Destination: San Diego

  • San Diego

Destination Articles

  • Big Bay and Beyond

    Almost 50 years after Columbus first glimpsed the shores of the New World, explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo entered into San Diego Bay, the first foray of European adventurers into the coast of what is now California.

  • Tee It Up

    It’s easy to get overlooked when you’re located adjacent to a city such as San Diego, perennially one of the most attractive meetings destinations in the U.S.

  • It'll Leave You Smiling

    Ahhhhh….San Diego. Like a breath of fresh air, the city feels welcoming, soothing and comforting. Maybe it’s the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the breezes off the bay, the sunny skies or the palm trees that line nearly every street.

  • Southern California Confidential

    To many, Southern California is a place of sunshine, flip-flops and endless sand. It’s where you can ride a Ferris wheel along the Santa Monica Pier, run beside the crashing waves of La Jolla or shop in perfect weather at a downtown farmer’s market.

  • Best of Both Worlds

    Finding the right balance of urban amenities and small-town charm has long been the conundrum for planners when weighing options and locales for meetings. Planners want a destination with first-rate hotels, activities and ambience that can be coupled with a relaxed pace to get down to business.

  • The Total Package

    San Diego conjures up images of sandy beaches, sunny skies and tan Californians. 

Destination Description

Smart Stats:

Number of Meetings Hotels: 230
Total Hotel Rooms: 54,000
Number of Special Events Venues: 162
Local Convention Centers: San Diego Convention Center, SDSU Conference Center, Marina Village Conference Center
Local Airports San Diego International Airport
Local CVB: San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau San Diego CVB

Smart Snapshot:

San Diego, CA: What Makes San Diego the Perfect Conference, Convention or Meeting Destination

The 70 miles of breathtaking landscape that largely make up San Diego are a piece of coastal bliss flaunting flora and fauna all year round, making for a perfect setting for destination meetings and conferences at any time of year. Not the typical SoCal destination—less of that L.A. urban feel or Orange County surfer-dude vibe—San Diego instead provides a more laid back, escape-from-it-all kind of simplicity that makes it a perfect retreat for meeting-goers. “We always call it God’s country because there’s this certain calm and peacefulness and lack of congestion,” says Margie Sitton, senior vice president of sales for the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau.

And lack of congestion is what makes meeting planning in San Diego so ideal. Destination meeting planners have an array of choices when it comes to scheduling a conference or finding a meeting venue that also offers outside-the-meeting room activities.

Meeting attendees can take to the beach on the breezy shores of La Jolla, filled with sun-bathing seals and eclectic breakfast spots. Do a little networking or team building on the green and find out why San Diego is a leading golf destination, or play the ponies at the iconic horse-racing tracks in Del Mar.  With such an abundance of options and activities paired with ample facilities for intimate meetings and annual conferences alike, you will find thatSan Diego delivers on its motto, “happy happens.”  

Plan Your San Diego Meeting Today!

If you’re thinking of planning a meeting or corporate event in San Diego and need help finding the ideal meeting venue, conference room or convention center, explore our meeting planning properties in San Diego.

Smart Meetings – Your Guide to Meeting Planning in San Diego

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