Boston Books Second-highest Number of Future Events in 2010

Even though there was a global economic downturn taking place last year, Boston still kept its eye on the future and successfully booked the second-highest amount of future events ever in 2010.

Last year, 85 citywide events were contracted for future dates at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center and Hynes B. Convention Center through 2029.

The 85 events are the second highest booked in Boston since 2006, when the Hynes and newly opened BCEC signed a total of 90 future events. The 2010 number is a significant increase from 2009 during which Boston's two meeting and convention venues booked 67 events.

Boston Convention & Exhibition Center

"Boston has clearly withstood the difficult economic climate of the past few years and continues to be seen by some of the nation's top events as a solid and tested convention destination," said James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention & Visitors Authority, which owns the Hynes and BCEC.

He added, "As we move forward with our 'Top 5' initiative to look at the possibility of a new headquarters hotel and possible expansion of our facilities, these numbers prove we're building on a solid foundation and worldwide reputation."

All of the future events are expected to bring an estimated 828,041 hotel room nights, more than $705 million in economic impact and more than $40 million in taxes to Boston and the Commonwealth, according to MCCA officials.

Bookings for 2011 also are trending well. Some of the events coming to Boston this year include the Association of Financial Professional 2011 Annual Conference in November, with 20,970 hotel room nights, and the Endocrine Society Annual Meeting in June, with 18,790 hotel room nights.

Into the future, some of the biggest events coming to town will be the Biotechnology Industry Association in 2018, with 41,200 hotel room nights, and American Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery in 2024, with 36,625 hotel room nights.

Last year also was a good one for events coming to Boston. The city hosted a total of 239 events that attracted 773,387 attendees, generated 585,528 hotel room nights and $462 million in economic impact.

Those numbers are up from 2009, when the MCCA hosted 208 events at the BCEC and the Hynes, with 714,128 attendees, generating 521,556 hotel room nights and $420 million in economic impact.

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