Destination Guide | Los Angeles
LAX AND BEACH CITIES
By Carolyn Koenig
In L.A., You’re Either On It, Or Near It
It’s November, and first-quarter meetings are a big blip on your radar screen—especially if you’ve got a group of snowbirds who want to head somewhere warm and sunny after the new year...somewhere with great accommodations, fine dining and nightlife. Somewhere easily accessible, with good airlift.
If that’s the case, consider coastal L.A., where there are 329 sunny days a year and an annual rainfall of 14 inches (last season’s total was a scant 2.44).
The county’s 75-mile coastline hugs fabled oceanfront towns like Malibu and Santa Monica on the north end of Santa Monica Bay, segueing south to Marina del Rey, then Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo on the opposite end—each with its own ambience and attractions.
Best of all, they’re within half an hour of Los Angeles International Airport, which offers a staggering selection of airlines and flights. And, if you’ve got an in-and-out, no frills meeting where attendees might want to add a post-stay on their own, a clutch of hotels radiate conveniently like spokes from this aviation hub.
MALIBU
The name Malibu says “California” but also “Hollywood” to many of us who follow the film industry. Along its 21-mile coast are the beachfront homes of many tabloid-favorite celebrities and other A-listers. There are two standout beaches: one-mile Carbon Beach, a.k.a. “Billionaire’s Beach,” which the public gained access to during daylight hours after David Geffen lost a much-publicized lawsuit; and Surfrider Beach, the hotspot for L.A. surfers due to its consistently great, well-formed waves.
A couple of meetings and event venues have bucked the trend of hotel conversions to private use—the oceanfront Malibu Beach Inn at Carbon Beach, built right on the sands of Billionaire’s Beach; and the brand-new Church Estate Vineyards, opposite Zuma Beach.
Malibu Beach Inn, which reopened this fall after a total renovation, has five dedicated meeting spaces totaling 1,500 sq. ft., and 4,500 sq. ft. of flexible outdoor space. Plus, the hotel offers a 3,000-square-foot exterior space with a custom tent that can accommodate up to 238. If you’ve got a small group, receptions can be catered on the hotel’s private beach.
Church Estate Vineyards is a knock-your-socks-off venue for high-end corporate events and incentives. The sprawling nine-acre property features an 8,000-square-foot Normandy-style home (for up to 10 guests), vineyards, a stable, white-fenced lawns and more. The total property can accommodate from 30 for intimate gatherings up to 3,000.
SANTA MONICA
Tucked into the northeast corner of Santa Monica Bay, and only eight square miles, Santa Monica is no stranger to visitors seeking a sunny winter escape—it was founded for that purpose in 1875. But as the town has grown, so has its seasonability to a year-round destination, thanks to that pleasantly mild climate.
The city’s ambience is one of casual sophistication, says Alison Best, director of sales for the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here jeans and Armanis blend seamlessly—sometimes worn in combo. You’re likely to spot a few celebrities, as they come to Santa Monica to shop, to dine (according to ZagatSurvey, Santa Monica has the best dining in Southern California), or to kick back—but nobody bothers them.
Getting around town is easy, whether on foot or by using the excellent public transportation system (cars aren’t necessary here—one reason Santa Monica has been recognized as one of the top 10 green cities in the U.S.).
And there’s plenty to see and do. The pretty, tree-lined downtown is packed with shops and restaurants, as is the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-friendly “boulevard” lined by boutiques, cafes, restaurants and movie theaters. Dine-arounds are logistically simple and economical.
Santa Monica’s sophistication has been fueled further by an overall upgrade in its hospitality product, from total, near-teardown of existing properties, such as the Shangri-la, to expansions and renovation of meeting and events spaces, such as the Huntley’s recent luxe remodel.
With the upgraded facilities, the CVB’s focus has become more targeted to incentives and small corporate meetings, according to Best. But that’s not to say there isn’t a range of price points: among the 37 hotels with more than 3,500 rooms, you’ll find properties from the DoubleTree to the Sheraton Delfina (which recently underwent a dramatic transformation) to Casa del Mar.
And that’s not to say, either, that the city can’t handle larger gatherings. Although groups of 50 to 175 are an ideal size, there are two “citywides” each year, including the American Film Market in November (see A Case Study, below).
