Smart Meetings

For many reasons—cultural influence, politics, Hollywood, economic impact and global popularity—California is one of the most dynamic and powerful places in the world, and Sacramento has always been at the middle of it.

Set at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers, and a hundred miles from San Francisco Bay, Sacramento was the catalyst for California’s first few moments of fame, when it siphoned hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs to the area from across the globe during the California Gold Rush of the mid-1800s. By the time the gold began to thin out, Sacramento had risen to become the state capital, and would evolve to turn into both a gateway to the Sierra mountain range as well as the epicenter and center stage for many decades of historic California politics.

Today, however, meeting professionals can discover a city that not only embraces its former Gold Rush glory and current political import, but also offers a diverse range of meeting space options and a wealth of truly unique attractions.

“There is this great entrepreneurial spirit that Californians enjoy,” says Steve Hammond, president and CEO of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Sacramento is at the heart of that.”

Just to the east, the city gives way to gorgeous rolling countryside at the foothills of the Sierra, where the former gold-mining outposts have transformed into charming and well-preserved towns, perfect for smaller, intimate meetings or executive retreats. “Visiting the Gold Country is like taking a step back in time,” Hammond says. “The Old West lives on in these now-tame Wild West towns where you’ll find gold mines, nature trails, antiques stores, historic buildings and more.”

Despite its political importance, Sacramento is only California’s seventh most populous city and has the unique advantage of having a major city’s amenities and quality of service but without the accompanying parking and traffic problems. It is also more affordable than cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles or San Diego. Plus, look out any balcony or window and you will see a city almost hidden by trees, which tower majestically over every street.

Add all of these attributes to the fact that you are rubbing shoulders with the rule-makers of California and surrounded in rich history—and you having a winning combination. “We have enjoyed great success because it is the state capital, it has all the amenities for a meeting planner and California associations just love it, for lobbying reasons,” Hammond says. “And it’s the after-hours experience, the whole Gold Rush history. There is really no other region in the country that can duplicate it.”

 

Downtown Sacramento
The layout of downtown Sacramento is particularly user-friendly. The main points of interest—historic Old Sacramento and the Capitol—are within walking distance of the convention center, the major hotels and some of the best restaurants in the city. This accessibility is one of the attributes that has sold Sacramento in the past, but the downtown has recently begun to see a rapid rate of change that is making it even more appealing. “Sacramento is very different than just four years ago,” Hammond says. “The most significant thing is the growth and development of the downtown, the new hotel properties going in and more than a dozen new restaurants.”

While this part of Sacramento has always been a hotspot for political celebrities, the election of Hollywood superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger to governor undoubtedly amplified the level of anticipation and excitement for attendees. Just as in Los Angeles or New York, the regular appearance of the bodyguard-bordered governor at certain restaurants has immediately elevated their popularity. There is also no governor’s mansion (in use) in Sacramento, so Arnold and his entourage are regularly seen at one of the hotels close to the Capitol.

Even more alluring than a well-muscled governor, however, is beautifully preserved Old Sacramento, a 28-acre national historic landmark along the Sacramento River. As the first permanent settlement in the area back in 1839, it became the center of commerce during the Gold Rush, replete with all the necessary saloons and houses of ill-repute needed to help lighten the gold-laden pockets of the new entrepreneurs. Today, however, the city has transformed these buildings into a number of classy restaurants and specialty shops, while still retaining the old wooden walkways and classic western storefronts, ideal for post-meeting dining or exploring.

Another facet of Sacramento filled with history is the State Capitol, which is open to the public daily. Not only can you check out museum-like rooms that were the offices of notable former politicians, but you can also watch current legislators hard at work. Guided group tours are also available.

 

Meeting Venues
Perfectly situated in the heart of downtown, the Sacramento Convention Center is as convenient as it is well-designed. With 384,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including a 24,000-square-foot ballroom and 134,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, the convention center is set up to handle just about any type of event or meeting. For large presentations, the historic 3,800-seat Memorial Auditorium across the street provides an ornate, classical contrast to the convention center’s modern design.

   “The convention center and the facilities were excellent,” says Armando Apodaca, CAE, chief operating officer of the International Right of Way Association. Apodaca brought 2,500 attendees in June, and says it was one of the most successful conferences they have ever had, both in terms of attendee satisfaction as well as financially. “Room rates and food & beverage are much lower than in places like San Francisco or New York,” he says. “And attendees loved the weather and taking tours, such as going to the gold mines.”

Outside the main entry of the convention center, the start of a pedestrian walkway stretches through several blocks of restaurants and shopping before emptying out into Old Sacramento. Just across the street from the center is the 33-acre Capitol Park, which showcases its pristine-white namesake building.

As far as accommodations downtown go, the major hotels supporting the convention center are the Hyatt Regency Sacramento and the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel, both less than a block away.

The Hyatt features 503 guest rooms and 28,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. In addition to Amourath 1819, its popular atrium lobby bar with an adjoining outdoor poolside patio, the hotel’s upscale traditional steakhouse, Dawson’s, has been known to draw in its share of notable politicians. The rooftop Capitol View room, with spectacular views of the city, is a perfect venue for a midsize meeting, dinner or cocktail reception.

The Sheraton, also with 503 guest rooms, offers 23,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and features a beautiful lobby housed in the restored Historic Public Market Building, an open-air public market built in 1923. With natural light streaming down through the glass roof, original exposed architecture and plenty of tables and couches, the area is a popular public social area as well as a fantastic foyer for much of the meeting space.

Situated right on the river and directly adjacent to Old Sacramento, Embassy Suites Sacramento offers 242 two-room suites and 8,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, in addition to its popular standard complimentary breakfast.

Two brand-new hotels going in will soon add to the diversity of Sacramento hotel options, something that city officials are particularly excited about. Joie de Vivre Hotels, which has almost all of its boutique hotels in the Bay Area, has spread its wings east to downtown Sacramento, moving into the beautiful historic former Cal Western Life building. Slated to open fall of 2008, The Citizen, with 197 guest rooms and 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, will offer some of the best views in the city, particularly from its spectacular 3,000-square-foot outdoor terrace overlooking the capitol and also from the private balconies of its top-floor suites. The original historic marble will be preserved in the lobby, and a 120-seat restaurant and bar with a private dining room will complete the scene.

One of Sacramento’s few riverfront hotels, the new 101-room Le Rivage will offer its own marina for private boat-access and beautiful French and Italian Riviera décor. With 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, the hotel, slated to open this month, will provide a perfect alternative for smaller, upscale meetings.

 

Unique Venues and Activities
Anyone who kept even the most basic train sets as a kid will be absolutely blown away by the California State Railroad Museum. Widely considered North America’s best railroad museum, the 100,000-square-foot main exhibition facility holds more than a dozen authentic engines and passenger cars representing the evolution of trains in North America. Simply standing aside the meticulously maintained behemoths is an amazing experience, let alone boarding the several cars that allow you to inspect the way train travel was “conducted” in previous generations. A favorite is the Canadian National Railways Sleeping Car No. 1683, the St. Hyacinthe, built in 1923. Groups can board and walk through the sleeping car as a simulation system rocks the car around and flashes lights to provide as authentic an experience as possible. Located right in Old Sacramento, the museum can be rented out for a truly memorable event for groups of up to several hundred.

For a different experience of Sacramento, consider renting a river charter for your group. A variety of boats are available through several companies—take a group of several hundred down the river on a large riverboat with meeting space and a full bar, or charter a small yacht for a more-intimate outing. A full range of options are available, from one-hour narrated tours to full evening dinner cruises. Woody’s River City Queen can accommodate groups of up to 80 passengers.

 

Greater Sacramento
Outside of downtown Sacramento, a number of solid meeting options exist for groups not needing immediate access to the convention center. Cal Expo provides planners with numerous meeting options, with more than 350 acres of indoor and outdoor versatility. This includes ARCO Arena, home of the NBA’s Sacramento Kings basketball team, which can seat more than 17,000, and Raley Field (home of AAA baseball’s Rivercats), seating 15,000. Only about 15 minutes from downtown, Cal Expo is close to 2,500 hotel rooms in the West Point area.

