Destination Guide | Long Beach
THE SHORE AND MUCH MORE
By Zach Chouteau
Meeting planners who have never set foot in Long Beach, Calif. can guess from its very name—and coastal location 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles—that a seemingly endless stretch of sandy beach and plenty of sunshine are part of the draw.
While that’s certainly true, and both business and pleasure thrive along the city’s shores, there is much more to consider in the state’s fifth-largest metropolis, home to about 465,000 residents.
“Long Beach is composed of more than 80 distinctive neighborhoods, creating a perfect blend of big city urban sophistication and the welcoming charm of a small town,” says Bob Maguglin, director of public relations for the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In the past 10 years, over a billion dollars has been invested in redevelopment in downtown Long Beach, transforming our waterfront into a premier convention and tourism destination.” Plus, he says, thousands of new residential units have been added downtown, which have created a demand for dining and entertainment options that also benefit visitors to the city.
MAJOR MEETING VENUES
The main venue here is the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, an imposing facility that includes 34 meeting rooms, and three exhibition halls totaling nearly 225,000 sq. ft. Conveniently nestled between the city’s shoreline and busy downtown, the center includes the cavernous Long Beach Arena, which seats 13,500 and can’t be missed, as it’s adorned with Wyland’s massive “Whaling Wall” mural. On-site catering is capably handled by SAVOR, Catering by SMG, which can tend to off-site dining needs as well.
Nearby properties with meeting space include the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, which has 528 guestrooms and more than 27,000 sq. ft. of function space, plus the city’s only waterfront ballroom. The Hilton Long Beach and Executive Meeting Center, a few blocks away, provides 397 rooms and 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, while The Westin Long Beach, showcases 469 guest rooms, 51,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a ballroom with a capacity for more than 1,500 attendees. Yet another enticing downtown option is the recently renovated Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, with 374 guest rooms and 21,000 sq. ft. of overall meeting space.
If you’re seeking proximity to the airport, the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport Hotel (hilongbeach.com) has 222 rooms and 5,600 sq. ft. of function space.
UNIQUE VENUES
The Queen Mary, the historic ocean liner permanently docked on the city’s waterfront, is now a fabulous floating hotel with more than 300 rooms and its original Art Deco decor. The famous vessel also contains 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space spread across 14 stylish salons, and an additional 45,000 sq. ft. of convention space can be found in its tri-level exhibit hall.
Another ideal spot for an elegant sit-down dinner or cocktail reception is the Long Beach Museum of Art. “Their outdoor garden is a perfect group venue,” says the CVB’s Maguglin, praising its bluff-top location with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and downtown Long Beach. The garden can host up to 250 for a reception, and the site’s catering branch, Claire’s at the Museum, has served such groups as Exxon Mobile, The Port of Long Beach and Merck Pharmaceuticals.
FUN ACTIVITIES
The great outdoors isn’t limited to the coastline, as 92 different parks dot the community and cover more than 3,000 acres in total. A favorite for visitors is the El Dorado Regional Park, with attractive lakes, an expansive nature center and picnic areas perfect for an informal group outing.
If serenity is your goal, consider a visit to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University, Long Beach, an enclave of pretty pagodas, beautiful bridges and exotic plant life such as black-stemmed bamboo. Organized tours are available for groups of 10 or more, and the garden is also a splendid setting for a reception or corporate dinner.
The Aquarium of the Pacific, one of the largest in the nation, is home to more than 500 species, from sharks to seals, and a substantial Shorebird Sanctuary. Planners can arrange a formal dinner or an elegant reception here, and guests can mingle as sea lions and stingrays swim by in the background.
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, situated between the Aquarium and the Convention Center, is a lively hub of popular restaurants, trendy shops and diverse entertainment. A fun place to blow off steam—or just relax—after a busy day, the Pike allows attendees to sip a Mai Tai at a tavern, knock down some pins at the bowling alley or climb aboard a towering Ferris wheel for a different perspective on the downtown.
Seafaring adventures are accessible and diverse, whether you want to play detective aboard a riverboat, savor an elegant evening dinner cruise or take a narrated tour of the harbor and outlying Pacific (longbeachcruises.com). If time allows, plan a day trip to Catalina Island, a picturesque island about 22 miles offshore, known for its beaches and unspoiled nature.
For a birds-eye view of Long Beach, groups of up to six can climb aboard a helicopter alongside The Queen Mary and take to the skies; another offbeat way to explore your surroundings is to rent Segways and go on an organized tour—or just scoot around at your own whim.
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“Long Beach is composed of more than 80 distinctive neighborhoods, creating a perfect blend of big city urban sophistication and the welcoming charm of a small town,” says Bob Maguglin, director of public relations for the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In the past 10 years, over a billion dollars has been invested in redevelopment in downtown Long Beach, transforming our waterfront into a premier convention and tourism destination.” Plus, he says, thousands of new residential units have been added downtown, which have created a demand for dining and entertainment options that also benefit visitors to the city.
MAJOR MEETING VENUES
The main venue here is the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center, an imposing facility that includes 34 meeting rooms, and three exhibition halls totaling nearly 225,000 sq. ft. Conveniently nestled between the city’s shoreline and busy downtown, the center includes the cavernous Long Beach Arena, which seats 13,500 and can’t be missed, as it’s adorned with Wyland’s massive “Whaling Wall” mural. On-site catering is capably handled by SAVOR, Catering by SMG, which can tend to off-site dining needs as well.
Nearby properties with meeting space include the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, which has 528 guestrooms and more than 27,000 sq. ft. of function space, plus the city’s only waterfront ballroom. The Hilton Long Beach and Executive Meeting Center, a few blocks away, provides 397 rooms and 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, while The Westin Long Beach, showcases 469 guest rooms, 51,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a ballroom with a capacity for more than 1,500 attendees. Yet another enticing downtown option is the recently renovated Renaissance Long Beach Hotel, with 374 guest rooms and 21,000 sq. ft. of overall meeting space.
If you’re seeking proximity to the airport, the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport Hotel (hilongbeach.com) has 222 rooms and 5,600 sq. ft. of function space.
UNIQUE VENUES
The Queen Mary, the historic ocean liner permanently docked on the city’s waterfront, is now a fabulous floating hotel with more than 300 rooms and its original Art Deco decor. The famous vessel also contains 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space spread across 14 stylish salons, and an additional 45,000 sq. ft. of convention space can be found in its tri-level exhibit hall.
Another ideal spot for an elegant sit-down dinner or cocktail reception is the Long Beach Museum of Art. “Their outdoor garden is a perfect group venue,” says the CVB’s Maguglin, praising its bluff-top location with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and downtown Long Beach. The garden can host up to 250 for a reception, and the site’s catering branch, Claire’s at the Museum, has served such groups as Exxon Mobile, The Port of Long Beach and Merck Pharmaceuticals.
FUN ACTIVITIES
The great outdoors isn’t limited to the coastline, as 92 different parks dot the community and cover more than 3,000 acres in total. A favorite for visitors is the El Dorado Regional Park, with attractive lakes, an expansive nature center and picnic areas perfect for an informal group outing.
If serenity is your goal, consider a visit to the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden at California State University, Long Beach, an enclave of pretty pagodas, beautiful bridges and exotic plant life such as black-stemmed bamboo. Organized tours are available for groups of 10 or more, and the garden is also a splendid setting for a reception or corporate dinner.
The Aquarium of the Pacific, one of the largest in the nation, is home to more than 500 species, from sharks to seals, and a substantial Shorebird Sanctuary. Planners can arrange a formal dinner or an elegant reception here, and guests can mingle as sea lions and stingrays swim by in the background.
The Pike at Rainbow Harbor, situated between the Aquarium and the Convention Center, is a lively hub of popular restaurants, trendy shops and diverse entertainment. A fun place to blow off steam—or just relax—after a busy day, the Pike allows attendees to sip a Mai Tai at a tavern, knock down some pins at the bowling alley or climb aboard a towering Ferris wheel for a different perspective on the downtown.
Seafaring adventures are accessible and diverse, whether you want to play detective aboard a riverboat, savor an elegant evening dinner cruise or take a narrated tour of the harbor and outlying Pacific (longbeachcruises.com). If time allows, plan a day trip to Catalina Island, a picturesque island about 22 miles offshore, known for its beaches and unspoiled nature.
For a birds-eye view of Long Beach, groups of up to six can climb aboard a helicopter alongside The Queen Mary and take to the skies; another offbeat way to explore your surroundings is to rent Segways and go on an organized tour—or just scoot around at your own whim.
Back to Top
Getting There
Long Beach Airport is served by Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, ExpressJet, JetBlue Airways and US Airways. LAX is about a 30-minute drive northwest of Long Beach. Back to TopFast Facts
| Population | 465,000 |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 0 ft |
| Temperature | 43°f - 83°f |
| Nearest Airport | Long Beach Airport |
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