20 Years at the BCEC: The Seaport Neighborhood Hits Its Stride (Part II)

In 2007, as the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) started to establish its home in Boston’s Seaport District, it also burst onto the meetings and conventions scene with a major award.

Event Solutions magazine awarded the BCEC the Convention Center of the Year Spotlight Award, beating the over 300 convention centers in the United States at the time. This highly prestigious award was presented to the BCEC for superior facilities and customer service, a milestone achievement for the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA).

“The team at the MCCA works hard to maintain Boston as a leader in the convention center industry, and this award demonstrates that Boston does it right,” said James E. Rooney, Executive Director of the MCCA at the time. “I take seriously my responsibility to propel Boston to the forefront of the convention center marketplace through innovative programs and services that distinguish our city and create significant economic impact.”

Over the next years, the BCEC soared to new heights. With a resulting 634 events in 2009, plus 1.3 million hotel rooms nights booked, and $1.4 billion created in economic impact, there was no stopping the BCEC.

Some of the BCEC’s biggest events during this time included the AIIM On Demand Conference of 2007, which drew in $25.74 million (in economic impact); the 2013 American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, drawing in $24.49 million; and the National Science Teachers Association Annual Conference of 2014, which brought the city $23.47 million.

2014 was also a big year with the opening of the Lawn on D—Boston’s most innovative and dynamic outdoor space—and the BCEC hosting the opening reception for PCMA’s Convening Leaders conference.

The Lawn on D, located on D Street adjacent to the BCEC, opened as a first-of-its-kind outdoor interactive space, soon becoming an outdoor venue known for its interactive installations and community events.

PCMA Convening Leaders brings together business event professionals and community leaders from around the world to learn about the future and connect with others in the industry. In 2014, it was hosted at the Hynes Convention Center with the opening reception at the BCEC. At the time, it was a record breaker for PCMA with 4,072 attendees. The event helped put Boston at the front and center of the meetings industry.

Around the BCEC as well, Boston’s Seaport District was developing upward with new hotels and restaurants being built to allow more people a chance to stay closer to their event and experience the best of Boston. The opening of the Westin Boston Waterfront in 2006 and the Renaissance Boston Waterfront in 2008 saw an added 793 rooms and 471 rooms, respectively. The restaurants came soon after with eateries like Temazcal, Morton’s Steakhouse, Strega, Del Frisco’s, Legal Harborside and more. Seaport was coming to life, allowing Bostonians and guests alike to enjoy memorable experiences on the harbor.

For over 20 years, the BCEC has hosted groundbreaking, record-shattering meetings and events in the heart of the Seaport District, one of the fastest growing commercial districts in the country. Using industry-leading technology, our team and facilities bring visions to life in our city with unique culture, history, and accessibility to qualified attendees.

Want to make history? Contact our sales team to learn more about bringing your event to Boston!

This blog post was written by our intern Ian McGrath, who is a Senior at UMass Boston majoring in Communications and minoring in English and Psychology.