Where to Meet
Santa Monica’s major hotels serve as the city’s meeting locations. The Fairmont Miramar Hotel has the largest meeting space, with 25,000 sq. ft.; Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel has the most sleeping rooms (342). Additionally, Loews and nearby Le Merigot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel and Spa offer joint programs, as do the Fairmont Miramar and the nearby Huntley Santa Monica Beach.
Unique Venues and Attractions
Santa Monica is a noted arts town, with 90 museums and galleries, and an artwalk map to guide you. Opening in spring 2008 is the Madison Performing Arts Center, a satellite venue of Santa Monica College. This exciting addition to the cultural scene includes a 541-seat theater, a 4,000-square-foot art gallery, a 99-seat classroom and more (Dustin Hoffman serves as the campaign chair). “This is a high-quality performance venue,” Best says. “It’s nice for evening events—a great space for entertaining. You can do a wine-and-cheese before the show, have a nice dinner on the lawn before the show, or do a complete buyout.”
Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Municipal Airport is another option. It’s an unconventional venue—a shell that a DMC could make into whatever you want it to be, Best says. The site has hosted the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and E3 (the Electronics Entertainment Expo).
The Civic Auditorium is a flexible event venue that can convert its 3,000-seat performance space to 27,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.
And, of course, there’s the renowned Santa Monica Pier, the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast. Its Pacific Park amusement center houses the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel (not surprising, given the city’s eco sensibility). For an upcoming event, Volkswagen will use the northern part of the pier and tent it—a fun venue as well as a historic landmark.
MARINA DEL REY
Not a beach town per se (although there is a small white-sand beach), Marina del Rey is L.A.’s boating playground, where more than 5,000 pleasure craft are moored along finger-like piers, their tall masts swaying rhythmically with the tide.
In recent years, the small city (804 acres, 403 of which are water) has been undergoing both property upgrades and improvements to the infrastructure, enhancing an already top-tier nautical destination.
“Our destination offers affordable first-class waterfront meeting and event sites 10 minutes from LAX, and endless opportunities for on-the-water experiences for groups,” says Beverly Moore, executive director of the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Where to Meet
With six hotels—the major meeting properties being The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey and the Marina del Rey Marriott—the city draws small to mid-size groups for meetings, often combined with functions or excursions (you guessed it) aboard any of a virtual flotilla of gleaming white yachts.
Both the Ritz (the only Five-Diamond waterfront property in L.A.) and the Marriott have recently completed major renovations not only to guest rooms but also the lobby and other public spaces. The Ritz added the new Boutique Spa, with eight treatment rooms, plus a cardio/weight studio. Glow, the Marriott’s hip outdoor lounge with a waterfall and a two-story crushed glass fireplace, was just added to Playboy.com’s A-list as one of the top 10 lounges in the country. How hip is it? To give you an idea, Glow joins such others as The Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and The Palms Pool and Bungalows in Las Vegas.
For that sense of place experience, board FantaSea Yachts or Hornblower Cruises & Events for sea-going receptions, dinners and other charter excursions (Hornblower also offers regularly scheduled cruises). Or, turn your group loose for a couple of hours on jet skis, kayaks or other watercraft for a really personal or team-building water adventure. Brand new at the marina is Catalina Adventure’s chartered express service to Catalina Island, a 1.5-hour crossing aboard a sleek 149-seat hydrofoil-assisted catamaran.
Last summer Denean Perry, event operations manager for BMC Software in Houston, brought a group of 125 top employees for a four-day incentive to The Ritz-Carlton. After looking at other Southern California locations, she chose Marina del Rey because “it was close to the airport, convenient and had a lot of things to offer,” she says. She picked the Ritz because, she says, “I wanted a name, something people would associate with a first- class event.”
Perry arranged a welcome reception on-site for the Thursday night arrival and an off-site dinner at the Sony backlot on Friday night (“we wanted something that would appeal to a wide range of ages, something that they couldn’t do on their own,” she says). On Saturday, attendees danced the night away at a gala aboard a chartered yacht, which the hotel helped to arrange. “[The hotel’s] conference service staff is some of the best in the industry,” she says.
