CTMEETINGS | Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau

What CTMEETINGS | Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau does

Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTMEETINGS) is the State of Connecticut's only statewide Destination Marketing Organization, operating as a public-private partnership headquartered in Middletown, Connecticut with an 8-person team. The organization serves as the official liaison between meeting planners, association executives, sports event promoters, and Connecticut's hospitality ecosystem, which spans convention centers, hotels with meeting space, unique venues, sports venues, and casinos. Its core function is to win convention, meeting, and sports event business for the state, coordinate Requests for Proposal between planners and venue/service supplier partners, and drive measurable visitor spending and tax revenue for Connecticut.

CTMEETINGS' underlying technology is a content-managed destination marketing platform built on CTMeetings.org, complemented by Simpleview CMS tooling and a partner ecosystem database. The site was rebuilt in September 2020 to support RFP submission, venue search, regional maps, and virtual tours of partner venues, hotels, and attractions, optimized for desktop, tablet, and mobile. Distribution is augmented by an active social media presence (@CTmeetings across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X), email newsletters, earned media in industry publications (Smart Meetings, Meetings & Conventions, SportsEvents Magazine), and in-person presence at industry trade shows such as Connect Marketplace. The Connecticut Sports Advisory Board operates as a division focused on attracting regional, national, and international sporting events.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of recurring membership/partner dues paid by venues, hotels, attractions, restaurants, and service suppliers (providing them with CTMeetings.org listings, communications outreach, and trade show co-op opportunities) and managed funding from Connecticut's Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Office of Tourism. Pricing for planners is free; the service is positioned as a state-supported economic development function. Strategic partners include the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, the Connecticut Office of Tourism, the Connecticut Airport Authority, the Connecticut Lodging Association, and a network of hospitality venue partners. The organization has won the Gold Stella Award for Best CVB/DMO in the Northeast in both 2021 and 2022, and the Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award in 2023 and 2025.

Name

CTMEETINGS | Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau

Legal name

Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau

Website

https://ctmeetings.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CTMEETINGS is Connecticut's only statewide Destination Marketing Organization, connecting meeting planners and sports event promoters with the state's venue, hotel, and hospitality partners through RFP coordination and destination marketing, funded by state appropriations and member dues.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing & Convention Sales Services

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Convention & Exhibition Centers (Public Convention Centers, Civic Centers) (THAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Convention Campus & District Operators (Integrated Venue Districts) (THAHAAAL)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Convention sales coordination
• Sports event promotion
• Meeting planning services
• Venue sourcing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Middletown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau is a public-private partnership funded by dues from industry members (venues, hotels, attractions, service suppliers). Partner membership enables listing on CTMeetings.org, communications outreach, trade show co-op opportunities, and social networking exposure.
2. Government Funding: Public funding from the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and Connecticut Office of Tourism supports the organization's operations as the state's official DMO/CVB.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CTMEETINGS is Connecticut's only statewide Destination Marketing Organization that connects meeting planners and sports event promoters with the state's venues, hotels, attractions, and service suppliers. Its core offering is a free RFP coordination and liaison service for planners, paired with a partner membership program that gives venues, hotels, and service suppliers exposure through the CTMeetings.org website, communications outreach, and trade show co-op opportunities. The Connecticut Sports Advisory Board division focuses specifically on attracting international, national, and regional sporting events to Connecticut venues.

