special section Innovative Centers and Unique Venues

Connecticut Convention Center

New England charm, big-city space

In downtown Hartford, the Connecticut Convention Center is the Northeast’s new- est space for meetings, conventions, and trade shows. The 140,000-square-foot center, which opened in 2005, overlooks the Con- necticut River and is adjacent to Adriaen’s Landing, a 47-acre mixed-use development packed with dining, entertainment, and nightlife. The center is also directly connect- ed to the AAA Four-Diamond, 409-room Mar- riott Hartford Downtown and is within close proximity to more than 1,600 hotel rooms in Hartford and 6,500 hotel rooms in a 15-mile radius. Events are never without a dramatic

entrance at the Connecticut Convention Center, thanks to the building’s 110-foot

glass atrium, which rises 10 stories above the grand public plaza and tree-lined, riverfront esplanade. But the good impressions don’t end after groups arrive — the center’s excep- tional staff of professionals, from its award- winning chefs to the event-management team, ensure that every request is executed to perfection. Eco-minded meeting attendees will

appreciate that Hartford has New England’s first biodiesel bus, the Hartford Star Shuttle, a free service for getting around the city. And the Bradley Flyer provides semi-express bus service from the Bradley International Airport to the Connecticut Convention Cen- ter for just $1.30. Within Adriaen’s Landing, the up-and-coming Front Street District

has plenty of dining and entertainment for attendees to explore — in fact, more than $1 billion has been invested into new devel- opments in downtown alone. And attendees will quickly find they’ll never go hungry in Hartford, since the city is home to more than 40 three- and four-star restaurants. With local culture and history around every corner, as well as celebrated attractions that appeal to every interest, the Connecticut Convention Center is the ultimate backdrop for mixing business with pleasure.

For more information: Connecticut Convention Center — (860) 728-2639 or (860) 249-6000; ctconventions.com

AT A GLANCE

Total space • 540,000 square feet

Exhibit space • 140,000 square feet

Hotel rooms within a 15-mile radius • 6,500

Nearby attractions • Dining and entertainment on Front Street

• Connecticut Science Center • Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

• The Mark Twain House & Museum

• The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts, and much more

Meeting epicenter The Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford is the largest convention center between Boston and New York City, making the facility an ideal choice for meetings that demand easy access. The expanded Bradley International Airport is just 15 miles away from the center.

76 PCMA CONVENE JULY 2012

PCMA.ORG