PLENARY Boston’s Game Changer Q Research: Business Travelers Q Human Genetics Q Tipster: Boomerang
WHAT’S YOUR STORY? James E. Rooney
The executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority on being honored with the Game Changer Award from the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts for his work on economic development, corporate social responsibility, and diversity in Boston’s meetings business.
opportunity to attract minority meetings. We came up with a short list of events that we might try to talk to, [including] Blacks in Government. We brought them in, and had the usual sales trip. On that last day of the trip, I had break-
W
fast with the site committee. They compliment- ed us on the trip, but then one of them said: “I just have one more question: Why would I bring 6,000 black people to Boston?” I was totally unprepared to answer that in a coherent way. Clearly, there was a sense that Boston is not top of mind as it relates to the minorities meet- ings market — and, there’s a lingering percep- tion of Boston being an unwelcome place for people of color to host a meeting. Those of us who live here feel like Boston has made substantial progress. But
E FELT THAT WE SHOULD USE the new Boston Convention Center [when it opened in 2004] as an
that perception is out there, and we needed to step back. There’s an event held every year — “Steppin’ Out,” a fundraiser for a community health center. We decided to build a “Weekend of Discovery” around Steppin’ Out and get a dozen minority meetings market planners to come. We included the usual site-selection elements, but added a couple of components. We hired a local black historian to take people on a tour [showing] the significance that black people have played in Boston.
We also have a luncheon with ambas- sadors among the local black, Hispanic, and Asian business and political [communities]. I talk to them individually beforehand and tell them that the people who are coming here have to go back to a committee to [explain] why they should bring 6,000, or 8,000, or 10,000 black people to Boston. [I tell them:] “I need for you not to have these sugar-coated conversations about the Paul Revere statue. I need
have an event in Boston.” the
RESEARCH (OR NOT)
ON THE ROAD
need you to ask them if this is an issue they’re dealing
dealing with, and convince them that they can have an
The two most prominent successes [as a result of this initiative] are happening this year with the National Urban League Conference, followed by the Blacks in Government Annual National Training Conference. We think that hav- ing these two prominent events in one year will help us change the game.
I’m always disappointed when we lose a piece of business. But on a personal level, I’m a Boston kid, and for people to look me in the eye and tell me they don’t feel welcome in my home, I mean, it hurt. That motivated me to try to do something about it. n —As told to Michelle Russell
20 pcma convene June 2011
GAMESMANSHIP: James Rooney (right) with Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts CEO Darnell Williams.
96% of business
travelers think that “face time is the most important
part of maintaining strong client relationships.”
✱
of business travelers have traveled less because of the “current economic climate.”
41%
SOURCE: Embassy Suites Hotels Business Travel Survey