Editorial Board   Guest Author

Mr. Carmody

James M. Carmody

Vice President & General Manager, Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center

James M. Carmody joined Seaport in September, 2004, assuming the position of Vice President and General Manager. Mr. Carmody brings over 30 years of hospitality experience to the role; having both a medical and hospitality background, he has a commitment to superior customer service. He is responsible for daily operations of the award-winning, mixed-use facility. A graduate of Cornell University and the Culinary Institute of America, Mr. Carmody was previously Vice President of General Services for the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, where he was responsible for clinical ancillary services and hotel services at the tertiary care institution. He oversaw a variety of departments including facilities management, dietary, volunteer services, clinical labs and security. Prior to his tenure at New England Medical Center, Mr. Carmody held numerous management positions at a variety of upscale hotels, with a focus on food and beverage operations. He previously worked as Hotel Manager at the Boston Harbor Hotel, Food and Beverage Director at both the Mandalay Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas and the Omni International Hotel in Atlanta, and Assistant Food and Beverage Director at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago. Mr. Carmody's community involvement includes serving on the Board of Caritas Carney Hospital and the Board of Cathedral High School. He is the President of the Guild of Oenophilists and is Chairman of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitor's Bureau's Restaurant Week event.

Mr. Carmody can be contacted at James.carmody@seaportboston.com or 617-385-5105

Coming up in September 2019...

Hotel Group Meetings: Uncommon Destinations

The last few years have been good to the Hotel Group Meetings industry and that trend is expected to continue into 2019. Planners are brimming with confidence due to an expanding economy and increased job creation, which typically results in a boost in corporate meetings. Given this promising outlook, planners are trying to outdo themselves to satisfy the high expectations of their clients. One notable trend is to integrate unusual settings into the meeting experience, hosting groups at local zoos, aquariums, museums, event centers, or other outdoor facilities. The goal is to embrace uncommon destinations, rather than a typical hotel conference room, so that meetings can be memorable, unique and stimulating. This is also part of another trend which is to support all things local - from hosting events at landmark city venues; to catering through local restaurants, food trucks and microbreweries; to hosting off-site excursions like agri-tours, athletic events or scenic 5k routes. However, though the setting might be spectacular, there are still some bedrock components that must be provided to ensure a successful meeting. Free, high-speed Wi-Fi is still one of the most requested services. Planners have to make sure that a comprehensive communication infrastructure is in place so clients can easily connect - and stay connected - to the network throughout the entire meeting experience. Also, technology tools can be used to streamline the booking, registration, and check-in process, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) materials can be utilized to ensure seamless access to conference events. There are also numerous software tools that encourage audience participation, as well as integrating polls, Q&A, surveys and games into speakers' presentations. The September Hotel Business Review will examine issues relevant to group meetings and will report on what some hotels are doing to promote this sector of their operations.
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