With destinations known for lobster, world-class universities, and the Winter Olympics, the Northeast has a wide array of options to entice meeting planners and their guests. These locations offer ample meeting space to get down to business, as well as unique activities—think boat rides through a bonfire in Providence, Rhode Island, or monthlong Halloween celebrations in Salem, Massachusetts—to keep attendees engaged in their downtime.
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Population: 130,000
If You Were Considering: Boston; New York
Known For: Yale University; cultural spots such as the Peabody Museum of Natural History; local eatery Louis’ Lunch—recognized as the inventor of the hamburger
Largest Meeting Space: Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale has 19 meeting rooms with more than 22,000 square feet of function space, including the 9,200-square-foot Grand Ballroom.
Transport: An hour’s drive away, Bradley International Airport—the second-largest airport in New England—offers service to large United States markets on four major commercial airlines, along with Spirit and Southwest. Nearby Tweed New Haven Airport is served by one major carrier but can get passengers to 130 destinations worldwide via connections. The city is on Amtrak’s New York and Boston routes, as well as on regional railroad services.
Who's Met There: Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists; African Literature Association; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Annual Council 4 Conference
Selling Point: It’s close to New York and Boston, home to Yale, and rich in history and cultural arts.
Did You Know? The city boasts a variety of museums and a historical cemetery.
Population: 180,000
If You Were Considering: Boston
Known For: Culinary scene, anchored by Johnson & Wales University; art scene, including the Rhode Island School of Design
Largest Meeting Space: The Rhode Island Convention Center covers 137,000 square feet, 100,000 square feet of which is exhibition space. The center is connected via skybridge to the Dunkin Donuts Center and the Omni Providence Hotel.
Transport: Green Airport is served by all the major airlines, and Frontier Airlines recently announced nonstop flights to Denver. Amtrak’s Acela high-speed train service runs from New York into downtown Providence in less than three hours.
Who's Met There: The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors; International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant; the Association of College and University Housing Officers International
Selling Point: The signature event is WaterFire, a sponsored art installation of as many as 100 bonfires floating on the downtown area’s three rivers. Groups can sponsor a WaterFire and receive a V.I.P. experience, which includes boat rides through the fire.
Population: 66,000
If You Were Considering: Boston
Known For: Lobsters; lighthouses; the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; a creative economy
Largest Meeting Space: Holiday Inn by the Bay, with 27,000 square feet of event space, is the largest venue downtown.
Transport: Portland International Jetport provides four major commercial carriers. Amtrak service is available from Boston, as well as nonstop bus service—complete with complimentary drinks and movies—to and from New York and Boston.
Who's Met There: The Arctic Council; the Professional Bowlers Association; New England Veterinary Conference
Selling Point: It provides the amenities of a major metropolitan area in a walkable, charming coastal city.
Population: 2,750
If You Were Considering: Montreal
Known For: Adirondack location; outdoor recreation; winter sports; host city for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics
Largest Meeting Space: The 1980 Herb Brooks Arena holds 5,000 meeting or event guests.
Transport: Major airports within two hours’ drive include Burlington, Vermont; Montreal; and Albany. Most people choose to drive, taking a route through the scenic Adirondack Park.
Who's Met There: Renzi Food Show; NYS Snowmobile Association; Lions Club of New York State
Selling Point: Groups meeting in the city can take advantage of unique experiences such as receptions atop ski jumps, award ceremonies with medals, or lakeside roundtable discussions.
Did You Know? The 1980 Herb Brooks Arena is named for the gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey coach.
Population: 42,000
If You Were Considering: Boston; Providence, Rhode Island; Hartford, Connecticut
Known For: The Salem Witch Trials; a monthlong celebration of Halloween; the maritime era, which left its mark on Salem through architecture as well as museums
Largest Meeting Space: The historic 93-room Hawthorne Hotel features more than 8,000 square feet of event space, including a ballroom and various breakout spaces; it accommodates as many as 500 people for meetings.
Transport: A commuter railroad offers a 30-minute trip from Boston, while a ferry ride takes 55 minutes. Boston’s Logan Airport is the closest terminal, where more than 40 airlines provide nonstop flights.
Who's Met There: Massachusetts Poetry Festival; Traditional Building Conference; Puzzle Parlay
Selling Point: The city is historic yet hip, and just 30 minutes from Boston.
