A guest post by Mary Reynolds Kane, Experience Marketing for PCMA

Read the original post at PCMA.org

When the innovators of PCMA’s premier event for meeting professionals, Convening Leaders, invited a group of us together to brainstorm about the theme for 2014, so much more took place.

The Players

The meeting architects met in Boston, the site of Convening Leaders 2014 on Wednesday morning. The group included representatives from Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, Advantage Boston, Freeman’s production, sales and creative team, and PCMA’s CEO, Meetings & Education teams, as well as individuals from Marketing, Partnership and the Foundation/leadership.

The Set-up

After a site visit of the Sheraton (the Headquarters’ hotel) and Boston’s architecturally-inspiring Hynes Convention Center, we heard from Kelly Peacy, Senior Vice President, Education & Meetings about what the day would bring. Kelly shared past meetings’ successes and opportunities, the make-up of PCMA ‘s audience, and how the organization views its role in the industry.

The Breakouts

Kelly broke us up into groups of 5 people in 5 stations (with comfy lounge furniture). One person wrote the ideas down and led the group in the following topics: Theme, Lunch, Education outside the classroom, and Experiences. We received an explanation of the first topic, broke out for 25 minutes and then met back for 25 minutes to hear what the other groups shared and add more ideas.

The Experience

For the next five hours, I was treated to idea after idea from all sides of the meeting – it was brilliant. Everyone brought their unique perspective and we built creative solutions geared toward ensuring the continued evolution of our meeting.

The Results

Collaboration and investment –While always passionate about the event, I am now completely invested in its success. I was part of its genesis so naturally, I care more. Not only did I get to learn more about my fellow team members, I got to share and laugh with the group. I am ready to collaborate with them and really hear and trust their ideas.

Better concepts – Our brainstorm brought out so many incredible ideas, too many to list here. I can’t wait for all of us to see which ones evolve and are implemented this January.

Reinvigorated – After attending a Tuesday brainstorm about PCMA in general and then this one on Wednesday, I felt confident that by Thursday I would have no ideas left. A funny thing happened. On the plane on the way back, I started to think differently about many of my projects – “what if we tried this? How could we increase views here?” I couldn’t seem to stop myself from trying to better my projects. I am excited again and not feeling that horrible “oh my gosh - I was out of the office for two days and now I will never catch up” feeling – I feel like with a little perspective, anything is possible.

Humbled - Finally I would be remiss if I didn’t say that a lot of my inspiration came from the city itself. I stayed at the elegant Fairmont across the street from the Boston Marathon memorial, and because of the location of our event, spent time walking Boylston.

I can’t tell you how inspired I was by the city – less than 3 weeks ago something tragic and incomprehensible happened, but the city has come out of it more beautiful and inspirational than before.

In the past, when an individual rose to a challenge with grace or handled herself with poise in the face of unbelievable adversity, it was admirable. That a whole city has done so, astounds me. Boston, you are now one of my favorite cities. I am humbled by your spirit and beauty.

The people of the Greater Boston area have lived through a week like no other. On April 15, it was a beautiful day on Boylston Street in Boston’s Back Bay, and then, the unimaginable happened. It was a tragic day and a difficult week in our great city, but Boston came together as a community and rallied. We’ve adopted the motto: We are Boston. We are Strong. We are Boston Strong. 

And it’s clear that our friends in the meeting industry have embraced our Boston Strong sentiment as well! We received countless messages from across the world wishing us well. Our events at the BCEC and Hynes were determined to go on as scheduled, with our customers and meeting planners being incredibly patient, working with us to create operational plans during some very uncertain times. 

We are so thankful for your kind words, tweets, emails, and blog posts. The meetings industry is full of amazingly resilient people and we’re so lucky to be a part of it. 

Boston is a proud and spirited city that grows stronger every time it’s tested. And I assure you Boston is still a safe and welcoming city that continues to provide the culture, character, history, and thought leadership that visitors expect and love. Most of all, I want you to know that the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s facilities are safe, secure, and ready to welcome your event.

