Emer Roche (Travel Times Editor) hopped on the bus along with Donna Kenny (Tour America), Dee Burdock (American Holidays), Tony Lane (Visit USA) and Ciara Foley (Platinum Travel). They settled in to navigate through the Boston traffic (notably much lighter than the time spent living in Boston during ‘the big dig’ – a notorious infrastructure project which rerouted and buried the Central Artery, created tunnels, and improved transportation flow in the city).
The gang made their way alongside the rest of the group towards New Hampshire. The bus stopped at White Mountains Attractions Visitor Centre, North Woodstock, and a brilliant guide named Meg took the microphone to provide informative background and charming anecdotes as they made their way to the Kancamagus Highway, spanning 34.5 miles along NH’s Rt. 112. The route is renowned for its vibrant autumn foliage, predominantly from maple trees, and designated an American Scenic Byway for its rich history.
Everyone then boarded an old-fashioned train in North Conway Village, the station itself dating back to 1874, and enjoyed a 1-hour, 15-minute leisurely train ride through the mountains to Attiash.
From there, it was straight to the Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, to check in. The beautiful hotel has a storied history, dating back to its opening in 1902. It has been a luxurious retreat for over a century, hosting notable figures and events, including the historic 1944 Bretton Woods International Monetary Conference, where the groundwork for the post-World War II economic order began.
After a quick freshen up, the group boarded a coach for the Mount Washington Cog Railway. Everyone hopped aboard the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway, and rode up to the top of the Northeast’s highest peak. There, the guests enjoyed the sunset and indulged in some delicious local food and drinks while taking in the stunning views. All this with biodiesel engines chugging away alongside century-old steam engines.
The following day of the Summit was chock-full of exhibits and one-on-one appointments with delegates throughout greater New England, broken up by a lunch sponsored by the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. Speeches and forecasts were shared by various speakers including Chris Thompson, President of Brand USA, and Mark Brodeur, Director of Tourism at Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, who announced that next year’s Summit event will take place in Rhode Island!
The evening ended with a New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development state dinner and fireworks, with most attendees dressed casually in their newly gifted New Hampshire t-shirts!
More one-on-one appointments continued the following morning until coaches arrived to bring attendees back to the airport to return home.