Another remarkable meeting option is the Lions Gate Hotel and Conference Center, located in sprawling McClellen Park, the new incarnation of McClellen Air Force Base. As the former officer’s club and residences, the Lion’s Gate has a relaxing, residential atmosphere, with more than 18 banquet and meeting rooms spread throughout the grounds. It also offers the unique advantage of its own air field, so high-level executives can be flown right in on private jets for exclusive and convenient VIP service.

 

Unique Venues
Just as the California State Railroad Museum in downtown Sacramento will make a train buff giddy, McClellen Park’s Aerospace Museum of California is enough to cause any pilot to act like a 10-year-old at Disneyland.

The 37,000-square-foot hangar is filled with several original planes from all facets of military and private plane history. Just outside the retractable hangar doors, the giant yard looks like a cocktail party for planes, with meticulously restored fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance planes and helicopters from every war, and even from former enemies, such as the Cold War-era Russian MiG. Add the fact that you can even climb into some of the cockpits and cargo holds, and it is just about one of the most interesting settings imaginable for your next cocktail reception or event.

 

Gold Country
Exiting from the flatland suburbs of Sacramento, you emerge into the golden, rounded foothills of the Sierra. Although the town of Sacramento was the center of trade for the Gold Rush, the actual nuggets themselves were found farther up in these hills. Small towns grew up around the hotspots, many of which have been preserved and exist today as some of the most beautiful and quaint small towns in America.

Spread out between Sacramento to the west and such outdoor recreation bastions as Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park to the east, these small historic towns are both ideal jumping-off points and wonderfully peaceful destinations. Today they’re also part of a booming wine region, with tasting rooms and restaurants popping up every month. With relatively small hotels and B&Bs, Gold Country is best suited for small meetings and executive retreats; they’re easy day trips from Sacramento.

During the summer, outdoor meeting possibilities are endless. Head to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma to see where James Marshall discovered gold in 1848, a perfect spot for scenic group picnics. The Sutter Gold Mine in Amador County will take groups underground into a gold mine, where they can learn about historic mining techniques and even pan for their own gold at the surface.

The city of Folsom is a perfect base for activities in Gold Country, located conveniently between Sacramento and the foothills of the Sierra. Home to the infamous Folsom Prison (and popularized by crooner Johnny Cash), the city also has more hospitable accommodations, offering five hotels with meeting space. The area’s wealth of activities include nearby wine tours, historic Folsom Sutter Street and Folsom Lake for kayaking, water skiing and sailing.

Aside from the calmer pursuits of tasting wine and panning for gold on its shores, the American River offers some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. Whitewater Connection, based in Coloma, offers a number of guided trips and a base camp with hot showers, restrooms and catering options. With three forks of the American River to choose from, and a wide assortment of guiding operations, many different options for group trips are available.

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Getting There

Sacramento International Airport is 12 miles northwest of downtown, and is served by 14 major airlines. Nonstop service includes New York, Newark, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Kansas City and all major California cities. Back to Top

Not To Be Missed

• Old Sacramento, a 28-acre national historic landmark along the Sacramento River, is rich with history from the mid-1800s California Gold Rush. Stroll along the charming old wooden sidewalks to find some of the best dining and shopping in Sacramento.

• Aside from a chance to run into Arnold, the State Capitol is rich with political history. Tours are available and the building is open to the public every day.

• The California State Railroad Museum, considered North America’s best railroad museum, is a 100,000-square-foot playground of authentic engines and passenger cars from throughout train history.

• See what a Cold War-era Russian MiG looks like up close at the Aerospace Museum of California. Several dozen authentic doses of military and private aviation history include fighter jets, bombers, helicopters and reconnaissance planes. Don’t forget to take your CEO for a spin in the flight simulator.

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