For Immediate Release
May 12, 2008
Community Open House Planned To Celebrate 3rd Year Of Success
Event to Include Facility Tours, Refreshments, Live Entertainment, A “Community-wide Tradeshow” and Free Event Parking
HARTFORD, CT –On June 4, the Connecticut Convention Center will celebrate its third year of success as the state’s premiere meeting and convention venue with an open house event from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m.
The event is open to the public and will include staff tours of the facility, a tradeshow of Hartford-area community organizations, light refreshments, live entertainment and free event parking from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. (provided by Laz Parking, Inc.)
“The convention center has surpassed expectations since its doors opened in June 2005, and we’re excited to invite the community in to see, hear – and even taste – the story of its many successes,” said James Abromaitis, executive director of the Capital City Economic Development Authority. “We’ll be showcasing local businesses, community groups and organizations that contribute to the building’s success and to the success of Connecticut as a new convention destination.”
A wide array of city -based and Hartford area organizations have been invited to participate as exhibitors in a free, “Community-wide Tradeshow”, organizers said. More than 500 guests are expected to attend the Open House event overall.
Owned by the State of Connecticut, the Connecticut Convention Center is privately managed by Waterford Venue Services, an affiliate of Waterford Hotel Group. During the past three years, the CTCC has earned a number of local and regional economic and real estate development awards, as well as leading hospitality awards from parent company Waterford Group.
The Center has also been prominently featured in major trade publications for hosting North America’s fastest growing tradeshow – the Hartford Boat and Fishing Show – and for outstanding food and beverage service.
“Each year we welcome more than 250,000 guests from around the state, the country and the world to more than 250 events,” said Mike Costelli, the CTCC’s General Manager. “Those events have been some of the largest and most exciting in the state’s history and we’re looking forward to sharing those experiences at the Open House.”
In addition to a slideshow of past events, the Open House is scheduled to feature a time-lapse construction video, showing the four year process of building the 540,000-square-foot convention center in about 4 minutes of condensed footage. The Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau will also provide information on its “Bring it Home” program for members of regional, national or international groups who are interested in bringing their event to the convention center.
“We hope this Open House event will inform convention center visitors of the building’s many capabilities and of all the first-rate attractions within the city, and within easy driving distance of Hartford,” said Jeanne O’Grady, Director of Sales and Marketing. “We also hope it will encourage local residents to bring their own events and groups to the Connecticut Convention Center.”
The Community-wide Tradeshow is planned for one section of the Center’s Grand Ballroom. Among the exhibitors already committed are Hartford 2000 (representing all 17 Hartford neighborhoods), the Connecticut Science Center, the Wadsworth Athenaeum, the Hartford Jobs Funnel, the City of Hartford and the Central Connecticut Bicycle Coalition.
Any group interested in exhibiting at the free, Community-Wide Tradeshow is asked to call 860-728-2604 or email kblint@ctconventions.com. For more information, please visit the CTCC website www.ctconventions.com
Contacts:
Katie Blint, CTCC, 860-728-2605
Terryl Mitchell-Smith, CCEDA, 860-527-0100