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H O S P I TA L I T Y / T O U R I S M N ew England square dancers, global seaweed leaders and American adventure travel executives are all coming to Maine this year for annual conventions. Not so the Maine Bankers Association, which traditionally goes out of state for its 400-plus yearly gathering. e Westbrook-based trade group, which met in Bretton Woods, N.H., in 2021 and Newport, R.I., in 2022, will pitch up in Boston this September. While the association holds other meetings in Maine throughout the year, it hasn't found a venue here big enough for convention goers to meet and stay under one roof. "Earlier this year, we explored holding a future annual convention in Maine, but locating a venue that can accommodate a group of our size with overnight accommodations and meeting space in one property proved difficult," says Jim Roche, the association's president. Asked what it would take to hold the September event in Maine, he says: "A single, attractive venue with adequate overnight accommodations, as well as adequate space for 400- plus attendees. Area attractions and tours for attend- ees are an important consideration, too." While Vacationland boasts plenty of unique attrac- tions and tour possibilities, the state's lure for large meetings and events is limited by various factors. Disadvantages include the absence of a major airport and having only one convention-and-visitors' bureau for the whole state. Unlike national meeting meccas like Chicago or Orlando, Maine also lacks a conven- tion center with breakout rooms and other amenities. at means challenges as well as opportunities for a small, regional market like Maine. "Gone are the days when you have a huge conven- tion at a hotel featuring Jimmy Buffett as the lead enter- tainer," says Lee Speronis, a former industry executive who leads and teaches at Husson University's School of Hospitality, Sports and Tourism Management, part of the Bangor institution's College of Business. "at doesn't mean you can't try, but what assets do we have in Maine that make us different? … You can have a two-day meeting here and then go whitewater rafting or parasailing. ere are so many things you can do here that you can't do in Chicago or Orlando. We need to promote how awesome we are." at is what Rachel Sağıroğlu aims to do at Experience Maine, a Portland travel concierge and event planning company that offers multiple venue and retreat options for business confabs. She also P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY VO L . X X I X N O. I X M AY 1 , 2 0 2 3 12 F O C U S Rachel Sağıroğlu is the founder and owner of Portland-based travel concierge and event planning firm Experience Maine and the Maker's Galley café, store and event space, shown here. Selling Maine as a convention destination B y R e n e e C o r d e s While there's no shortage of attractions in Vacationland, Maine lacks space for larger meetings and events

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