LAX AND VICINITY
Whether your group needs a budget fly-in-and-out rendezvous, or a convenient spot to add a beach excursion, LAX airport hotels have you covered. After its purchase by Kor Hotel Group a few years ago, the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles underwent a major overhaul that gives the property a sleek new “boutique” look and style. Two blocks from LAX, the Marriott Los Angeles Airport recently concluded a $20-million modernizing re-do; also nearby is the Hilton LAX, one of the world’s largest airport hotels, with 1,200 guest rooms. Each has business centers and the wired/wireless Internet access you need.
SOUTH BAY
Clustered along the southern portion of Santa Monica Bay is a trio of small cities with large appeal. Manhattan Beach is a 3.88-square-mile gem. Rent a bike and ride the paved beachside path, stroll out on the pier to the Roundhouse Aquarium at its tip or catch professional volleyballers practicing here for the AVP Manhattan Open. Book your meeting at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, a coastal resort with an on-site par 3 executive golf course, or The Belamar, an urban luxury retreat. Or try the new Shade Hotel, a trendy beach hotel that made Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List for 2007.
Even smaller is the 1.33-square-mile Hermosa Beach, a fun seaside town with a pretty swath of beach, great swimming and surfing and a long fishing pier. Watch—or join—the pro volleyballers (there seems to be a pattern here!) during the day, and when the sun sets, head for Pier Avenue for dining, dancing and other nightlife. Check your group into the Beach House, a boutique hotel right on the Strand (a 27-mile beach path great for jogging and bicycle cruising that threads along the ocean), with loft suites and 2,200 sq. ft. of meeting space.
You can also work and play in Redondo Beach, the largest of the three (at 6.3 square miles). At one time, the city was the designated port of Los Angeles, which later shifted to Long Beach. Today, it’s well-known for its land and water recreation, says Maris Somerville, spokesperson for the chamber. That includes “whale watching in season, ocean kayaking, scuba diving and the only horseshoe-shaped entertainment pier in the country.” Plus, she says, “it’s an all-inclusive meeting destination, with 80,000 sq. ft. of conference space in a variety of hotels and meeting venues, including the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach is the largest of the spaces, with 24,333 sq. ft. and 19 meeting rooms; it also has a Gold’s Gym on-site (complimentary for guests). Another option is the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, which underwent an $11-million re-do last year. The property has more than 8,000 sq. ft. of function space, including a divisible ballroom.
A CASE STUDY – THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET
In late October, 8,000 attendees from 75 countries converged on Santa Monica for the annual American Film Market, a global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision makers and other industry leaders gather to make deals (it’s second only to the market at Cannes).
It’s not a film festival, like Sundance; it’s not an awards ceremony, like the Oscars. “It’s a trade show,” says Jonathan Wolf, executive vice president of the Independent Film & Television Alliance and managing director of AFM. Exhibitors and qualified buyers are on the show floor; they’re joined by other industry professionals (normally called “everyone else” in trade-show parlance).
The similarity to other shows ends there. The AFM is an eight-day event, preceded by four days of set-up—at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and, in recent years, due to increased attendance, three floors of the nearby Le Merigot. The kicker? 100 percent of the exhibit space is in the guest rooms. Out go the beds—in go the desks, the couches, the computer networks, the lightboxes and 50-inch plasma TVs.
From there, the show spills out onto the Santa Monica Promenade, where all 21 movie screens (plus 10 additional digital screens) are put to use during the day. Participating buyers view more than 900 screenings of approximately 500 films, many of which are world or U.S. premieres. All venues are within walking distance of the headquarter hotels—no transportation is needed.
After screening selected films, buyers meet the suppliers in the hotel guest rooms—now offices—and seal $800 million in deals for the right to distribute films in their countries. “It’s not like [the films] are stoves on a trade show floor, where you can turn them on and off and open the oven door,” Wolf says. At a regular trade show, it takes 20 minutes to land a lead; it takes much longer to close a deal, he continues.
For Santa Monica it’s a citywide, an arrangement that showcases their flexibility, their hotels, their ambience and their fine dining. While the city offers a variety of properties in a range of price points, AFM attendees generally “ride in the front of the plane,” Wolf says.
And, according to an economic survey conducted of an earlier AFM by the Santa Monica CVB, the show tallied a tidy $11 million in revenue for the community.
Back to Top
If that’s the case, consider coastal L.A., where there are 329 sunny days a year and an annual rainfall of 14 inches (last season’s total was a scant 2.44).
The county’s 75-mile coastline hugs fabled oceanfront towns like Malibu and Santa Monica on the north end of Santa Monica Bay, segueing south to Marina del Rey, then Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo on the opposite end—each with its own ambience and attractions.
Best of all, they’re within half an hour of Los Angeles International Airport, which offers a staggering selection of airlines and flights. And, if you’ve got an in-and-out, no frills meeting where attendees might want to add a post-stay on their own, a clutch of hotels radiate conveniently like spokes from this aviation hub.
MALIBU
The name Malibu says “California” but also “Hollywood” to many of us who follow the film industry. Along its 21-mile coast are the beachfront homes of many tabloid-favorite celebrities and other A-listers. There are two standout beaches: one-mile Carbon Beach, a.k.a. “Billionaire’s Beach,” which the public gained access to during daylight hours after David Geffen lost a much-publicized lawsuit; and Surfrider Beach, the hotspot for L.A. surfers due to its consistently great, well-formed waves.
A couple of meetings and event venues have bucked the trend of hotel conversions to private use—the oceanfront Malibu Beach Inn at Carbon Beach, built right on the sands of Billionaire’s Beach; and the brand-new Church Estate Vineyards, opposite Zuma Beach.
Malibu Beach Inn, which reopened this fall after a total renovation, has five dedicated meeting spaces totaling 1,500 sq. ft., and 4,500 sq. ft. of flexible outdoor space. Plus, the hotel offers a 3,000-square-foot exterior space with a custom tent that can accommodate up to 238. If you’ve got a small group, receptions can be catered on the hotel’s private beach.
Church Estate Vineyards is a knock-your-socks-off venue for high-end corporate events and incentives. The sprawling nine-acre property features an 8,000-square-foot Normandy-style home (for up to 10 guests), vineyards, a stable, white-fenced lawns and more. The total property can accommodate from 30 for intimate gatherings up to 3,000.
SANTA MONICA
Tucked into the northeast corner of Santa Monica Bay, and only eight square miles, Santa Monica is no stranger to visitors seeking a sunny winter escape—it was founded for that purpose in 1875. But as the town has grown, so has its seasonability to a year-round destination, thanks to that pleasantly mild climate.
The city’s ambience is one of casual sophistication, says Alison Best, director of sales for the Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here jeans and Armanis blend seamlessly—sometimes worn in combo. You’re likely to spot a few celebrities, as they come to Santa Monica to shop, to dine (according to ZagatSurvey, Santa Monica has the best dining in Southern California), or to kick back—but nobody bothers them.
Getting around town is easy, whether on foot or by using the excellent public transportation system (cars aren’t necessary here—one reason Santa Monica has been recognized as one of the top 10 green cities in the U.S.).
And there’s plenty to see and do. The pretty, tree-lined downtown is packed with shops and restaurants, as is the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian-friendly “boulevard” lined by boutiques, cafes, restaurants and movie theaters. Dine-arounds are logistically simple and economical.
Santa Monica’s sophistication has been fueled further by an overall upgrade in its hospitality product, from total, near-teardown of existing properties, such as the Shangri-la, to expansions and renovation of meeting and events spaces, such as the Huntley’s recent luxe remodel.
With the upgraded facilities, the CVB’s focus has become more targeted to incentives and small corporate meetings, according to Best. But that’s not to say there isn’t a range of price points: among the 37 hotels with more than 3,500 rooms, you’ll find properties from the DoubleTree to the Sheraton Delfina (which recently underwent a dramatic transformation) to Casa del Mar.
And that’s not to say, either, that the city can’t handle larger gatherings. Although groups of 50 to 175 are an ideal size, there are two “citywides” each year, including the American Film Market in November (see A Case Study, below).
Where to Meet
Santa Monica’s major hotels serve as the city’s meeting locations. The Fairmont Miramar Hotel has the largest meeting space, with 25,000 sq. ft.; Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel has the most sleeping rooms (342). Additionally, Loews and nearby Le Merigot, A JW Marriott Beach Hotel and Spa offer joint programs, as do the Fairmont Miramar and the nearby Huntley Santa Monica Beach.
