When considering the preferences of attendees, oftentimes planners are catering to diverse opinions. What encourages participation and engagement looks different for everyone: Some like a venue with a classic design full of history to explore, some are captivated by dramatic views and beachside strolls, and others are especially energized by the modern and fast pace of an urban environment. With its dramatic scenery, four-season recreation, and distinct meeting venues from intimate boardrooms to historic ballrooms, the Northeast delivers when it comes to planning a corporate or nonprofit gathering, large or small.
Cities such as Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., stand out for their sheer number of hotels and expansive meeting spaces—there are over 35,000 hotel rooms in the Greater Boston area, and Washington, D.C., alone contains 33,639. Many of the region’s states and cities are also conveniently close to each other—these perks make it easy to understand why the Northeast continues to rise to the top of the list for planners.
Historic venues, ocean and mountain views, and urban elegance all add to the region’s draw. From the seacoast of Massachusetts to the mountains of Western Pennsylvania to the nation’s capital, the Northeast is waiting to help you host your meeting or convention.
Hotels With a History
Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, is a National Historic Landmark offering distinctive meeting spaces, luxury accommodations, and a stunning setting that’s sure to appeal to anyone considering northern New England for their gathering.
“Guests can experience the grandeur and elegance of a bygone era while enjoying modern amenities and services,” says Omni Mount Washington’s Director of Sales and Marketing Craig Clemmer. “Our main hotel has 269 guest rooms and suites, including the all-new Presidential Wing’s 69 guest rooms and suites. Rooms also can be booked at the restored 34-room Omni Bretton Arms Inn at Mount Washington, another historic property just a short walk from the main hotel.” An additional 20,000-square-foot conference space was completed at the hotel in 2009, followed by the addition of Rosebrook Lodge at the top of the Bretton Woods Skyway Gondola in 2020, bringing total on-site event space to 42,000 square feet including 22 unique meeting rooms and event spaces.
“We can accommodate groups up to 1,000 attendees,” Clemmer says. “The resort staff is skilled at orchestrating events for any business agenda in facilities adaptable to suit every special requirement. A conference services manager is assigned to each group or meeting and works with clients directly to ensure a successful event.” He adds that the resort is no newcomer to hosting meetings and groups—the hotel’s Gold Room was the site of the Bretton Woods Conference, which established both the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund in 1944.
The Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, New York, is another complete package for planners looking for a venue that embraces its past while supporting the future, featuring green initiatives like locally sourced farm-to-table meals. “We are a 155-year-old family-owned and -operated property with a commitment to maintaining and stewarding the land and rich history of Mountain House,” says Director of Sales Eric Domitrovits. “Our summerhouses and vistas offer guests a long view that can give the mind opportunities for perspective and contemplation. This is a perfect ingredient for strategic and successful meetings as are our team-building and wellness-enhancement activities, designed to promote positivity and performance in the workplace.”
The 259-room resort hotel has 22 indoor/outdoor event spaces with 10,000 square feet of meeting space, including the Oak Room that opened in March. The Historic Parlor has hosted several major international conferences since 1899, and with a 350-person capacity, is ideal for large corporate groups. The 3,120-square-foot Parlor and adjoining Parlor Balconies offer stunning views of Lake Mohonk and the Mohonk Gardens. Smaller groups might prefer the Cliff View Room with its balcony, lake views, and natural light. Its 1,440 square feet of space can accommodate 49 people.
Seaside Settings
Christina Tscherteu, director of meetings and events with public relations firm OneSource Worldwide Inc. in New York City, knew that she had found the right venue for Debevoise and Plimpton, a New York law firm, with Ocean House in Westerly, Rhode Island. The historic beachfront property is located on the bluffs of the Watch Hill neighborhood and has all the desired amenities for a corporate retreat. “When you walk in the door, you feel like you are at home,” says Tscherteu. This is the third year the group has met there. “The staff returns year after year, so they’re all familiar faces—they remember their guests and all their requests. At most hotels, after the planning is done, everything is handed over to the banquet manager. Not at Ocean House. The conference services manager stays for the entire event. That’s unheard of.”
“Business meetings are an important component for us,” explains Brian Honan, group director of sales and marketing at Ocean House Collection. “We have dedicated meeting rooms and staff including a full culinary team.” Although the hotel caters to smaller groups, its Seaside Ballroom can accommodate up to 150 attendees and provides direct access to a 2,500-square-foot terrace overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Bemelmans Gallery, the world’s largest private collection of original art by Ludwig Bemelmans, graces the ballroom’s entrance.
Honan notes that Weekapaug Inn, a sister property, also lends itself to smaller-size groups with 33 guest rooms and suites and dedicated meeting space. Both properties have expansive lawns that can be tented for private events (lobster bake, anyone?) and will tailor activities, including boat trips, to meet each group’s needs. The properties both have Forbes Five-Star ratings based on facilities and service. Ocean House’s Coast restaurant and its Ocean & Harvest Spa also are Forbes Five-Star rated, making the hotel one of only 15 resorts in the world to be a triple Forbes Five-Star property.
