Smart Meetings

The state has so many associations tied to it, so many inimitable regions and famous landscapes, that the word can instantly evoke thousands of singular scenes and memories.

For those who’ve never visited, the images are likely to be sunny beaches, palm trees and curling blue waves. Ask those who’ve made a trip or two and you may add the fog and hills of San Francisco or the staggering cliffs of Yosemite Valley. But these postcard-perfect scenes still amount to only a fraction of a state whose diversity is limitless—not only its geography, but also its people, culture, entertainment and cuisine. Additionally, no other state comes close to the sheer number of top-tier hotels, convention centers and restaurants that are so critical to meeting planners.

The Western U.S. is lucky in its geographic attributes. Hawaii is famous for sunny beaches; Washington, its powerful rivers and towering forests. Arizona claims gorgeous desert landscapes and Colorado its stack of pristine mountains. But California combines them all. In fact, Earth scientists classify the state as encompassing 11 distinct geomorphic provinces. It has both the highest and lowest points in the mainland U.S.—Mount Whitney and Death Valley, stunningly only 76 miles apart—plus the world’s tallest, largest and oldest types of trees.

While the differences within California are strong enough that its northern and southern halves have often considered splitting the state into two, there are also themes that are shared in every corner, like a love of the outdoors and a free-spirited approach toward life. California has long been a state of innovators, leaders, artists and free thinkers, and this energy pervades its cities and communities. It is a state where things happen, and this creative energy also infuses meetings that are held here—from the deserts of Palm Springs and sunny beaches of Los Angeles to the picturesque bay in San Francisco and mountains of Lake Tahoe.

The Desert
A painter’s palate of burnt reds and earthy browns coats the walls of bald mountain ranges. Shimmering heat waves masquerade as distant water oases. And highly evolved animals and towering cacti assiduously defy the sun’s attempts to rob the land of life. This is the magic of California’s deserts, where year-round sun and lack of rain create an enchanting playground for water bottle-toting humans.   

One well-known slice of Southeastern California desert is Death Valley—not only for its infamous name but also for its exquisite sand dunes, epic summer temperatures and beautiful wildflower blooms. There are few meeting options (Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort a notable exception), but it’s a destination well worth a pre- or post-meeting visit.

Perhaps best known—with plenty to offer groups—is Palm Springs and its surrounding communities, which have matured into one of the top meetings destinations in the state. Just a few hours east of Los Angeles, this sophisticated desert refuge offers a thriving downtown as well as a wealth of truly relaxing meetings resorts. Even if you’ve held a meeting here recently, you would be surprised at what a return visit would present—more than $1 billion in new properties and renovations are currently underway throughout the eight desert cities, including The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage, which hopes to be the area’s first Five-Star hotel.

The Palm Springs Convention Center is where the big groups convene, with 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and several premium meeting hotels within walking distance. But there are also several dozen resorts sprinkled into the hills above and scattered throughout the neighboring communities, providing endless opportunities for tranquil pool-side relaxation, view-inspired outdoor receptions and serious boardroom meetings.
The Rancho Las Palmas, Rancho Mirage just underwent a $30-million renovation and offers 25 tennis courts and 27 holes of golf to complement its 444 guest rooms and 41,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Downtown, The Parker Palm Springs features elegant, ’60s-style buildings to house its 145 guest rooms and 10,500 sq. ft. of meeting space.


The Beach
No other region better typifies the state’s global stereotype than its beautiful and dynamic southern coast. From blond-haired surfers conquering the blue waves of Huntington Beach to the rolling hills of Hollywood and the idyllic cliffs of North San Diego, the reputation of this area’s perfect Mediterranean climate and semi-desert geography is not undeserved.

The city of Los Angeles—the region’s hub—is one of the most culturally significant and popular destinations in the country, with Hollywood movie stars, miles upon miles of gorgeous beaches, balmy weather, hundreds of cultural and entertainment attractions, and some of the trendiest dining and nightlife in the world. From a meetings perspective, the city and its surrounding communities encompass everything from mammoth venues like the Los Angeles Convention Center with almost a million square feet of meeting and function space, to a plethora of hotels and resorts that offer a myriad range of meeting facilities for smaller groups, such as The Beverly Hilton, with 570 guest rooms and more than 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space (also home to the Golden Globe Awards), or the 900-room Wilshire Grand Hotel, LA, with 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Historic elegance can be found at the 683-room Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, which has welcomed presidents, celebrities and other dignitaries for more than 80 years. A glamorous choice for a meeting venue is the 6,300-square-foot Crystal Ballroom, which hosted the Academy Awards during the 1930s and ’40s.