Unique Venues and Attractions
Santa Monica is a noted arts town, with 90 museums and galleries, and an artwalk map to guide you. Opening in spring 2008 is the Madison Performing Arts Center, a satellite venue of Santa Monica College. This exciting addition to the cultural scene includes a 541-seat theater, a 4,000-square-foot art gallery, a 99-seat classroom and more (Dustin Hoffman serves as the campaign chair). “This is a high-quality performance venue,” Best says. “It’s nice for evening events—a great space for entertaining. You can do a wine-and-cheese before the show, have a nice dinner on the lawn before the show, or do a complete buyout.”
Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Municipal Airport is another option. It’s an unconventional venue—a shell that a DMC could make into whatever you want it to be, Best says. The site has hosted the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and E3 (the Electronics Entertainment Expo).
The Civic Auditorium is a flexible event venue that can convert its 3,000-seat performance space to 27,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.
And, of course, there’s the renowned Santa Monica Pier, the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast. Its Pacific Park amusement center houses the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel (not surprising, given the city’s eco sensibility). For an upcoming event, Volkswagen will use the northern part of the pier and tent it—a fun venue as well as a historic landmark.
MARINA DEL REY
Not a beach town per se (although there is a small white-sand beach), Marina del Rey is L.A.’s boating playground, where more than 5,000 pleasure craft are moored along finger-like piers, their tall masts swaying rhythmically with the tide.
In recent years, the small city (804 acres, 403 of which are water) has been undergoing both property upgrades and improvements to the infrastructure, enhancing an already top-tier nautical destination.
“Our destination offers affordable first-class waterfront meeting and event sites 10 minutes from LAX, and endless opportunities for on-the-water experiences for groups,” says Beverly Moore, executive director of the Marina del Rey Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Where to Meet
With six hotels—the major meeting properties being The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey and the Marina del Rey Marriott—the city draws small to mid-size groups for meetings, often combined with functions or excursions (you guessed it) aboard any of a virtual flotilla of gleaming white yachts.
Both the Ritz (the only Five-Diamond waterfront property in L.A.) and the Marriott have recently completed major renovations not only to guest rooms but also the lobby and other public spaces. The Ritz added the new Boutique Spa, with eight treatment rooms, plus a cardio/weight studio. Glow, the Marriott’s hip outdoor lounge with a waterfall and a two-story crushed glass fireplace, was just added to Playboy.com’s A-list as one of the top 10 lounges in the country. How hip is it? To give you an idea, Glow joins such others as The Tropicana Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood and The Palms Pool and Bungalows in Las Vegas.
For that sense of place experience, board FantaSea Yachts or Hornblower Cruises & Events for sea-going receptions, dinners and other charter excursions (Hornblower also offers regularly scheduled cruises). Or, turn your group loose for a couple of hours on jet skis, kayaks or other watercraft for a really personal or team-building water adventure. Brand new at the marina is Catalina Adventure’s chartered express service to Catalina Island, a 1.5-hour crossing aboard a sleek 149-seat hydrofoil-assisted catamaran.
Last summer Denean Perry, event operations manager for BMC Software in Houston, brought a group of 125 top employees for a four-day incentive to The Ritz-Carlton. After looking at other Southern California locations, she chose Marina del Rey because “it was close to the airport, convenient and had a lot of things to offer,” she says. She picked the Ritz because, she says, “I wanted a name, something people would associate with a first- class event.”
Perry arranged a welcome reception on-site for the Thursday night arrival and an off-site dinner at the Sony backlot on Friday night (“we wanted something that would appeal to a wide range of ages, something that they couldn’t do on their own,” she says). On Saturday, attendees danced the night away at a gala aboard a chartered yacht, which the hotel helped to arrange. “[The hotel’s] conference service staff is some of the best in the industry,” she says.
LAX AND VICINITY
Whether your group needs a budget fly-in-and-out rendezvous, or a convenient spot to add a beach excursion, LAX airport hotels have you covered. After its purchase by Kor Hotel Group a few years ago, the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles underwent a major overhaul that gives the property a sleek new “boutique” look and style. Two blocks from LAX, the Marriott Los Angeles Airport recently concluded a $20-million modernizing re-do; also nearby is the Hilton LAX, one of the world’s largest airport hotels, with 1,200 guest rooms. Each has business centers and the wired/wireless Internet access you need.
