tanning, cooking, barbecuing , chilling, and dancing! For those who like to ride the wind, the exhibit had dozens of massive sailboats all rigged and ready for inspection!
The New England Boat Show was family-friendly and entertaining with a 20-foot indoor pool providing an opportunity for people to compete in a remote-controlled powerboat docking challenge and a remote-controlled sailing contest.
Follow me to the show floor by watching this 2 minute video:
Last week, the “Art on the Marque” program was launched displaying work from six Massachusetts artists.
Boston Cyberarts and the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority have teamed up to create an ongoing project to commission public media art for display on the new 80-foot-tall multi-screen LED Media Tower outside the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC).
“Art on the Marque” offers artists more than 3,000 square feet of digital display on seven screens, a viewership of providing full-motion video andmore than 100,000 pedestrians and motorists. This project offers great opportunities for the growing number of local artists working in new media, while energizing Boston’s visual landscape and enchanting convention’s attendees!
Watch the first round of projects including six clips and tell us which one is your favorite!