BOSTON IS BOOMING!
New England’s largest city has the perfect historical and contemporary blend. There is something for everyone in the city affectionately referred to as Beantown. – from Museum tours to boat tours, sports to theaters, and new buildings to British colonial-inspired architecture. Each season brings its specialties and favorites enjoyed by locals and visitors alike!
Lauren Sweet, a Boston native, and our Account Executive divulges, “Being able to incorporate the city’s history and how it’s grown into a creative experience for our clients is how we create some of our favorite unique moments for them. For example, everyone knows about the Red Sox, but not everyone knows the biggest art heist in history happened right here in Boston, and you can host an event where it happened (the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum).” Creative Services Manager Kelsi Tucker hopes that while appreciating Boston’s long history, visitors don’t lose sight of the innovation! Kelsi raves, “Boston is full of new life, new business, new experiences, and so many things to explore while here besides the famous Duck Boats and the Freedom Trail!”
HOT SPOTS
Account Executive Rhi Caloggero shares her excitement about the MGM Grand at Fenway. “It is a brand new, state of the art, 5,000-person concert venue that will also be a great space for corporate events! There are not too many large venues in the city, so this is definitely a great addition to our usual favorites.”
Puttshack is clearly becoming a team favorite! “It’s the only upscale tech-infused mini golf experience locally!” says Rhi. “I love their fun scoring system, and how the balls track your gameplay; you can earn (or lose) points based on how you play.” The space, complete with two floors, two bars, four mini golf courses, and a private dining room, can accommodate up to 600 guests, including food, beverage, and of course, mini golf! The CSI team is already swinging into high gear with clients looking to have their holiday parties and new year team-builders here!
FUN WITH FOOD
New restaurants and old favorites are serving up more inspired cuisine than ever, often working with smaller menus that offer a niche experience. Rachel Strauss, our Associate Director of Sales, divulges, “The high tea experience at the Boston Public Library is a hidden gem in the city where you are served a multi-tiered platter of tea sandwiches and treats while sipping on perfectly brewed tea. The restaurant overlooks the luscious courtyard of the library, affording a view of all the beautiful flowers, a fountain, and an open-air design. The menus are served in old library books and after tea, you can explore the library, which is more like a museum than a place for books!”
Looking for a hot new restaurant with a side of fame? Look no further than Ramsay’s Kitchen, the pandemic born brainchild of reality TV chef Gordan Ramsay! The restaurant opened late January 2022 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel with a menu developed in Ramsay’s home during the pandemic. Aside from the main dining room, the restaurant features a bar and lounge space, two private dining areas, a raw bar, and a seasonal patio!
Beantown’s dining options are delicious and dynamic. Boston chefs are constantly curating signature specials with fresh local ingredients, no longer just the home of the molasses baked beans! Lauren Sweet beams, “One of the things I love most about creating experiences in Boston is that the city is constantly evolving. There are always new restaurants, activities, and vendors to incorporate into programs, so nothing ever feels overdone.” She adds, “I also love that Boston has so much history and fun traits that can be creatively incorporated into an experience for our client. For example, did you know that Toll House cookies, marshmallow fluff and Fig Newtons were invented in Boston? So why have a simple dessert station when you can incorporate some fun facts into the snacking?!”
Speaking of having fun with food, one trend Events Coordinator Ariel Epstein sees is food activations! People don’t want standard food stations anymore – they want a fun, interactive eating or drinking experience. Whether that means having a custom coffee cart with a knowledgeable barista or a cookie photobooth that takes guests’ pictures and prints them on a sugar cookie, the options for food displays are ever-growing!
REST & PLAY
When it comes to staying in Boston, it’s all about location. The Langham makes a great starting point for exploring some of Boston’s most iconic spots: Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, Boston Harbor, and Newbury Street, where you’ll find the best shopping spots. Plus, it’s rich (literally!) with history. It was once the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, and since its recent renovation, it offers two new event spaces – You know what they say: double the space, double the fun! With 312 rooms and 6,000 square feet of new event spaces, the Langham is a fabulous place to host you and 300 friends!
The Omni Boston Hotel should be on your radar if you want to stay in Boston’s most popular up-and-coming neighborhoods. “Once full of nothing but warehouses and fishing harbors, the Seaport District has become a hot, trendy location for events and entertainment.“, raves Vice President of Business Development, Cara Pratt. But wait – there’s more! With the opening of the Omni, the Seaport District became home to the city’s largest new hotel in 40 years and the fourth largest in the city! The massive structure boasts two 22-story towers, 1,054 rooms and features seven restaurants!
GETTING AROUND
Boston is truly a walkable city – the best way to enjoy its charm is to bring a great pair of shoes and take to the streets and explore! There are instagrammable moments on just about every street! Rachel Strauss shares, “A lot of folks underestimate the accessibility of Boston, but it is truly a great walking city with convenient public transportation and lovely parks, views of the harbor and Charles River, and fun things to do around every corner!” She continues, “I love going out to dinner or drinks and seeing friends and industry partners out and about!” Walking around Boston feels like a New England dream with narrow, winding streets and romantic corners dappled with old trees on green grass. And, of course, taking a ride on the iconic duck boat tours is a must-do while in Boston.
CSI Boston’s Account Executive Alexa Madeiros beams, “Every neighborhood has its own personality and adventures, and I truly learn something new every day as a local and through projects at CSI DMC.” It is not hard for the Boston team to be passionate about this destination! It is a unique city with so much history, depth, and a community to explore.
TOGETHER AGAIN
The Boston events industry is booming! Greg Natterstad, Transportation and Staffing Manager, divulges, “Demand is at least 50% greater than pre-covid, and that was our busiest year yet.” Everyone is just happy to meet in person. It seems to have rejuvenated the events industry, and our planners are deeply focused on engaging fun and immersive activations for their events!
Says Event Manager Rachel Lewis, “There were so many creative solutions born during the Covid-era that work even better now we are back in person! We are sharing an enormous number of creative catering displays and new entertainment options that fit the diversified needs of attendee comfort. The team has also found that collaborative activities that guests can engage in and connect over have become far more important than before.”
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
You don’t want to miss Mass if you want to learn more about American history and become immersed in the atmosphere of a thriving, friendly city with a welcoming heart. Associate Director of Event Management, Joe Souza leaves us with these final thoughts about Boston, “We are friendlier than people say, and yes, we have a great lobstah roll!”
Ready to create your next exceptional experience in Boston? CSI DMC is ready for you!