A particularly exciting development is the current construction of L.A. Live, a $2.5-billion project featuring hotels, performance venues and entertainment, all right next to the convention center.
The city of San Diego is also a major Southern California meetings powerhouse, with more than 11,000 hotel rooms in the central downtown and the impressive San Diego Convention Center, providing more than 800,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. A bonus for attendees is the convention center’s location bordering the historic—and hip—Gaslamp Quarter, home to hundreds of trendy restaurants, nightlife venues and shops. A prime example of an ultra-hip hotel in the Gaslamp Quarter is the Ivy Hotel, with a sleek and sophisticated décor in its 159 guest rooms and 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The hotel’s rooftop bar, Eden, and nightclub, Envy, provide plenty of incentive for completing the meeting agenda ahead of schedule.

While Southern California has two major metropolises and dozens of large cities, it is not without its fair share of laid-back communities that blend urban sophistication with the outdoors. Orange County, for instance, encompasses several areas that capture the Southern California essence and are ideal for meetings getaways. With some of the best surfing in the country, Huntington Beach remains a relatively small, relaxed and friendly destination. Only steps from the beach, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, with 517 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, is a primary group destination. Just a few miles away, the Ayres Hotel & Suites in neighboring Costa Mesa, offers 282 guest rooms and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

North San Diego, which survived the wildfires that threatened it just a few months ago, is another tranquil destination with major resorts and hotels along its coast or tucked nearby into its hills and valleys. A mere 12 miles from downtown San Diego, the ritzy enclave of La Jolla is known for its relaxing and luxurious resorts and world-class golf at Torrey Pines. La Jolla Shores Hotel, located right on the beach, offers planners 128 guest rooms and 7,500 sq. ft. of meeting space.

With 249 guest rooms and more than 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, The Grand Del Mar is the area’s newest luxury resort, with a 21,000-square-foot spa and a Tom Fazio-designed golf course.


The Bay
Harboring the cities of San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, the great San Francisco Bay sprawls 1,600 square miles and drains 40 percent of California’s water into the Pacific Ocean. Spanning the mouth of the bay, between San Francisco and the rolling hills of Marin County, is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Dotting the inner bay is Alcratraz (the infamous former penitentiary), Angel Island (a state park and former entry point for Asian immigrants) and Treasure Island (site of the 1939 World’s Fair and connection point for the massive San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge).

Though relatively small in size due to its peninsular boundaries, the bay’s namesake city is one of the premier destinations in the world. It also has the accommodations to draw major meetings and conventions, delivering high attendance rates.

The Moscone Center, just a few blocks off Market Street, offers more than half a million square feet of flexible meeting space; the self-contained Moscone West adds an additional 300,000 sq. ft., divided evenly into three floors. Step outside the convention center, and you’re in the middle of downtown and within walking distance of most of the city’s major hotels, such as the 1,010-room Parc 55 Hotel or the 1,195-room Westin St. Francis.

Plenty of meeting options can be found within comfortable reach of the city’s borders, such as just across the bay in Emeryville, which sits conveniently between Oakland and Berkeley at the eastern end of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge. A quick drive across the bridge from the heart of San Francisco can put you at the front door of a number of convenient meetings hotels, such as the 295-room Courtyard Oakland Emeryville Hotel (marriott.com), the 278-room Hilton Garden Inn San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge or the 224-room Woodfin Suites Hotel, Emeryville. In addition to being close to San Francisco, Emeryville hotels are also near the Oakland International Airport.

To the south of San Francisco, near the southernmost portion of the bay, sits Silicon Valley, the home of the technology and Internet revolution, with such companies as Google, Intel and eBay leading the pack. Far enough from San Francisco to escape its fog, the area experiences generally warm and sunny days similar to Southern California; the two low mountain ranges that border it keep the evenings pleasant as well.

Silicon Valley’s major cities, Santa Clara and San Jose, have great convention centers with meetings hotels in walking distance, like the 501-room Hyatt Regency Santa Clara or the 506-room San Jose Marriott, both adjacent to their respective convention centers. Another option that has proved popular with meeting planners—and slightly removed from San Jose—is the historic Dolce Hayes Mansion, which offers 214 unique guest rooms and 33,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Or, in downtown San Jose, The Saint Claire offers elegant meeting space and accommodations in a detailed historic building, while the Wyndham San Jose (wyndham.com) provides 355 guest rooms and free shuttle service to the airport.

