During a 50-minute procedure, a 34-year-old patient in Milan, Italy undergoes treatment for atrial fibrillation, or heart flutters, while doctors in Boston monitor the surgery via satellite. To support this procedure there are four dedicated communications paths to Milan from Boston consisting of satellite, internet, IDSN phone lines and traditional telephone Conference Bridge. So did this extraordinary scene take place at one of Boston’s world-renowned hospitals? No, it was all part of a special demonstration at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) during the Heart Rhythm Society’s 27th Annual Scientific Sessions.

In Boston, unique technology solutions like these are available at every meeting planner’s fingertips. In a city that hosts some of the world’s leading technology events, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) stands ready with the convention industry’s most advanced IT solutions. Examples abound of how Boston rises to the most complex IT challenges an event can offer. In preparation for ACM SIGGRAPH 2006 – the world’s premier event on computer graphics – the MCCA installed Internet 2 connectivity to the BCEC that enabled the event to stream video content from Boston to Tokyo at rates exceeding 90 megabits per second. To support the bandwidth requirements of the more than 6000 computers at the BCEC for Microsoft Tech Ed 2006, the MCCA used two dedicated show network T-3 internet connections and then doubled the bandwidth during the event and routed additional traffic via the MCCA’s Survivable Optical Network (SONET) to two additional T-3 internet connections located at the Hynes Convention Center.  If Boston can support the technology needs of the world’s most intensive IT and medical events, imagine what it can do for your next meeting.

Shannon McCarthy, Director of Sales for the Yankee Dental Congress that is coming to the BCEC in early 2008, already knows that the BCEC’s advanced technology enables the event to offer new attendee services. “One great example is that our members attend sessions at the event for continuing education credits and record their credits electronically,” Shannon says. “The flexibility of the BCEC now lets us have one central CE Pavilion in the main lobby and four satellite pavilions right in the exhibition halls. So members can come out of class and plug in their CE credits in a computing network connected to multiple locations. It’s a great service to the attendees and the technology of the BCEC lets us do it.”

Not your father’s convention centers

Ask today’s meeting planners what their attendees and exhibitors need from a convention center, and you’re likely to get an answer that talks about Wi-Fi and redundant networking as much as square feet and room configurations. Both the BCEC and the Hynes are redefining technology capabilities for 21st century convention centers.  Boston was the first major convention city to offer FREE WIRELESS access in both of its convention facilities. And that’s just the start of Boston’s technology solutions.

The Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), opened in 2004, was designed to deliver world-class connectivity and technology infrastructure throughout the facility. In addition to a total coverage wireless network, the network infrastructure also features virtual LANs, Internet connections via numerous carriers, Wi-Fi and satellite services to support bi-directional video and data feeds.  The AV solutions in the meeting rooms, ballroom areas and registration and function areas are state-of-the-art. Even the security is high-tech with features like “intelli-key” access to give planners controlled access to meeting rooms. Exhibitors also appreciate the fact that all utilities are conveniently accessible through floor boxes distributed throughout the exhibit halls, making it easy to accommodate any floor configuration. Like the BCEC, the Hynes Convention Center has also been outfitted with the latest technology solutions, including the latest AV systems, and a robust network infrastructure supporting all areas of the facility.

Boston’s team of certified network professionals

With a full-time tech team of 22 at the BCEC and the Hynes – many of whom are certified network professionals – Boston helps you build an end-to-end technology plan and just as importantly, be ready for the unexpected. The MCCA has the experts to troubleshoot on-site problems and help an event network recover in the event of a catastrophic failure, including redundant network solutions and even the ability to build a whole new network.

“Boston’s experienced technology team is one more service advantage we give to meeting planners,” says Jim Rooney, Executive Director of the MCCA.  “If a customer needs a technology solution, we have the on-site expertise to deliver it.”

Meeting the needs of tomorrow’s technology

What’s next on the technology frontier for Boston’s convention centers? The answer is whatever attendees and exhibitors will need to maximize their event experience. Drawing upon the best minds and resources in the Boston technology community as well as corporate and technical relationships around the world, Boston’s convention centers are constantly upgrading their IT capabilities. The dedicated MCCA technology team never stops building new solutions to ensure that Boston always offers the best technology solutions available – for today and tomorrow.

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