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B M & T ••• September/October 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 45 BAY STATE OFFERS VARIETY OF POSSIBILITIES FOR MEETING PLANNERS B Y C L E T U S R A M S E Y The state is separated into several dis- tinct regions. The South of Boston fea- tures the town of Plymouth and famous historical sites such as Plymouth Rock. The North of Boston and the Cape Ann region is know for art galleries, sea- side beauty and fine foods. The city of Salem is the site of the 17th-century witchcraft trials that attracts thousands of visitors. Lexington and Concord has sev- eral museums chronicling the Revolu- tionary War. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are two islands off the coast of Cape Cod with great beaches, shopping and din- ning. Martha's Vineyard has a 17-site African-American Heritage Trail. The Central Region is an area of small towns with fall harvest festival. Cape Cod is the most famous beach in all of New England featuring the John F. Kennedy Memorial Museum in Hyannis and the Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich. Western Massachusetts is the states mountainous region with ski resorts and other outdoor fun. • • BOSTON • • Famous for its hospitality and friendly spirit, Greater Boston is one of the pre- mier meeting destinations in the United States. Known as the "Athens of America," Boston's renowned medical and educational institutions have helped to make it an international center of learn- ing and intellectualism. With its thriving economy, history and charm, Boston is ideal for both business and pleasure. Each year, it welcomes over 18 million visitors, convention delegates and busi- ness travelers. With more than 100 hotels offering state-of-the-art, flexible meeting space, the Greater Boston area can accommo- date meetings from 10 to 10,000 atten- dees. In addition, Boston has three major convention and event facilities that can accommodate events of all types and sizes, each offering you their own unique advantages. Two of them – The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center – are oper- ated by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. BCEC is among the largest exhibition centers in Northeastern United States, with 516,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibi- tion space and 84 fully configurable meet- ing rooms with 160,000 sq. ft. of space and a 40,020-sq. ft. ballroom. Located in the heart of Boston's his- toric Back Bay neighborhood, the Hynes Convention Center has 176,480 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 38 high-tech meeting rooms with 91,000 sq. ft., as well as a 24,544-sq. ft. ballroom and 4,000-seat auditorium. And last, but not least, the 428-room Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center Boston located on the waterfront in the Seaport District offers 180,000 sq. ft. of venue space - more than any other Boston hotel. Choose from over 42 dis- tinctive venues and function spaces, including seven ballrooms, a massive exhibit hall, amphitheater, elegant private dining rooms and outdoor gardens. Diversity is the word when it comes to hotels in the Greater Boston area. Where else can you book a hotel with a rooftop patio that overlooks America's oldest ballpark or stay at a property that once incarcerated Malcolm X? With properties ranging from historic buildings that have been repurposed as boutique hotels to brand new, state-of- the-art contemporary hotels, the city offers something for every type of group. Included among the city's top conven- tion properties are: the Boston Marriott Copley Place (70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space); Boston Park Plaza (55,000 sq. ft.); DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Boston Convention & Exhibition Center photo credit: Greater Boston CVB AREA GUIDES M A S S A C H U S E T T S • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Boston Marriott Copley Place 1,097 Boston Park Plaza Hotel 1,060 DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore 363 Four points by Sheraton Wakefield Boston Hotel & Conference Center 280 Babson Executive Conference Center 211 Hilton Boston Logan Airport 599 Hyatt Regency Boston 502 Westin Copley Place Boston 803 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Boston Convention and Exhibition Center total exhibit space 516,000 sq. ft. meeting rooms 82 largest ballroom 40,020 sq. ft. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Greater Boston CVB (888) SEE-BOSTON www.bostonusa.com