Product overview

CTMEETINGS (Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau) is Connecticut's only statewide Destination Marketing Organization providing a platform connecting meeting and sports event planners with venues and service suppliers across the state. The core offering includes an RFP submission service that matches planners with appropriate venues, a partnership/membership program for industry businesses to gain exposure, and a comprehensive venue directory. The Connecticut Sports Advisory Board division specializes in attracting sporting events. Additional resources include virtual tours, planning tools, press kits, and promotional materials. The organization markets the entire state including convention centers (like the Connecticut Convention Center), hotels, unique venues, sports venues, and casinos as premier event destinations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RFP Submission Service Online Request for Proposal service that connects meeting and sports event planners with venue and service supplier partners in Connecticut. CTMEETINGS staff assist planners in finding locations, venues, and coordinating details within budget. The service is free to planners.
• Partnership Program Membership-based program allowing venues, hotels, attractions, and service suppliers to gain exposure through CTMEETINGS.org website listings, communications outreach, trade show co-op opportunities, and social networking exposure.
• Venue Directory & Listings Searchable database of Connecticut venues including convention centers, hotels with meeting space, unique venues, sports venues, and casinos, with detailed venue information and category browsing.
• Sports Event Promotion Promotion and sales service focused on attracting and serving international, national, and regional sporting events to Connecticut venues and facilities, including NCAA championship bids and major youth/collegiate tournaments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Events booked in FY 2018-19 resulted in $62,989,859 in visitor spending and $4,272,596 in Connecticut tax revenue, supporting 17,331+ hospitality jobs.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTMEETINGS is a public-private partnership funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD). DECD funding supports the organization's mission to market Connecticut as a premier destination for meetings, conventions, and sports events.
• Connecticut Office of TourismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTMEETINGS works closely with the Connecticut Office of Tourism and aligns its brand identity (CTmeetings) with the CTvisit brand. Both organizations share the goal of promoting Connecticut tourism and hospitality. The Office of Tourism also provides funding to CTMEETINGS.
• Connecticut Venue and Hospitality PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCTMEETINGS maintains a network of partner venues, hotels, attractions, restaurants, and service suppliers statewide. Partners gain exposure through CTMEETINGS.org listings, trade show co-op opportunities, and communications outreach. The organization advocates for partners when event opportunities best match planner requirements.
• Connecticut Lodging AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCTMEETINGS partnered with the Connecticut Lodging Association to offer a two-day Human Trafficking Awareness certification course presented by the Connecticut Department of Children and Families. The partnership certifies lodging employees to train their colleagues on human trafficking awareness, with a focus on Connecticut-specific issues and the lodging industry.
• Northstar Meetings GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNorthstar Meetings Group partnered with Mohegan Sun (a CTMEETINGS partner venue) to host the hybrid conference 'Reconvening for Recovery: Live!', which helped businesses navigate planning successful hybrid events during COVID-19. Northstar's industry awards (Stella Awards) also recognize CTMEETINGS annually.
• Connecticut Airport AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Connecticut Airport Authority operates Bradley International Airport (BDL) and five general aviation airports. Bradley Airport's accessibility and recognition as a top U.S. airport (ranked 8th by Condé Nast Traveler) supports CTMEETINGS' efforts to attract out-of-state event attendees. Alex Peterson of the CAA serves on the CTMEETINGS Board.
• Omni Hotels & Resorts / Omni New Haven Hotel at YaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Omni New Haven Hotel at Yale participated in CTMEETINGS' Hospitality Heroes Recognition program. The hotel partnered in Omni's 'Here Comes Omni: Road Ready' initiative, generating over $51,000 for the 'Say Goodnight to Hunger' program and 497,320 donated meals through the Connecticut Food Bank.
• PGA TOUR Travelers ChampionshipminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe annual PGA TOUR Travelers Championship is hosted at a Connecticut venue with Jason Soucy, Director of Business Development for the tournament, serving on the CTMEETINGS Board of Directors. The tournament brings significant sports and hospitality business to the state.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Visit Orlando: Orlando's convention and visitors bureau. Comparable mid-sized U.S. destination DMO with strong sports-events vertical and meeting planner sales motion similar to CTMEETINGS.
• Meet Boston: Greater Boston's convention and visitors bureau. Closest geographic peer and direct competitor for Northeast meeting and sports business, with overlapping 300-mile catchment area.
• Choose Chicago: Chicago's official tourism and convention bureau. Comparable in operating as a public-private partnership DMO driving conventions, meetings, and major sports events for a major U.S. metro.
• NYC & Company: Official destination marketing organization for New York City, the largest U.S. metro DMO. Directly comparable as a state/market-level CVB that books conventions, meetings, and sports events, competing with CTMEETINGS for Northeast planner RFPs.
• Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau: Miami's regional CVB and DMO. Comparable in operating as a public-private tourism partnership driving meetings, conventions, and major sports events, with similar partnership/membership revenue model.
• Visit San Francisco (San Francisco Travel): San Francisco's official CVB. Comparable destination marketing organization focused on convention sales and tourism promotion, with similar membership-funded and government-supported structure.
• Discover Los Angeles: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. Comparable in operating as a public-private partnership CVB focused on conventions, sports, and tourism sales, with a similar partnership/membership structure.
• Destination DC: Washington, D.C.'s official destination marketing organization. Comparable in mission, membership-funded model, and convention/meeting focus; serves as a benchmark East Coast urban DMO.
• Visit Philadelphia: Philadelphia's regional DMO and CVB. Directly comparable mid-Atlantic destination marketing organization competing for the same Northeast association and corporate meeting planner pipeline.

Others

• Simpleview: CRM, website, and digital marketing platform provider purpose-built for DMOs and CVBs (CTMEETINGS' website is built on the platform). Comparable as an enabling technology vendor in the destination marketing ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CTMeetings
• Facebookfacebook.com/Connecticut-Convention-Sports-Bureau-185271235187
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connecticut-convention-&-sports-bureau
• Instagraminstagram.com/ctmeetings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CTMEETINGS | Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau