Event Schedule
2025 Discover New England’s Annual International Marketplace & Tourism Summit
April 7-9, 2025
April 5 – 13, 2024 for International Buyer pre and post FAMs in and out of BOS
Newport Harbor Island Resort, Newport, Rhode Island
Supplier Schedule
Subject to Change
Monday, April 7
| 11:00 AM | Registration opens and Exhibitor Setup Begins |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Discover New England Annual Summit |
| 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Speaker – Discover New England International Update with guest speakers including BrandUSA |
| 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | International Media Panel with audience Q&A |
| 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Moderated Roundtable Session – Industry best-practices |
| 4:00 PM | Hotel check in to Newport Harbor Island Resort, Newport, Rhode Island |
| 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | All delegate welcome reception (Exhibition area) |
| Dinner on own |
Tuesday, April 8
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast on own |
| 9:00 AM – 12:13 PM | Marketplace I: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom) *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | All delegate lunch (Rose Island Ballroom) |
| 2:15 PM – 5:30 PM | Marketplace II: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom) *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 6:30 PM | DATTCO Coaches begin pickups for evening event |
| 7:00 PM | All Delegate Evening Event hosted by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and Discover Newport (Newport Mansions – Rosecliff) *Pack your vintage roaring 20’s themed attire for the Tuesday night state dinner. |
Wednesday, April 9
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast on own |
| 9:00 AM – 11:58 AM | Marketplace III: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom) *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Grab & Go lunches |
Buyer Schedule
Subject to Change
Pre & Post FAM descriptions below
*Operators requesting accommodation in Boston outside of the scheduled program will be provided with a list of hotels providing special rates.
Saturday, April 5
International buyers arrival into BOS and activities and overnight hosted by Meet Boston.
Sunday, April 6
International buyers activities and overnight hosted by Meet Boston.
Monday, April 7
| 9:00 AM | DATTCO Coach begins host hotel pick-ups. |
| 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Tour Southern Massachusetts. |
| 4:00 PM | Check in to Newport Harbor Island Resort, Newport, Rhode Island. |
| 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM | All delegate welcome reception (Exhibition area). |
| 5:30 PM | Buyers, receptives and sponsors depart for Closed evening event hosted by South County Rhode Island.
A South County Culinary Celebration at Shepherd’s Run Winery Join us as we venture just over the bridge at Shepherd’s Run, one of Rhode Island’s most unique resort and winery venues, for an unforgettable evening of wine, food, and entertainment! Enjoy an exquisite selection of local wines paired with delicious bites from renowned chefs, all set against the stunning backdrop of South County’s picturesque landscape. Experience engaging entertainment that will make this event a true feast for the senses. Don’t miss this opportunity to indulge in the best flavors of the region while enjoying the warm ambiance of Shepards Run!
|
Tuesday, April 8
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast on own (No cost for buyers) |
| 9:00 AM – 12:13 PM | Marketplace I: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom) *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM | All delegate lunch (Rose Island Ballroom). |
| 2:15 PM – 5:30 PM | Marketplace II: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom) *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 6:30 PM | DATTCO Coaches begin pickups for evening event. |
| 7:00 PM | All Delegate Evening Event hosted by Rhode Island Commerce Corporation and Discover Newport (Newport Mansions – Rosecliff). *Pack your vintage roaring 20’s themed attire for the Tuesday night state dinner. |
Wednesday, April 9
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast on own (No cost for buyers). |
| 9:00 AM – 11:58 AM | Marketplace III: One-on-One Appointments (Beacon Ballroom). *No scheduled breaks, all Marketplace participants are encouraged to pre-schedule their own breaks during the appointment request process. |
| 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM | Grab & Go lunches. |
| 1:00 PM | BOS airport shuttle departs. *Airport shuttle can make a stop at PVD at 2:10 PM on way to BOS arriving 3:30 PM. |
| 1:30 PM | Coaches for Post-FAMs A & B depart to tour Rhode Island. |
Thursday, April 10
| All Day | Post-FAMs A & B tour Rhode Island. (International tour operators only, receptives not eligible) |
Friday, April 11
| All Day | Post-FAMs A Tours Connecticut. |
| All Day | Post-FAMs B Tours Massachusetts. |
Saturday, April 12
| All Day | Post-FAMs A Tours Connecticut. |
| All Day | Post-FAMs B Tours Massachusetts. |
Sunday, April 13
All FAMs return to BOS at 4PM. Operators should book flights for 6PM or later. If operators are staying on after on their own, they will need to take ride share or public transportation from BOS back to city.
View Key Dates & Deadlines.
PRE & POST FAMs
Subject to Change
About the Meet Boston Pre-FAM, April 5 & 6
*Must commit to both nights to be approved for the pre-FAM. Two nights lodging will be paid for by Meet Boston IF buyer’s flight reservation is scheduled to arrive on the 5th. If the buyer only plans to stay in Boston the one night on the 6th in order to use the transportation to the resort the following morning on the 7th, the buyer will need to pay for and secure their own reservation in Boston (DNE will provide room block options and rates in October).
