Friends,

I need to find a workshop venue for about 80 people, in May 2008. Many are coming from Europe, and the general idea is to show them a beautiful part of coastal New England (besides the actual workshop).

+ Rooms need to be $100 or less per night. They can be basic.
+ Dining and a meeting room on-site.
+ There should something to walk to, like a beach or downtown area.

I was thinking one of the areas listed below. Any hotel suggestions? Any ideas for half-day group excursions?

Portsmouth
Cape Ann
Provincetown
Hyannis
Newport
Mystic

http://www.acadiaworkshopcenter.com/

this is on Mt Desert Island, in Maine. I am not sure of how many people they can take, but it might suit your needs. If not, an email to them might get you some suggestions too.
Good luck!

About 15 years ago, my group hosted a meeting at the Hotel Viking in Newport for about 75 people. While it is not directly on the water, the waterfront area is an easy walk from the hotel. The meeting rooms were very good and we had no complaints. The hotel rooms are older and very quaint and most of our guests enjoyed this.Some thought that their rooms were small.The group was able to enjoy all of the Thames Street Waterfront area with its' shops and restaurants and that was a big hit. We hosted an evening clambake at Hammersmith Farm with an "in the gound" clambake. We hired busses to get folks over there. This clambake and the tours of Hammersmith were a big hit. Unfortunately, Hammersmith is now private. However, there are many other choices in the area. You could do an afternoon or evening sail, a cookout on any of the great properties in the area, a tour of a local mansion....just a few ideas.
I have also been to outside parties/cookouts on the expansive lawn at the Eisenhower House and this is a great venue as well. One group hired "The Big Nazo" - a group of local "lifesize puppets" for entertainment and they were a big hit - kind of comedy puppets for adults!
Some of the waterfront hotel choices would be the Marriott on Thames Street and the Hyatt on Goat Island - I suspect both will be way over your price.

For under $100 a night with the requirements you requested you'll get more than basic, you'll get downright grundgy.

Seriously, can you up the budget a bit?

Thanks! More suggestions welcome.

Scarlett: Wow, that place looks awesome, but -- to clarify -- it is a computer science workhsop, with participants as speakers. But I may sign up for that artists workshop myself!

nina: Well, if I have to, I will. (The European version of this conference often finds an off-season resort hotel for less than 100 Euros, and I am hoping to do the same.) I'm hoping for something that costs about 100 now, which will increase of course by 2008.

You probably want to be close to major airports? Maybe not, but Acadia is quite far from Boston or NY, so unless you're planning on staying awhile, it's not worth the long haul.

How long are you staying and where will you be flying into? That would help advise you...If you can do midweek in May (still shoulder season in lots of sports)and you have 80 people, you actually may be able to work a deal.

Meant spots not sports. Fodors, get an Edit button will you!

The transporation should be, well, easy for international travellers, something like: 1 bus trip (no transfers) + taxi, from Boston or NYC airport, or maybe 1 flight to local airport, plus taxi. Shuttle service ok, but people will arrive at all different times.

This is a 3 - 1/2 or 4 day workshop. At least one day of it should be on a weekend. There will be a half-day excursion, plus a banquet possibly off-site.

Anytime in May will probably be fine.

Downtown Portsmouth would be nice but would probably run you more than $100. There's a new Hilton Garden Inn that just opened downtown and there's the Sheraton Harborside. Either would be nice but I think the Hilton will be less expensive.

I would think you could stay at any major hotel. They all have conference/banquet rooms and with that many people they should cut you a deal.

I can help! I am a Regional Manager for a company called HelmsBriscoe! We assist planners in negotiating with and choosing hotels for their meetings and events!and the best part is my services to you are complimentary! I would love to talk with you! Please email me at [email protected]

Try Provincetown Inn

Here's another vote for Provincetown Inn as suggested by Seafox.

They have 100 rooms and most of them are under $100 during May.

They are a long-standing conference center with many amenities.

Talk about location, they are surrounded by water on 3 sides.

National Seashore Beaches are 10 minutes away as are Provincetown Center, Pilgrim Monument and Whale Watch cruises.

There is also an option of getting attendees from Boston to Provincetown via Hi-speed Ferry.

Wow, it looks perfect. Thanks (and more suggestions welcome).