 

Boston has many annual events that draw crowds and excite the city, but none as much as the Boston Marathon. This year the city’s 117^th marathon will take place Monday April 15, Patriots’ Day.  Patriots’ Day commemorates the history of Boston, remembering the battles of Lexington and Concord at the start of the American Revolution. The Marathon also celebrates a long history of a city coming together to support, cheer on and run together.

The 26.2 mile marathon, organized by the Boston Athletic Association, starts on Main Street in Hopkinton, passes right by the entrance to the Hynes Convention Center, and ends on Boylston Street in front of the Boston Public Library. The race features everything from a Heartbreak Hill to a Scream Tunnel. Here are a few things to keep a lookout for on Marathon Monday!

Watch out for Team Hoyt, a father-son duo running the Boston Marathon in 2013 for the 31^st consecutive year. Dick Hoyt pushes his son Rick, who is a quadriplegic and has cerebral palsy. Other notable runners to watch out for include: local celebrity and member of the boy band New Kids on the Block, Joey McIntyre, who will run for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his mother, and former New England Patriot Eric Alexander, who will be running to benefit the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. Returning champions Wesley Korir and Sharon Cherop will also be on the road, looking to beat their previous times, 2:12:40 and 2:31:50 respectively.

Most Boston students spend Patriots Day cheering on marathon runners. Scream Tunnel is the name given to the route that runs along the Wellesley College campus at the 13^th mile. Here, students encourage the runners with screams and occasionally, even a kiss. Heartbreak Hill - between the 20^th and 21^st mile markers - is traditionally known as one of the toughest components of the Boston marathon, so you’ll find masses of Boston College students flanking each side of the hill to support runners.

And every year in the days before the marathon, you’ll find athletes and fans flooding into Boston’s Hynes Convention Center for the annual John Hancock Sports and Fitness Expo.  The expo is the pick-up location for official runner numbers, but it also features exhibiting companies big and small. Adidas, one of the sponsors of the marathon, has the largest booth on the show floor at 13,770 square feet. Smaller companies are exhibiting everything from the newest developments in compression sportswear to performance gel packs.

The Boston Marathon is an annual event that brings tens of thousands of attendees to our wonderful city and allows us to showcase our tremendous pride, culture and - of course - our competitive spirit. We hope you’ll join us next year!

Summertime in Boston for conference attendees—it just doesn’t get any better! The city is alive with museum exhibits, outdoor concerts and performances, al fresco dining, walking tours, ethnic festivals and harbor cruises. From the hip to the historic, Boston has it all and there is so much to do. To make it easy for you, we narrowed it down to 10 top things to do and see:

See Boston Landmarks and Dive into the Charles River
Taking a Boston Duck Tour is a fun way to see highlights of Boston in 80 minutes. The “DUCK” is an authentic, renovated World War II amphibious landing vehicle. After seeing the main Boston’s landmarks, the DUCK goes right into the Charles River for a breathtaking view of the Boston and Cambridge skylines, the kind of view you won’t get anywhere else!

Take a Cultural and Historical Walk
Put your walking shoes on! The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads to 16 nationally significant historic sites including museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, parks, ships, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution and beyond. Another great stroll is the Boston Harborwalk, a 38 miles long continuous walkway along the waterfront, which passes by museums, parks, restaurants, cafes, and more. It’s a beautiful walk with scenic harbor views.

Take Advantage of our Maritime Heritage
Cape Cod Maritime Days (May 19-June 21) and the Salem Maritime Festival (Aug 2-3) are celebrations of Massachusetts rich maritime history. The annual celebrations feature events and activities including lighthouse and walking tours, free harbor cruises, live music, traditional craft demonstrations, nautical art exhibits, outdoor theatres, lectures, boat-building exhibits and kayaking excursions.