In what is now a pre-Summit tradition, Meet Boston invites tour operators to experience the ease of arriving at Boston Logan International Airport and spend two nights in town, where you will experience some of the best cultural, culinary, sports, and historical highlights, including opportunities to see new developments and classics.
The weekend is designed to offer a combination of several small group activities and the freedom to choose your own adventure. As usual, Meet Boston will host a reception for buyers and local hoteliers and suppliers that will include dinner, drinks, and socializing on Sunday evening, April 6th. Thanks to returning sponsor Go City®, you will be able to visit 3 attractions of your choice during the weekend. Go City® makes exploring easy, giving you the city’s top things to do – and more than the typical bucket-list landmarks – combined with incredible savings, and the freedom to do it all your way. For more information, please visit: https://gocity.com.
Transportation: The schedule will be designed so that participants can walk and/or take public transit to and from most activities. Attendees will be given a MBTA (Subway) card to get to/from most events. Motorcoach transportation will be provided to Newport, Rhode Island on Monday morning for Discover New England’s 27th Annual Tourism Summit & International Marketplace.
What’s included
- 2 nights room & tax on April 5 & 6 only*
- Go City® Boston Explorer Pass
- MBTA “Charlie Card” Subway & Bus Transportation Pass
- Invitations to unique venues, special tours, and events throughout the weekend. Advance registration will be required for some.
- Site visit opportunities at new and renovated hotels
- Motorcoach transfer to Newport, RI on Monday, April 7th
What’s Not Included
- Transportation from the airport to host hotels.
- Taxis, Uber, Lyft
- Meals and snacks during free time or outside of scheduled activities/events
- Incidental charges at hotels
About Post FAM Group A – Rhode Island (2 nights) & Connecticut (2 nights), April 9-13
Rhode Island: There is still much to see in Newport! Begin with an abbreviated windshield tour of Ocean Drive on the way to The Breakers, the grandest of The Gilded Age mansions and have some time to stroll the famed Cliff Walk. After, a stop at the Newport Car Museum on the way out to downtown Providence. Tour the Omni Providence before having a local dining experience. Begin the next morning with a tour of the city including highlights such as Benefit Street, Prospect Terrace, Brown University, Down City, Roger Williams Park, Federal Hill and Smith Hill. Lunch will be a Foodie Walking Tour followed by an visit to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). Scoot over to Pawtucket for a tasting at The Guild Beer Hall and Garden before having the evening in Warwick..
Connecticut: Experience Connecticut and what sets this gem apart from other states. Connecticut’s heritage and culture will be highlighted as you journey along the stunning coastline to the Mystic Seaport, immerse in native heritage at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, the largest museum dedicated to the Native Americans, and test your driving skills on the Monza Karting racetrack. Next, a trip to New Haven would not be complete without a tour of Yale University, located throughout the city’s downtown, and a visit to the newly renovated Yale Peabody Museum, a museum of history dating to pre-historic times when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Savoring New Haven Style “apizza” will support why New Haven was recently named “Pizza Capitol of the United States.” The nearby actual capitol city of Hartford is filled with literary history, innovation, vast green spaces and parks. Popular cultural experiences include the Connecticut Science Center, The Mark Twain House and Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, the New England Air Museum, and some of the best live theaters in the region often performed in by the same talent on Broadway in NYC. Group B, traveling from Connecticut, has the option of taking the coach back to BOS arriving by 4:00 PM, or being dropped off at Hartford’s Bradley International Airport (BDL) on the way, or they may take public transportation to New York City airports.
About Post FAM Group B – Rhode Island (2 nights) & Massachusetts (2 nights), April 9-13
Rhode Island: There is still much to see in Newport! Begin with a trip to The Breakers which is the grandest of The Gilded Age mansions and have some time to stroll the famed Cliff Walk. After, a condensed windshield tour of the Ocean Drive and downtown will help to orient you before experiencing the Newport Sailing Museum and the Newport Car Museum. Breakfast at the Weekapaug Inn before a tour of Watch Hill and then a site visit of the Ocean House resort. Walk amongst giant Trolls at Ninigret Park and then some shopping time at the Fantastic Umbrella Factory. In true Rhode Island style, lunch will be at the Matunuck Oyster Bar followed by an Oyster Barge Tour. Relaxing downtime at the Matunuck Beach and then a tasting at the Sons of Liberty distillery with an evening stop at the Coast Guard House .
Massachusetts: The regions of Southeastern Massachusetts(The South Coast) and MetroWest are bustling with maritime history, fishing heritage, coastal adventures, local arts, culture and brewery/winery experiences, farm-to-table, plus shopping and more. Visit will include stops in New Bedford, Westport, Fall River, Sudbury, Hudson, Framingham and Natick. Experiences will include: Overnights at the New Bedford Harbor Hotel and a visit to Longfellow’s The Wayside Inn and Grist Mill, a Working Waterfront Tour, a harbor cruise, learn about New Bedford Whaling history, guided art and food tour, tour of Battleship Cove, shopping at the Portugalia Marketplace and Natick Mall, a stops at the American Heritage Museum and Danforth Art Museums, and an exciting variety of local gastronomy including renowned breweries, farms and interactive culinary experiences.
