Destination: Huntington Beach Meeting & Event Planning City Guide
Destination Articles
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Catching up with Southern California
By Nikki Gloudeman
December 31, 2012
Setting trends is second nature to Southern California, a region consistently in the throes of buzz-generating new development. Planners who have never booked in this inspired region of the country will find the fresh inventory enticing; those who have booked here, even frequently, will be pleased that the meetings product rarely feels stale.
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The OC's Top 21 Outdoor Spaces
By Jessie Fetterling
August 30, 2012
Just south of Los Angeles, Orange County may be one of the most recognized counties in the U.S., with its real housewives and teenage melodramas on primetime TV. However, Hollywood charm takes the backseat when it comes to attracting tourists to these beach towns set along the Pacific Ocean. Whether your group wants to experience a laid-back surfer vibe, an artsy enclave or a piece of history, the OC has it all. Plus, with an average temperature of 70 degrees, planners can flirt with the idea of meeting outside, no matter the season. That’s why Smart Meetings put together a city-by-city rundown of the area’s top outdoor spaces. While the OC has many to explore, these 21 gems merge sunshine and a welcoming ambience that simply can’t be caught on film.
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Orange County With a Side of Art
By Josef Aukee
February 28, 2012
Formerly an agricultural region wedged between Los Angeles County to the north and San Diego County to the south, booming Orange County is many things to many people: beach bum original chic, L.A. sprawl gone mad, family holiday extravaganza and wealthy oceanside retreat. Truth is this once homogeneous county is a multicultural mix filled with enticing attractions, which includes marquee-name theme parks and deluxe meeting hotels and resorts to suit any group’s fancy. It may be urban in parts rather than suburban, but don’t expect much in the way of a high-rise downtown. Anaheim plays anchor to Disney’s dramatic footprint and the sparkling Anaheim Convention Center. The Pacific Coast Highway winds through the primary oceanside towns of Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach. And much fun and function is to be found inland at the facilities and resorts that dot the communities from Costa Mesa to Irvine.
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Boardrooms and surfboards, brah
By Macie Schreibman
November 23, 2009
To know Orange County’s Huntington Beach (aka Surf City USA), you need to know about surfing.
Learn about Huntington Beach for Event Venues, Services & Meeting Destinations
Destination Description
Smart Stats:
Number of Meetings Hotels: 4
Total Hotel Rooms: 1,900
Number of Special Events Venues: 10
Local Airports: Los Angeles International Airport, Long Beach Airport , John Wayne Airport
Local CVB: Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau
Smart Snapshot:
It’s no secret that the sea shapes Huntington Beach. After all, it trademarked the title “Surf City USA.” Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean, the musical duo that took “Surf City” to No. 1 in 1963, is a local resident and former Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau board member. The community hosts more than 30 surfing competitions annually. Visitors have come here for years to celebrate all things surf at the International Surfing Museum or the Surfing Walk of Fame.
Near the western corner of Orange County, Huntington Beach is blessed with eight miles of easily accessible, wide-open beaches. At 1,853 feet, its landmark pier, which extends out from Main Street, is one of the longest recreational piers in the world. Running parallel to the beach is the Strand, a paved pathway that spans the entire length of the beach, drawing joggers, bicyclists and Rollerbladers for the exercise and the scenery. Plus, thanks to its wide-open miles of sand and ocean, the city has one of the coolest meeting centers around. Venues line the inland side of Coast Highway and offer ample ocean views (some from pre-function meeting areas) and outdoor function space where ocean breezes prevail.
Groups gathering in Huntington Beach enjoy more than just winning waves. Located 35 miles south of Los Angeles, this coastal community offers an array of outdoor activities well suited to team building and networking events. The visitors bureau has a dedicated director of sales to help planners select venues and coordinate programs with local providers.