The personalized service and boutique size—perfect for buyouts—makes the Delamar Greenwich Harbor hotel in Greenwich, Connecticut, a top choice for planners, according to Erin Spiegel, director of public relations and communications for the hotel. Its location is a bonus, as it’s only 45 minutes from New York City and within walking distance to a Metro-North Railroad station. The hotel offers several meeting spaces, from the 2,000-square-foot Antibes Ballroom to the 352-square-foot Boardroom accommodating up to 16 guests. Suites can also be converted into meeting spaces with waterfront views. “Part of the hotel’s appeal is its old-world charm set in a French provincial theme with spectacular views of Greenwich Harbor,” Spiegel points out. “Guests are greeted with a glass of bubbly, and food is made-to-order by our L’Escale Restaurant, specializing in French coastal cuisine with designated servers to take care of your every need.” Recent upgrades include a refinished event space with updated chandelier and lighting and a fully renovated private waterfront terrace. The hotel’s 82 spacious guest rooms are slated to be refurbished next year.
Diane Jennings, board member of nonprofit At Home in Greenwich, says that the hotel provides all the amenities required for the organization’s annual fundraising event. Jennings helps organize the 200-attendee event, noting that while they have held their annual fundraiser at other Greenwich locations, nothing compares to the service at the Delamar. She credits the staff’s attentiveness to detail as the reason the organization has chosen the hotel for its event for the past six years. “Banquet Manager Michael Merturi is one of the most professional event people I have ever worked with,” she says.
Peak Experiences
For Brenda Geitz, meeting specialist for the Connecticut Community Bankers Association, the decision to meet at The Lodge at Spruce Peak–Destination by Hyatt in Stowe, Vermont, was an easy one. “The possibilities for delighting our conference attendees were endless,” Geitz says. “The location, with its year-round Bavarian and Austrian atmosphere, was ideal for planning a creative and festive conference,” she says. “We loved the fact that the property offered multiple event spaces both in the hotel and right outside the front door within easy walking distance.” Geitz says the association also chooses The Lodge at Spruce Peak for its world-class accommodations, its mountain golf course, on-site spa, and plenty of Vermont sightseeing possibilities.
“Our professional and dedicated on-site team works with local vendors, tour guides, farms, and brewers to provide a comprehensive meeting or event experience for any client,” says Anderson James, marketing and public relations manager for the property. The bankers association meeting included lunch in The WhistlePig Pavilion; a mixology and chocolate-dipping workshop; a Biergarten food festival in the Tamarack Ballrooms featuring a German buffet, decor, and band; and the grand finale, a formal dinner in the Alpine Hall restaurant followed by a live concert at the Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center—all of which are available for any event. “Our location is unmatched, nestled just 10 minutes north of the iconic village of Stowe,” James says. “The Lodge at Spruce Peak sits adjacent to both Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. With 270-degree alpine views, guests can feel at home in the mountains. The lodge offers 56,000 square feet of flexible meeting venues and event space, surrounded by hiking trails perfect for walking meetings, great venues to mix business and pleasure, and fire pits for unwinding and bonding at the end of your day.” The venue completed a $6 million renovation in 2021 of both main restaurants, Alpine Hall and Tipsy Trout, along with a refurbishing of all guest rooms in 2019.
Planners considering a mid-Atlantic destination won’t go wrong with the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, with its 284 guest rooms and more than 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. Pennsylvania’s first AAA Four-Diamond casino resort can accommodate groups of up to 1,000 in its event center’s 25,000 square feet of space complete with 12 meeting rooms, a grand ballroom, and 15,000 square feet of outdoor tented space. When it’s time to play, attendees can try their luck at the casino, take in a headliner performance, relax at the full-service spa or indoor/outdoor pool, or revel in a round of golf on the 18-hole lakefront course.
City Lights
If planners are seeking a city venue for their next meeting, the possibilities are endless. The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection, in Washington, D.C., earns points with planners for its timeless elegance paired with all the modern amenities needed for a memorable meeting. Its 581 plush guest rooms and suites invite relaxation, while its 42,580 square feet of newly restored meeting space fulfills all expectations for a successful event. The hotel has 27 event rooms, including a 7,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom that hosted President Calvin Coolidge’s inaugural ball in 1925, the year the hotel opened. When combined with the adjacent Chinese Ballroom, the 10,359-square-foot space has a 1,150-person capacity.
When it comes to versatile urban venues, the Chase Center on the Riverfront, Delaware’s largest meeting and event facility, can’t be beat. Located in Wilmington, it is nicely positioned within driving distance of both Washington and New York City and only 20 minutes from Philadelphia International Airport, making it an attractive and accessible option for meetings. The venue’s customizable event space can accommodate groups of all sizes and meeting requirements. It boasts more than 90,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 20,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 252-seat auditorium, and 16 meeting/breakout rooms. Attendees won’t have to travel far for accommodations as the center is connected to the business-friendly The Westin Wilmington, with 181 spacious guest rooms and additional meeting space.
Boston’s many meetings-friendly hotels and facilities combined with its unparalleled colonial history make this Massachusetts city another attractive place to convene. The iconic Boston Harbor Hotel on historic Rowes Wharf has the capacity to host large meetings and events with 20,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space. Planners can choose from a range of spaces, including the 4,192-square-foot Wharf Room featuring state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and floor-to-ceiling windows with harbor views, alongside intimate salons and a 364-square-foot boardroom. Blackout drapes allow for privacy or presentations. The 2,809-square-foot domed Foster’s Pavilion on the waterfront is ideal for receptions at the hotel and has the option to add a tent for more space. In addition, this Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond property has 232 guest rooms with several dining options to please any palate.
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delamar.com
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mohonk.com
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oceanhouseri.com
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