Greater Boston CVB USAE Advertorial

ASAE Show Daily
7/16/10
Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President & CEO of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, shares his thoughts on Boston:

What makes Boston distinctive to you?
There are so many things that make Boston unique.

Boston has the perfect mix of colonial charm and urban sophistication. But what many people don’t know is that the Greater Boston area is also home to more than 60 colleges and universities and 35 hospitals. Because of this, Boston is an ideal location for meetings in the education and medical fields and we often see groups have record breaking attendance in Boston.

It’s also really easy to get to and around Boston.  We have great access to air, rail and bus connections.  And although Boston is known as America’s Walking City, the city is easily accessible by the “T”, our public transportation system.

What is a Fun Fact that people might not know about:
The CVB has just released an iPhone app that allows meeting attendees to search “what to do” while they are in Boston, as well as to purchase tickets in advance to many of Boston’s great tours, cruises, excursions, museums, and more (including the Boston Red Sox) using their handheld devices.  And a number of attractions allow delegates electronic entry.   Visit www.BostonUSA.com  for more information or iPhone users can download the BostonUSA App directly from the iTunes Store on their phone.

What do people find most surprising about Boston?
The comment we hear the most is how accessible the city is and how easy it is to get around.  You can put all of Boston proper in New York’s Central Park. That puts the size in perspective!  It’s easy to walk from end to end in a little over an hour. It’s also just minutes from Cambridge, and groups love the city because they can hold their meetings here, but then in less than two hours are in any of the six New England states!

People are also surprised about how active Boston is during both day and night, since many people both live and work in the city. Boston is also very international, in that it is home to so many world class medical, financial and educational institutions with people visiting from all over the world. Our dining, shopping and nightlife caters to both locals and visitors, making it a very cosmopolitan city.

Where are some great places for visitors to get a taste of Boston?
Boston is a GREAT food town with something for everyone.

We have historic restaurants, such as the Union Oyster House, the oldest continually operated restaurant in the United States, but Boston is also home to some of the hottest chefs in America.   Visitors can experience Italian cuisine in the North End, hip places in the South End...and some of our best restaurants are located in hotels!  With so many choices, visitors never go hungry!   And in August, we’ll be celebrating our 10th Anniversary of Restaurant Week.

What are some of your favorite special event venues in Boston?
Boston has so many unique attractions for special events, like Symphony Hall, the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, which is expanding by almost 50% in November. Groups also hold events at Fenway Park, our nation’s oldest ballpark! But there are many other unique attractions that are worth exploring for special events.

Is there a better time of year to bring groups to Boston?
Boston is truly a four season’s destination.  There are plenty of things to see and do no matter what time of year a group comes to Boston