Connecticut Convention Center — Attraction in Hartford

The venue in and of itself is awesome. As vendors at a convention, the staff was very accomodating.

As a visitor on the floor, using the bathrooms, food establishment, and facility, the staff caused more problems than the guests.

Our convention had Omnigender bathrooms and staff consistently made comments about who was allowed to use them. When my male assistant accompanied me to the bathroom to assist me into my costume, we were told that he wasnt allowed to assist me in a stall. I was basically told to strip in the common area of the bathroom in front of everyone in order for him to help me. When i basically told them that I wasnt going to do that, I was told to find a female to help me. I did not, ignored them, and got dressed in a stall away from other people. Just because we walk around in flamboyant costumes does not mean that we want everyone seeing our private parts. For the record, i have been to this event for the last 3 yrs and this is the first time I encountered this problem.

Second was food. The staff put up signs everywhere that no outside food or beverages were allowed in the facility. However, they did not offer a menu to accomodate various food allergies. There are signs for Gluten Free burgers however the food is prepared in the same kitchen and the staff uses the same gloves and utensils to handle GF food. Again, as a vendor, we can not leave our booths and rely on helpers to fetch food for us. Since we couldnt eat any food in the venue, we sent them to outside venues to get food. They were stopped and told that the food needed to be eaten outside. Well...we cant leave the booth to do so. We ended up having to have them 'smuggle' food in, which was great because apparently a number of guests got sick from eating at the venues cafe. Finally, IF the cafe is the ONLY place to eat, the center does a horrible job staffing the lines, which take hours to stand in, only to find out there is nothing you can eat.

Finally, on numerous occasions i was commented on by staff about my helper doing things like rubbing my feet and back and telling me it was inappropriate. My costume weighed 30+lbs and I had to wear boots with it. I am not sure where they think they can tell paying guests what they can and cant engage in,but i found it highly inappropriate. This was on top of watching staff prevent other patrons from taking pictures. When asked why we were prohibited from cerrain actions we were given canned answers 'You cant do that on our property'.

There were some staff that was nice. One woman who staffed the omnigender womens bathroom in the front of the vendors area was really nice and apologized for what other staff members said in the bathrooms. She also kept that bathroom pristine.

Finally at the end when we had to close up our booth, they turned off the AC making the place instantaneously get ridiculously hot and started ripping up the carpet instantly. We had to wait for them to rip things up before we could take things down.

The only reason this venue gets 3 stars is because the facility is convenient making it easy to plan for. Otherwise, based on thos experience, i would...

I recently visited the Connecticut Convention Center for The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show. This is an annual event that brings together garden enthusiasts, florists, landscapers, and horticulturists to celebrate the beauty of plants and the joy of gardening. This show has been a staple of the Connecticut community for over 40 years, and it continues to inspire and educate visitors with its displays, workshops, and demonstrations.

The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show typically takes place in February at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. The show features over 300 exhibits, including display gardens, floral arrangements, garden products, and educational exhibits. Visitors can wander through the gardens, admire the stunning floral arrangements, and shop for garden tools, plants, and accessories.

One of the highlights of the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show is the display gardens. These gardens are created by professional landscapers, garden designers, and garden clubs from around the state. The gardens are designed to showcase the latest trends in garden design and to inspire visitors with ideas for their own gardens. Each garden has its own unique style and theme, and visitors can take plenty of pictures and notes to help them recreate these designs at home.

The floral arrangements at the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show are also a sight to behold. Professional florists and designers create stunning arrangements using a variety of flowers and foliage. These arrangements range from traditional bouquets to contemporary designs, and they showcase the versatility and beauty of flowers in all their forms.

In addition to the exhibits, the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show also offers a wide range of educational workshops and demonstrations. These workshops cover topics such as gardening basics, plant care, floral design, and landscape design. Visitors can learn from experts in the field and get practical tips and advice for their own gardening projects.

The Connecticut Flower and Garden Show is a great event for garden enthusiasts of all levels. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, you'll find plenty of inspiration and information at this show. And with its beautiful displays, educational workshops, and friendly atmosphere, it's no wonder that the Connecticut Flower and Garden Show has been a beloved event in the community for over four decades.

Connecticut Convention Center is simply the perfect location for the...

I just attended an event at the Connecticut Convention Center and had an extremely negative experience with the General Manager, Michael Costelli. Upon getting my entry badge, I asked 3 different line workers about a prop check. They told me there wasn’t one, and to go right in. A few minutes later, when I exited the expo hall to find a quiet spot to put on my costume, I was accosted by Mr. Costelli, who aggressively demanded to know why my props weren’t checked. I attempted to explain to him that I’d be more than happy to do a check but was told by 3 workers that there wasn’t one. He ignored me and proceeded to say something over the radio. When I went to repeat my explanation, he very rudely told me to “CALM DOWN CALM DOWN”, to which I responded that I was perfectly calm. I then requested to be spoken to with a bit of courtesy as a guest, and was met with a very rude “DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO.” He then escorted me to the front area where it was determined that there was a miscommunication between the event planner and the venue about prop check, which was then rectified. This was not on me, a guest who did their due diligence in that matter, however I was still treated with vitriolic contempt, treated like a criminal on trial. When I then started complaining about my treatment by Mr. Costelli to the other staff members, I was told that “he’s the boss” as he then walked away making comments about how I was “Still talking”. At that point, I just wanted to leave the entire event. Is THIS the kind of person you all have running your venue? I do understand that security and prop checks are important, but to treat a guest like that due to an issue that was NO FAULT of the guest, and with with ZERO provocation / bad attitude given by the guest, is absolutely insane and unacceptable. I will be following up with Director of Ops Roger Morgan, the HR Department, as well as the parent company regarding my experience. A person with this demeanor has no business being employed in a position in which he is dealing directly with guests of the venue. Something needs to be done here. I WILL be...