Mix in with the Jugglers, Clowns, Magicians, and Musicians
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the seat of American history and the site of one of America’s most famous shopping and dining experiences. Walk through the marketplace and people watch, grab a bite and take in the beautiful architecture that surrounds the area. The street performers are entertaining and the place is as lively by night as it is by day. Don’t forget to go inside Faneuil Hall itself. The hall is impressive and historically significant. There is a lot to see and do within a 5 minute walk in any direction.

Enjoy Boston by Bicycle
The Hubway bike-sharing program allows residents and visitors to use bikes throughout the city for short term rentals. Most of the 61 docking stations are concentrated in the historic downtown areas and near the convention centers and hotels. They are close to each other so users can easily drop off their bike at any other location. Fun guided sightseeing bike tours are also available with Urban Adventours.

Watch a Movie under the Stars
The Intrigue Café, located on the water side of the Boston Harbor Hotel, hosts a summer movie series called Movies by Moonlight. Customers and pedestrians can watch movies on a large outdoor screen set up on the side of the gazebo. With a location right along the harbor, the atmosphere is upscale and nautical. This year’s programming includes classic movies like Pink Panther and An Affair to Remember.

Take a Summer Cruise
Boston offers a variety of cruises during the summer. Music cruises have 3 floors of entertainment with live bands, DJ, and large top deck for dancing under the stars. There is even a Summer Harbor Salsa Cruise Series for Latino music lovers. Elegant dinner cruises in the Boston Harbor or on the Charles River deliver a delightful combination of dining, entertainment and spectacular views. Or board a whale watching high-speed catamaran to find the biggest creatures of the ocean.

Check Out the New Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum
The museum opened last summer and tells the story of The Boston Tea Party with a combination of interactive exhibits and live historical performance. Visitors will be able to experience three historically restored ships and their tea chests, watch a film, and sample the five types of tea thrown from the ships while learning about the proper brewing technique. The museum also includes a reconstructed 18^th century tavern serving delicious fare characteristic of the period.

Enjoy Outdoor Performing Arts
Shakespeare on the Common (July 24-August 11) is a Boston tradition. Watch a free play by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company on the Boston Common, the oldest park in the country. Listen to the Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell (July & August). The Hatch Shell is a bowl-style outdoor stage located on the Esplanade, which is the park that extends for 3 miles along the Boston shore of the Charles River. 

Cheer for our Legendary Boston Red Sox
How about laying back, enjoying the sun, a beer and a hot dog? Even better, go see a Red Sox game in the majestic Fenway Park! Generations of cheering, bonding, heartbreak, and triumph are part of every brick and beam of this ballpark, which is one of the best-known sports venues in the world. Baseball season runs from April to early October.

Find Art on the Beach
The Sand Sculpting Festival in Revere Beach (July 19-21) is an annual contest that attracts famous sculptors from all over the world. The artists must follow strict rules during the contest. Each sculptor is given 10 tons of sand and is assigned an 18’ x 18’ square exhibit area. The sand sculptures are evaluated using four categories: degree of difficulty, originality and creativity, quality of sculpting, and overall visual impact.

Boston Duck Tour

Boston Pops at the Hatch Shell

Boston Hubway Bike Sharing

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Whale Watching

Sand Sculpting Festival

Last month, PCMA meeting planners had a week-long site visit in Boston to start prepping for Convening Leaders 2014. They met the whole Boston convention team from the Hynes Convention Center to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, from sales, to marketing to operations and everything in between. There was a whole lot of walking, a lot of talking and - thanks to our talented Levy Restaurants’ Chefs - a whole lot of eating! 

And even though the trip was mostly about work, PCMA did have a chance to explore our beautiful city, including a trip to the new Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. 

 The PCMA crew was transported back in time to Boston’s Revolutionary days, where they shouted HUZZAH! with Samuel Adams and tossed tea overboard with the other Sons of Liberty. They even capped their rebellion off with a cup of tea and cookies at Abigail’s Tea Room. It was a true Boston experience.

We’re looking forward to PCMA’s next planning trip to Boston in April - it will be January 2014 before we know it!