All Things Travel: A New Era For Boston Tourism
BOSTON (CBS) - The picture in the "Names" column of The Boston Globe on Wednesday said it all.
There was a smiling Governor Deval Patrick, new Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Convention Center Director Jim Rooney at the opening session of the Professional Convention Management Association.
Patrick has pushed hard for more cooperation between the state, city, and airport and private tourism groups and it is paying off. The two Boston convention centers will have their best year in 2014.
The only people missing in the newspaper photo were Tom Glynn, CEO of Massport and Pat Moscaritolo, president of The Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. These two groups were major sponsors of the four day meeting that will bring in millions of dollars in business over the next decade from the association group of meeting planners to Boston.
Make no mistake, this is a very competitive industry, used to being wined and dined and they want the best when they pick a site for a meeting.
From the time delegates arrived at Logan Airport to their departure, things ran smoothly with a much greater degree of cooperation between agencies in the city compared to when PCMA came to Boston 20 years ago.
This mutual cooperation effort has been a major goal of the Patrick Administration, along with the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism. Boston will welcome three new international airlines in the next few months.
There were welcoming desks in the Logan Airport baggage areas, information desks in every hotel and major events at both the waterfront and Back Bay convention centers.
Their staff members were everywhere ready to answer any questions.
A number of clubs and restaurants did extra business with private parties headed by The House of Blues and Quincy Market with major events.
With The Callahan Tunnel closed, taxis were scarce as the attendees headed home on Wednesday. For the first time, Boston provided free Peter Pan buses to transport people from the Hynes to Logan Airport. That saved everybody both time and money.
You have to spend money to make money. Tourism budgets are up and new jobs are being created.
Bob Weiss reports on business travel on Mondays at 5:55 a.m. on WBZ NewsRadio 1030.
