This sunny slice of land, based mainly in western Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, is home to venerable vineyards, majestic mountains and meeting spaces ranging from hip to historical.

Yes, historical—and while history might not be the first word coming to mind when thinking of SoCal, cities like Ontario, San Bernardino and Riverside are three of the oldest in the region and played key roles in a heritage full of strong Spanish and agricultural ties. While glimpses into this past are readily available through museums and wineries, new lodgings and attractions are continuously cropping up, providing a nice balance between old and new everywhere you look.

“I think people would be surprised to know about the amount of history in the city of Ontario and the surrounding area,” says Theresa Moretti, director of marketing and public relations for the Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau. “For example, the oldest vines in California were planted in what is now Rancho Cucamonga in 1838, and the city is home to California’s oldest winery, built in 1839. There are several fourth-generation, family-run vineyards still in operation in the area and some of the wineries offer unique dining experiences for guests.”
Moretti adds that the region’s central location gives planners the freedom to be creative and flexible. “Because we are within an hour of so many Southern California experiences—deserts, mountains, beaches, wineries, shopping and amusement parks—meeting planners and attendees can really create their own memorable experiences when they visit our area.”   

For Rachel Myers, deputy director for the California Peace Officers Association and coordinator of the huge COPSWest Trade Show held every year at the Ontario Convention Center, the Inland Empire is all about convenience and cost-effectiveness. “The convenience factor is great,” she says, mentioning that 70 percent of law enforcement officers attending the event are within driving distance. “And I’m very pleased with the costs associated with the flights; we usually use Southwest.”

Myers says she works with the Ontario CVB for the trade show of about 350 booths and 3,000 attendees, but coordinates with the hotels individually. This past Octoberthe group used Doubletree, Marriott, the Ayres Hotel and a Sheraton for accommodations—and had one organized dinner at the Doubletree and a one-day training session at the Marriott.

While her group’s size, and its needs, have expanded greatly, Myers expressed interest in continuing to use the convention center—especially if its planned doubling of exhibition space by 2012 comes to fruition.
    
GETTING YOUR BEARINGS
While its boundaries are not always well-defined and can sometimes even seem to change day-to-day, the area is essentially a diverse spread of landlocked terrain running 30 miles north-south from Lake Arrowhead (in the San Bernardino Mountains) to Temecula, and about 50 miles east-west from the Los Angeles and Orange County borders to Redlands. In between, visitors will discover towering peaks, countless wineries and vineyards, arid desert and lovely lakes.

Served by three major airports—San Bernardino International Airport, Palm Springs International Airport, LA/Ontario International Airport—and within 50 miles of the coast, the region is easily reached from just about anywhere. Yet, it’s also a viable alternative to the iconic Southern California coast that many attendees have visited more times than they can count.

“We definitely have airport accessibility,” Moretti says. “The L.A./Ontario International Airport, located two blocks from the Ontario Convention Center, has more than 250 daily flights on 15 carriers to most major cities in the United States and Mexico.” Ontario—in San Bernardino County and nicknamed the “Gateway to Southern California”—is also less expensive relative to other Southern California destinations, especially in hotel rates, according to Moretti.

For Richard Phillips, communications and events director for the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (ieep.com), in Riverside, this convenient locale and cost-effectiveness are what mean the most to planners. “This may sound like a cliché but it’s about location, location, location. The Inland Empire is fortunate to have an international airport right in its backyard, which makes attendance to meetings and events easier than traditionally flying into LAX,” he says. As for financial incentive, Phillips adds that the cost of holding an event in the Inland Empire is lower than areas such as Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.

“You can get the same quality venue that you would find elsewhere at a fraction of the cost. Some facilities will waive their rental fee based on amount spent and other venues don’t charge for parking. Plus, the sales tax is also lower in the Inland Empire than other regions,” he says.
    
MAJOR MEETING VENUES
The Ontario Convention Center is one of the most attractive in the state, a modern compound showcasing 225,000 sq. ft. of overall space. The facility is operated by the Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau, providing meeting planners with “one-stop shopping” when coordinating a function in or around Ontario. More than half-a-dozen lodgings lie within a mile of the Convention Center, including a Sheraton, Marriott, Doubletree and Ayres Suites—a walkable distance that also saves on transportation costs.

