Q&A with David Gibbons, Executive Director of MCCA

Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) has a new executive director.  We sat down with him and had a little Q&A with him.  

What are you most excited about/looking forward to in your new position?

There are many things that excite me about being the new Executive Director at the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA). I have a personal connection to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC), as I helped work on its early stages of planning and development over ten years ago. It is rewarding to have come full circle and once again work with this wonderful facility and build upon its success.  I am also looking forward to working with and building relationships with our teams in all of our facilities, as well as with our external stakeholders and partners. I am most excited, however, to oversee and experience the execution of the events we have scheduled at our facilities this year.

What are some of the events coming up this year at the convention center that CIS readers might be excited about?

Currently, we have over 100 events booked in the remaining 2016 calendar. Many of these are popular annual or repeat events booked by longstanding clients, and a number of them are new and exciting experiences for the MCCA. The next big show for February is the Progressive New England Boat Show, bringing in over 40,000 visitors  over nine days starting on February 13^th. Following the Boat Show, the Diversified Business Communications Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America 2016 event will bring in roughly 18,000 attendees on March 6^th. But I urge CIS readers to go to the MCCA website and check our events calendar to see all the events we have coming to their back yards at the BCEC and the Hynes in the coming months.

What would your dream event be to have at MCCA? 

Every event we host stands out in its own way. Whether the goal is to attract more convention goers, get those attendees more involved through interactivity, or even promote local businesses to visitors during an event, all of our clients offer uniquely exciting challenges and rewards. The types of events that I would be tremendously proud to host with the MCCA would be large international shows that bring in record breaking convention crowds to the city of Boston. This region is a hub of international activity and I would like to play our part by continuing to attract large groups of exhibitors and attendees from all over the globe.

The Lawn on D is a huge success  – anything new to share with CIS readers?  

Yes, the Lawn on D has done very well and has gained quite a reputation. The unique event space is still fairly new territory for us here at the MCCA and we are constantly working on making it the best it can be. We are working on some exciting new ideas that will improve the space and the experience of the Lawn, and I am eager to share those ideas once they have been fully developed.

Do you have any favorite restaurants in South Boston?

I very much enjoy Flour Bakery, the Dry Dock Café, and the variety of restaurants with a harbor view, from Whiskey Priest to Legal Seafood.

Name one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you.  

Aside from the hospitality industry, I have dedicated a lot of time to my love for art. I studied art and design in New York City, and at one point I worked in both London and Paris as a photographer. Photography, pencil art, and oil painting are some of my favorite activities, and I even have a website where I post some of my work.

Make sure to check the schedule of upcoming events at the convention center.  Visit http://massconvention.com  Spring is on its way – the Lawn on D will kick off another season on May 21st.  http://lawnond.com