Connecticut Boasts Big Meeting Attractions

Connecticut is conveniently located in Southern New England, between New York City and Boston, with more than 23.5 million people living within a two-hour drive of Hartford, the state's capital.

Known for its richness of historical and cultural arts attractions and sports facilities -- most of which can be used as unusual venues -- the state is also a knowledge hub. Groups can tap into the resources of its many innovative companies, with the help of the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB), which matches local expertise to meetings and events.

Attendees can sun on the sandy beaches of Long Island Sound, enjoy theater and museums in the state's cities, cruise on the Connecticut River, or hike the foothills of the green Berkshire Mountains in Litchfield County -- Connecticut's compactness makes all of these options possible and convenient.

A unique experience awaits at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, the Victorian mansion where the author penned The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, among other books. Living History Tours helps visitors to step back in time, with costumed guides providing a behind-the-scenes look at life with Samuel Clemens.
Built for Meetings
Hartford is a destination built especially for meetings. At the center of the city sits the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center, with a 140,000-square-foot exhibition hall for 800 trade show booths, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. The center recently completed a $2.5 million refresh that included new carpeting and new public-space furniture.

The Connecticut Convention Center's headquarters hotel is the 409-room Marriott Hartford Downtown, which recently completed extensive renovations, refreshing its lobby, bar, guest rooms, and meeting space.

This month, Hotel Zero Degrees Danbury will open, making it the hotel group's third site, along with current locations in Stamford and Norwalk. The new property will include 114 guest rooms and abundant indoor and outdoor event space, including an approximately 2,600-square-foot ballroom.

The Goodwin Hotel, an elegant Downtown Hartford landmark that has been closed for eight years, is undergoing a renovation and will reopen in early 2017 as part of the Hotel Zero Degrees group. The historic boutique hotel will feature 124 guest rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 100-seat ballroom. The building, with English Queen Anne terracotta façade, was constructed in 1889 as an apartment building (where financier J.P. Morgan was a tenant). It later was renovated to become the original Goodwin Hotel, which closed in 2008.

Connected to The Goodwin Hotel is the expansive Atrium in the Goodwin Square office tower, featuring marble floors and towering ceilings. That space also is being renovated.

The Hilton Hartford, in the city's downtown, recently completed upgrades to the concierge lounge, lobby, banquet space, and rooms. The renovation of the 393-room hotel's concierge lounge includes an overhaul to all finishes and fixtures, draperies, seating, and tables.

The 6,146-seat Dunkin' Donuts Park stadium is being constructed to open for the start of the 2017 season in Downtown Hartford. The stadium will play host to the Minor League Baseball Hartford Yard Goats, and will be a venue for college sports, festivals, concerts, and corporate gatherings.

Connecticut's casino resorts are also world-class. Foxwoods Resort Casino offers 150,000 square feet of conference space, four hotels with 2,230 rooms, and a variety of amenities.

Mohegan Sun in Uncasville features more than 300,000 square feet of gaming within three casinos; a 34-story, 1,200-room luxury hotel tower; a 20,000-square-foot spa; and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. The Shops at Mohegan Sun, a 130,000-square-foot retail shopping experience with three entertainment venues -- including a 10,000-seat Arena, 350-seat Wolf Den, and an upscale comedy club -- are also among its offerings.

Mohegan Sun is building a 400-deluxe-room "Earth" hotel tower that is expected to open in November. Each room will provide a minimum of 364 square feet and spectacular views of the rolling hills of New England. Each of its 12 suites will sleep up to 10 people.  



Questions or comments? Email [email protected]



This article appears in the October 2016 issue of Successful Meetings.

Built for Meetings
Hartford is a destination built especially for meetings. At the center of the city sits the 540,000-square-foot Connecticut Convention Center, with a 140,000-square-foot exhibition hall for 800 trade show booths, a 40,000-square-foot ballroom, and 25,000 square feet of meeting space. The center recently completed a $2.5 million refresh that included new carpeting and new public-space furniture.

The Connecticut Convention Center's headquarters hotel is the 409-room Marriott Hartford Downtown, which recently completed extensive renovations, refreshing its lobby, bar, guest rooms, and meeting space.

This month, Hotel Zero Degrees Danbury will open, making it the hotel group's third site, along with current locations in Stamford and Norwalk. The new property will include 114 guest rooms and abundant indoor and outdoor event space, including an approximately 2,600-square-foot ballroom.

The Goodwin Hotel, an elegant Downtown Hartford landmark that has been closed for eight years, is undergoing a renovation and will reopen in early 2017 as part of the Hotel Zero Degrees group. The historic boutique hotel will feature 124 guest rooms and more than 5,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 100-seat ballroom. The building, with English Queen Anne terracotta façade, was constructed in 1889 as an apartment building (where financier J.P. Morgan was a tenant). It later was renovated to become the original Goodwin Hotel, which closed in 2008.

Connected to The Goodwin Hotel is the expansive Atrium in the Goodwin Square office tower, featuring marble floors and towering ceilings. That space also is being renovated.

The Hilton Hartford, in the city's downtown, recently completed upgrades to the concierge lounge, lobby, banquet space, and rooms. The renovation of the 393-room hotel's concierge lounge includes an overhaul to all finishes and fixtures, draperies, seating, and tables.

The 6,146-seat Dunkin' Donuts Park stadium is being constructed to open for the start of the 2017 season in Downtown Hartford. The stadium will play host to the Minor League Baseball Hartford Yard Goats, and will be a venue for college sports, festivals, concerts, and corporate gatherings.

Connecticut's casino resorts are also world-class. Foxwoods Resort Casino offers 150,000 square feet of conference space, four hotels with 2,230 rooms, and a variety of amenities.

Mohegan Sun in Uncasville features more than 300,000 square feet of gaming within three casinos; a 34-story, 1,200-room luxury hotel tower; a 20,000-square-foot spa; and more than 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges. The Shops at Mohegan Sun, a 130,000-square-foot retail shopping experience with three entertainment venues -- including a 10,000-seat Arena, 350-seat Wolf Den, and an upscale comedy club -- are also among its offerings.

Mohegan Sun is building a 400-deluxe-room "Earth" hotel tower that is expected to open in November. Each room will provide a minimum of 364 square feet and spectacular views of the rolling hills of New England. Each of its 12 suites will sleep up to 10 people.  



Questions or comments? Email [email protected]



This article appears in the October 2016 issue of Successful Meetings.