The Riverside Convention Center, in downtown Riverside, is a bit more intimate but still offers 45,000 sq. ft. of flexible space spread across 15 rooms. It can host groups ranging from 25 attendees
to 2,000.

Events of a massive scale can be held at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, where the numbers tell the tale: 120-acre grounds, 150,000 sq. ft. of indoor exhibit space, and the ability to host and entertain groups of up to 60,000.

UNIQUE VENUES AND ACTIVITIES
Riverside’s Mission Inn is a historic treasure that blends old-world Spanish charms with luxurious amenities and state-of-the-art meeting facilities. Ten U.S. presidents have enjoyed the inn’s hospitality over the years, and today it is a top choice of planners as well, with more than 200 charming rooms, extensive meeting space that includes 5,000 sq. ft. of alfresco patio area, some fine restaurants and the large and lavish Kelly’s Spa.
Elsewhere, a handful of intriguing museums offer event space in settings sure to inspire any attendee. Riverside’s March Field Air Museum, for example, can take your event to new heights with a sit-down function inside a military airlift vehicle or airplane-filled hangar. The San Bernardino County Museum features plenty of space for indoor meetings and outdoor receptions, and has pretty courtyards, time-tested adobe structures and eclectic plant life.

Among the many diversions available around the region are one of California’s largest malls, Ontario Mills; the electrifying NASCAR California Speedway in Fontana; and enough quality wineries to meet even the “grapest” expectations.

The UC Riverside campus is a compelling spread of eclectic architecture, lush greenery and a number of attractions that include the 40-acre Botanic Gardens, innovative Sweeney Art Gallery and the picture-perfect California Museum of Photography.

ARROWHEAD NORTH
While Lake Arrowhead is built mainly around tourism, and has a charming downtown, its scenic mountain setting and well-regarded conference center make it a great destination for business groups to escape to as well.
The UCLA-Lake Arrowhead Conference Center is a Tudor-styled compound of 12 meeting rooms and other event spaces. While some rooms are centered in the main lodge, others are dotted throughout the outlying forest, where there’s an excellent ropes course perfect for the total team-building experience.

The Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa is even more appealing after a $20-million makeover that completely renovated all guest rooms. The resort’s 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space includes a board room with its own business center, and some awe-inspiring outdoor venues ranging from a private beach to an expansive lakefront deck.

The surrounding San Bernardino National Forest is a tremendous setting for a group retreat, with more than 676,000 acres, and activities that range from picnicking and horseback-riding to fishing fun.
Those planning ahead for a winter event will find snowy slopes and more at Big Bear Lake, about a 30-minute drive east of Lake Arrowhead. Bear Mountain is a skier’s paradise, with slopes for all skill levels and extensive free-style skiing space, too. A variety of inns and lodges include meeting space, and a good overall source of info here is the Big Bear Lake Resort Association.

TREK SOUTH TO TEMECULA
In the southern realms of the Inland Empire, Temecula has become a mecca of wineries, with about 20 vineyards now open to the public. One of the best is Ponte Winery, also a meeting-friendly venue able to host groups ranging in size from 10 to 400. Among the rentable areas are the 4,800-square-foot Tent Pavilion and the Barrel Room, a meticulously restored Mission building with just over 1,000 sq. ft. of function space.

Other wineries of interest to planners include the Callaway Vineyard & Winery, with a wealth of inviting meeting and event spaces that include the Vineyard Terrace, able to host groups of up to 225 with fine vineyard views, and the South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, showcasing 14,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor meeting space as well as outdoor settings.

The Temecula Valley is also popular for hot-air ballooning, nine local golf courses and its throwback Old Town Temecula district with 19th-century buildings, antiquarian shops and more. Another trip back in time can be made at the Temecula Valley Museum, with tools, artifacts and photos painting a picture of the region’s colorful history. A more modern setting can be found at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, which has a massive gaming floor with nonstop betting action, eight dining options ranging from gourmet to buffet, and a wealth of meeting and event space highlighted by a 22,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom.

The Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is an excellent source of information and assistance when visiting the region. Back to Top

Getting There

The Inland Empire is served by three major airports: San Bernardino International Airport, LA/Ontario International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport. Back to Top