The two cities of Santa Clara and San Jose share a number of attractions that include The Tech Museum of Innovation, the Winchester Mystery House, the Intel Museum and California’s Great America theme park.
A little over an hour from San Francisco and Silicon Valley, the geography changes once again in the sunny coastal beach town of Santa Cruz, on the northern tip of crescent-shaped Monterey Bay. With hot summer temperatures, world-class surfing and palm-tree lined streets, it’s easy to forget you are still in Northern California. A quirky and friendly small-town escape from the more-populous cities, it houses a number of popular resorts for smaller meetings or executive retreats. Chaminade, only a few miles from downtown, sits on the top of a small mountain knoll with commanding views of Monterey Bay; it offers 126 guest rooms and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Down at the other end of Monterey Bay, and surrounded by championship golf resorts and a burgeoning wine region, the city of Monterey is even further removed from the hustle-bustle of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is known for its aquarium as well as its luxurious ocean-side resorts, such as the 290-room Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa.

Wine Country
As the fourth-largest producer of wine in the world, after France, Italy and Spain, the state of California has thousands of vineyard acres spread across its fertile land. Much to the delight of meeting attendees, however, there is not one single wine country, and many of the wine-producing areas are actually close to major meetings destinations. In fact, California’s resorts are just as likely to boast about their proximity to vineyards as they are to mention nearby golf courses or the ocean, given today’s appreciation of wine and the wine-country experience.

Traditionally, the term “wine country” in California referred to Napa and Sonoma, the major wine-producing areas just to the north of San Francisco Bay. These areas have long been a major attraction for meetings, not only for their world-class wineries, but also for their scenic beauty, resorts and hotels. The Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa is a staple for meetings in Sonoma’s wine country, with 226 guest rooms and 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The 40,000-square-foot spa is as famous as some of the world-class wineries in the surrounding acres. For those who thoroughly enjoy wine-tasting activities, there are a number of options for sprucing up the designated-driver plan while adding some wine expertise to your group outing. Enlist the help of Beau Wine Tours or Napa Valley Wine Train to plan a truly unique wine-tasting activity or team-building experience.

Beyond traditional wine country, there are also a significant number of vineyards and wineries in other parts of the state, such as the Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Barbara and parts of Southern California. One of the newest regions to enter the wine-producing market is Temecula Valley, located inland between San Diego and Orange County. The few dozen wineries now sprinkled about the valley have helped draw interest to the area, and several new resorts that offer excellent meeting facilities have sprouted up recently.

Additional options for meetings can be found nearby in the city of Ontario, easily accessible via the Ontario International Airport, a mere five minutes away. The Ontario Convention Center, with more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, is supported by more than 2,500 hotel rooms, such as those at the
Hilton Ontario Airport, with 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and the Ontario Airport Marriott, with 21,000 sq. ft. of space.



The Mountains
The California Travel & Tourism Commission can thank Ansel Adams for creating some of the most memorable images in California history when he hauled his heavy camera equipment to the Yosemite Valley in the late 1920s. But even though his spectacular black and white photographs captured the beauty of Yosemite and the Sierra Mountain Range it sits in, it is impossible for images to convey their sheer power and immensity.

Today Yosemite is a national park, well designed for both meetings and inspiration. The Ahwahnee, a gorgeous grand lodge set in the heart of the valley, offers impressive meeting space and 123 luxurious guest rooms. Outdoor events and team-building exercises abound, from rock-climbing trips to hiking Half Dome to nearby white-water rafting.

As massive and significant as Yosemite is, it is but a small chunk of a mountain range that is 400 miles long and encapsulates everything from the remote peak of Mount Whitney to the resorts of Lake Tahoe to the lush foothills east of Sacramento.

North of Yosemite, beautiful Lake Tahoe lies across the border of California and Nevada in a massive bowl, bordered on all sides by the high bulges of the Sierra. Accessible from both Sacramento to the west and Reno, Nev. to the east, the Tahoe region is one of the top ski destinations in the world, and is surrounded by mountain peaks and an abundance of full-scale ski resorts. The region of North Lake Tahoe lies at the base of some of the best skiing in the U.S., and has plenty of excellent meetings resorts, such as the Resort at Squaw Creek, with 405 guest rooms and 33,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. At the other end of the lake, South Lake Tahoe sits at the California/Nevada border, conveniently located near several major ski areas and able to take full advantage of Nevada’s gambling laws. Harrah’s/Harveys Resort Casino, for example, are two of the area’s top casino resorts, and offer a combined 1,225 guest rooms and 42,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
Outside of skiing, the lake is also extremely popular in the summer months, where endless outdoor recreation like hiking and fishing have proved just as popular  as the snow has in winter.

