Smart Meetings

Credit journalist Don Hoefler for popularizing what was then an insider phrase, when he began using it in trade journals in 1971. (“Silicon” referred to the area’s high concentration of semiconductor and computer-related industries; “Valley” meant the Santa Clara Valley, where most of the high-tech companies were located.) The name stuck—at least initially. It did, however, take a fascinating detour as “Silicone Valley” later in the 1970s and 1980s, when people who were unfamiliar with the industry assumed it was a misspelling of silicone, a highly touted new material being used in caulking, breast implants, and other useful products.

Right click forward to today, when business and leisure travel to the area is another booming industry. While reports of the dot-com bust and post-9/11 economy lag were not greatly exaggerated, Silicon Valley is now experiencing a dynamic resurgence. This past February, for example, there was a 20.68 percent increase in the average hotel occupancy rate for San Jose’s 14 convention hotels over February 2005. In March, occupancy jumped 18.6 percent. according to the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (sanjose.org), whose new, more meeting planner-friendly site went up May 1.

The region has always been attractive to meeting planners, with 300-plus days of sunshine a year and its close proximity to popular destinations such as San Francisco, the wine country and Monterey. Plus, it’s safe.

Adding cachet as well as meeting space, the Four Seasons Silicon Valley (200 rms, 7,000 sq. ft.; fourseasons.com/siliconvalley) recently debuted in East Palo Alto. In addition to the Quattro Restaurant and Bar, the elegant 10-story hotel offers outdoor dining for up to 72 on a landscaped patio.

Last December Hyatt acquired the Westin Santa Clara, renaming it the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara (505 rms, 60,000 sq. ft.; santaclara.hyatt.com). A $10 million renovation is in the design stage, including the redesign of guest rooms, the lobby, food and beverage areas, and meeting space.

With a plethora of wineries and precision-staked vineyards in the nearby hills, and local agriculture yielding high-quality produce and artisan products, your groups will dine well in San Jose. Celebrity chefs Michael Mina (Arcadia, in the San Jose Marriott; sanjosemarriott.com/dining.html) and Bradley Ogden (Left Bank at Santana Row, leftbank.com) have raised the bar for fine dining, but restaurants like Paolo’s (regional Italian; paolosrestaurant.com) and Emile’s (classic French; emiles.com) prove there’s a lot of local talent in the city’s kitchens. A plus for groups is the diversity of cuisines you’ll find here, from the exotic (Menara Moroccan Restaurant, menara41.com) to the familiar (McCormick & Schmick’s, mccormickandschmicks.com).
 

Getting There

Mineta San Jose International Airport- Located two miles north of downtown San Jose, Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport (SJC) is a completely self-supporting enterprise, owned and operated by the City of San José- www.sjc.org

Door to Door shuttles- Shuttles can either be arranged over the telephone or can be found waiting in one of two areas

What's New?

San Jose Upgrade | After a $7-million renovation, The Crowne Plaza San Jose in northern California now offers a more...