New Boston Center Inks Non-Compete Pact With World Trade Ctr.

Boston — Boston's World Trade Center has signed an agreement with Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, operator of the newly opened Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, not to compete with one another and to coordinate marketing efforts.

The pact is a result of legislation passed years ago authorizing the creation of the convention center, which is located less than half a mile from the WTC, to ensure the privately owned WTC wouldn't be adversely impacted by a new and much larger publicly owned facility.

"This really just formalizes our already cooperative working relationship," said James Rooney, executive director of the MCCA. "The WTC will be very convenient for shows at the BCEC that need additional space."

The agreement limits the BCEC and the older Hynes Convention Center (also operated by MCCA) to targeting appropriately sized events for the respective facilities. For the BCEC, that means events where at least one exhibition hall is rented and 1,000-plus peak hotel room nights are reserved per exhibition hall used. For the Hynes, it means events that use at least one exhibition hall and 1,000-plus peak nights for the entire facility.

In addition, the Boston Convention Marketing Center, which handles the sales and marketing of the BCEC and the Hynes, must add WTC content to its website under a feature that offers information about other Boston facilities. The organization also must collaborate with the WTC to develop a national print-ad campaign and include a specific reference to the facility in at least 30 percent of its direct-mail materials.

John Drew, president of WTC's parent, the Seaport Companies, said there are benefits to the agreement for Boston's Seaport District as a whole.

"This gives greater prominence to this newly developed area of Boston by bringing more business, more meetings and more shows to our venues," he said.

Contact Loree Stark at lstark@ meetingnews.com.