The Great Valley
Bounded by the Sierra Nevada to the east, the San Francisco Bay to the west, the Cascade Range to the north and the Tehachapi Mountains to the south, the Central Valley of California stretches almost 400 miles. Were it not for this valley, California would not be the agricultural powerhouse that it is. Because of the huge agricultural industry, significant cities have cropped up in the heart of the valley, such as Fresno, Bakersfield and Redding. By far the largest of the valley cities is California’s capital, Sacramento.

The city was not founded for harvesting produce, however, but rather gold, during the historic Gold Rush more than 150 years ago. Today it is the center of politics, and planners can take advantage of a great convention center, dozens of meetings hotels and a rich history that has been well-preserved. Much of this history, in addition to some excellent new restaurants, can be found within walking distance of the centrally located Sacramento Convention Center, with 384,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Primary meeting hotels adjacent to the convention center include the Hyatt Regency Sacramento and the Sheraton Grand Sacramento, each with 503 guest rooms. Beyond hotels, Sacramento is also home to a few excellent alternative meeting venues, such as the California State Railroad Museum and the Aerospace Museum of California.
 
The Ocean
California would not be California without the Pacific Ocean and, with 840 miles of coastline, the state’s meeting options are certainly not limited to land. With major ports in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, many planners take their groups to the seas for meetings, events and receptions. In San Francisco, groups can do anything from four-hour Alcatraz tours to sunset dinner cruises to more adventurous sailboat team-building experiences. Red & White Fleet has many regular day cruises and can be rented out for custom private events. Other day-cruise options, such as Hornblower Cruises & Events, operate from several other cities along the California coast.

 

CVBs

Anaheim/Orange County Visitor &
Convention Bureau
anaheimoc.org

Costa Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau
travelcostamesa.com

Huntington Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
surfcityusa.com

LA Inc. The Convention and Visitors Bureau
lacvb.com

Mammoth Lakes Visitors Bureau
visitmammoth.com

Mariposa Convention and Visitors Bureau
homeofyosemite.com

Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
montereyinfo.org

Napa Valley Conference & Visitors Bureau
napavalley.org

Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
visitnewportbeach.com

North Lake Tahoe Visitors & Convention Bureau
gotahoenorth.com

North San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau
sandiegonorth.com

Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau
oaklandcvb.com

Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau
ontariocvb.com

Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority
meetinginpalmsprings.com

Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau
pasadenacal.com

Riverside Convention & Visitors Bureau
riversidecvb.com

Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau
sacramentocvb.org

San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau
sandiego.org

San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau
onlyinsanfrancisco.com

San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau
sanjose.org

Santa Barbara Convention & Visitors Bureau
sbcvb.org

Santa Clara Convention and Visitors Bureau
santaclara.org

Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council
santacruzca.org

Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau
santamonica.com

Sonoma Valley Tourism Bureau
sonomavalley.com

Temecula Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau
temeculacvb.com

Tri-Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau
trivalleycvb.com

West Hollywood Convention & Visitors Bureau
visitwesthollywood.com

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Getting There

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Not To Be Missed

The Desert

• Thursday evening VillageFest in Palm Springs
• The desert at night, especially the stars
• A spa treatment at one of the many resorts

Southern California

• A round of golf at Torrey Pines in La Jolla
• One of Southern California’ numerous sunny beaches
• The farmers market in Santa Monica
• San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District

The Bay

• A dinner in one of San Francisco’s 500 restaurants
• A day trip to Alcatraz
• The Golden Gate Bridge
• Visiting one of  San Francisco’s distinctive  neighborhoods, like North Beach, Japantown,  Chinatown or the Mission District
• Watching the surfers at Steamer’s Lane in Santa Cruz
• Santa Cruz’s Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster, a national historic landmark
• The mind-boggling Winchester Mystery House in San Jose

The Mountains

• One of the thousands of  photo ops in the Yosemite Valley
• Hiking or skiing at  Lake Tahoe

The Valley

• Sacramento’s California State Railroad Museum
• A walk through the State Capitol

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