A resurgence of in-person events has inspired venues across the region to reimagine meeting and event spaces. Bursting at its seams with new growth this year, the Northeast offers a bustling hospitality scene—making it a premier region for meetings and events.
New guest accommodations, collaborative workspaces, seaside escapes, and eco-friendly solutions are among the many venue types that have surfaced along the Eastern Seaboard—all of which reflect the charming history and intrinsic vibes of each city. With refreshed hotels and modern event centers, this roundup of new hot spots is sure to spark inspiration for your gathering.
Connecticut
In May 2022, Hotel Marcel in New Haven arrived as the country’s first net-zero carbon hotel and International Passive House Association-certified (a performance-based standard that requires properties to maintain a certain minimum level of energy use for space heating and cooling) hotel. Built from recycled and local materials, the 165-room hotel also runs 100% on solar-generated power from the rooftop and parking lot canopy arrays—making the property fossil-fuel free and its Energy Use rating 80% less than the median for
U.S. hotels. In addition, the property uses low-voltage lighting and features 14 electric vehicle charging stations for guests.
Hotel Marcel is also home to the restaurant and bar BLDG, a 24-hour fitness center, a complimentary shuttle service for travels within 5 miles of the hotel, and 9,000 square feet of flexible event space that includes eight meeting rooms for up to 275 people total.
Maryland
Great Wolf Lodge will make its way to Perryville in June. Sitting on 48 acres of lush land about an hour north of Baltimore, the 700-room resort joins the brand’s national portfolio as the largest property. Known for its family-friendly atmosphere, the property offers flexible meeting spaces and team-building activities to add on. “We offer everything under one roof: sleeping accommodations, dining experiences, a water park, and activity centers equipped with ropes courses, bowling, and rock-climbing walls,” says Nadine Miracle, property manager for the hotel.
The resort will also feature a conference center that is separate from the hustle and bustle of the venue. The center consists of 4,500 square feet of indoor meeting space and 1,600 square feet of outdoor space on the terrace, as well as a separate entrance from the rest of the hotel for easy guest access. “If you’re looking for something that is really convenient for your guests to go to that also has some of that nice natural landscape, it is a really nice place to be,” Miracle says.
Massachusetts
Originally the first location of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, which opened in 1922, The Langham, Boston, hotel is an iconic city landmark. Protected by the Boston Landmarks Commission, it cherishes its history through its distinctive architecture and large collection of art that pays homage to the building’s rich past and the heritage of the community.
Beginning in April 2019, the hotel underwent renovations with an overarching goal to preserve the character of the space. It reopened in June 2021. Among the preserved elements are the terrazzo flooring with the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston seal and two N.C. Wyeth murals in the Wyeth room, which was once the office of the bank’s president. “The unique history intrigues guests, especially those in the banking industry, as it gives a story to tell their attendees,” says Marissa Sullivan, director of public relations for The Langham, Boston.
New additions to the hotel include two ballrooms, a promenade, The Langham Club, and two new eateries: Grana and The Fed. Other amenities include an indoor pool, a fitness center, the Cinema Suite (a miniature movie theater with a 100-inch screen and projector, eight reclining lounge chairs, and complimentary refreshments), and an extensive art collection showcased throughout the hotel, including a virtual art tour with videos of the artists discussing their creations.
The hotel also offers extensive flexible meeting and event space across 15 different rooms. The Wilson Ballroom with 3,250 square feet for 300 people and the Lincoln Ballroom with 2,240 square feet for 255 are the largest options. For a touch of historic charm, rent the Wyeth with its original gold-coffered ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows. For more intimate gatherings, Grana has room for 60 guests, and the Governor’s Boardroom features a sleek mahogany table and leather chairs for board meetings. The adjacent Member’s Court is available as overflow space.
Down the road in Cambridge, the Hyatt Regency Boston/Cambridge is another hotel that underwent extensive renovations last August. Located on the Charles River, the Hyatt is the largest hotel in Cambridge. The hotel features 459 guest rooms and 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, including the 7,000-square-foot Amesbury Ballroom on the first floor, the 2,900-square-foot Charles View Ballroom on the 16th floor, and the Mt. Auburn Ballroom for up to 180 guests on the 14th floor. Outdoor spaces include the quaint Courtyard or the River-side Pavilion for up to 300 guests each.
This hotel is also just a 13-minute drive from downtown Boston and a 15-minute commute from Boston Logan International Airport, offering a sense of luxurious convenience for its visitors. “It feels like a resort even though you are [close to] the city,” says Catherine Kent, director of sales and marketing for Hyatt Corp.
New Jersey
Overlooking the sandy beaches of the Jersey Shore lies The James Bradley, a sophisticated boutique hotel that exudes seaside charm. Opened last summer, the property pays homage to owner George DiStefano’s childhood memories of beach escapes with his family. “What I love most about Bradley Beach and this area is that it is the quintessential coastal town,” he says.
The 17-room property sits just one block from the beach (and an hour and 15 minutes from both Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and New York City). The waterfront locale provides attendees the opportunity to make a splash through its partnership with the hospitality company Business & Pleasure Co. The collaboration offers complimentary beach chairs, umbrellas, and towels in addition to free Beach Badges for shoreline access.
The quaint and relaxing hotel attracts groups year-round. “It is an escape,” he says. “It is [a] total disconnect from the moment you step onto the property to the moment you leave; you are kind of in your own oasis. … Everything from the scent to the sounds, to the paint on the walls, gives the feeling of calmness and tranquility.”
Private event spaces at The James Bradley include the 500-square-foot indoor dining room for up to 30 and the 1,900-square-foot garden for 40, as well as the courtyard and wraparound porch. The hotel partners with a private chef to craft a coursed menu for groups and can also bring in a local caterer (DiStefano’s uncle) to create delectable eats.
New York
Opened in January, Quorum by Convene is a 40,000-square-foot flexible meeting and event venue in midtown Manhattan in New York City. The sleek and contemporary space features six meeting rooms for groups as small as eight and as large as 360. Or, planners can also consider a full buyout to accommodate up to 630. Quorum partners with nearby hotels like the Lotte New York Palace, Warwick New York, and The Times Square Edition for lodging.
Pennsylvania
Lilah, an event center in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, opened last April. The versatile, industrial space has capacity for 250 seated and 300 standing and offers top-notch eats by six-time James Beard Award-winning chefs Michael Solomonov and Steven Cook. “We are really lucky to have a really big focus on food here. … The food and service that Lilah provides is something that is unique and unparalleled,” says Castianeira Jackson, director of events for CookNSolo, the hospitality company that owns Lilah.
Bringing people together through food has always been at the forefront of the brand, says Jackson. As the first event venue for CookNSolo, the 7,000-square-foot facility features a culinary program showcasing Israeli cuisine.
Cultivating connection through shared meals, Lilah provides a space to create lasting memories for planners and attendees. “While we are primarily a wedding and party venue, we are open to new concepts and ideas, and we love that we can transform the space into anyone’s vision,” she says. “Whether [the event is] small-scale or large-scale, we love to see the venue from different viewpoints.”