SOUTH BAY
Clustered along the southern portion of Santa Monica Bay is a trio of small cities with large appeal. Manhattan Beach is a 3.88-square-mile gem. Rent a bike and ride the paved beachside path, stroll out on the pier to the Roundhouse Aquarium at its tip or catch professional volleyballers practicing here for the AVP Manhattan Open. Book your meeting at the Manhattan Beach Marriott, a coastal resort with an on-site par 3 executive golf course, or The Belamar, an urban luxury retreat. Or try the new Shade Hotel, a trendy beach hotel that made Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List for 2007.
Even smaller is the 1.33-square-mile Hermosa Beach, a fun seaside town with a pretty swath of beach, great swimming and surfing and a long fishing pier. Watch—or join—the pro volleyballers (there seems to be a pattern here!) during the day, and when the sun sets, head for Pier Avenue for dining, dancing and other nightlife. Check your group into the Beach House, a boutique hotel right on the Strand (a 27-mile beach path great for jogging and bicycle cruising that threads along the ocean), with loft suites and 2,200 sq. ft. of meeting space.
You can also work and play in Redondo Beach, the largest of the three (at 6.3 square miles). At one time, the city was the designated port of Los Angeles, which later shifted to Long Beach. Today, it’s well-known for its land and water recreation, says Maris Somerville, spokesperson for the chamber. That includes “whale watching in season, ocean kayaking, scuba diving and the only horseshoe-shaped entertainment pier in the country.” Plus, she says, “it’s an all-inclusive meeting destination, with 80,000 sq. ft. of conference space in a variety of hotels and meeting venues, including the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach is the largest of the spaces, with 24,333 sq. ft. and 19 meeting rooms; it also has a Gold’s Gym on-site (complimentary for guests). Another option is the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, which underwent an $11-million re-do last year. The property has more than 8,000 sq. ft. of function space, including a divisible ballroom.
A CASE STUDY – THE AMERICAN FILM MARKET
In late October, 8,000 attendees from 75 countries converged on Santa Monica for the annual American Film Market, a global marketplace where Hollywood’s decision makers and other industry leaders gather to make deals (it’s second only to the market at Cannes).
It’s not a film festival, like Sundance; it’s not an awards ceremony, like the Oscars. “It’s a trade show,” says Jonathan Wolf, executive vice president of the Independent Film & Television Alliance and managing director of AFM. Exhibitors and qualified buyers are on the show floor; they’re joined by other industry professionals (normally called “everyone else” in trade-show parlance).
The similarity to other shows ends there. The AFM is an eight-day event, preceded by four days of set-up—at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel and, in recent years, due to increased attendance, three floors of the nearby Le Merigot. The kicker? 100 percent of the exhibit space is in the guest rooms. Out go the beds—in go the desks, the couches, the computer networks, the lightboxes and 50-inch plasma TVs.
From there, the show spills out onto the Santa Monica Promenade, where all 21 movie screens (plus 10 additional digital screens) are put to use during the day. Participating buyers view more than 900 screenings of approximately 500 films, many of which are world or U.S. premieres. All venues are within walking distance of the headquarter hotels—no transportation is needed.
After screening selected films, buyers meet the suppliers in the hotel guest rooms—now offices—and seal $800 million in deals for the right to distribute films in their countries. “It’s not like [the films] are stoves on a trade show floor, where you can turn them on and off and open the oven door,” Wolf says. At a regular trade show, it takes 20 minutes to land a lead; it takes much longer to close a deal, he continues.
For Santa Monica it’s a citywide, an arrangement that showcases their flexibility, their hotels, their ambience and their fine dining. While the city offers a variety of properties in a range of price points, AFM attendees generally “ride in the front of the plane,” Wolf says.
And, according to an economic survey conducted of an earlier AFM by the Santa Monica CVB, the show tallied a tidy $11 million in revenue for the community.
MALIBU | ROOMS/MEETING SPACE | WHAT’S DISTINCTIVE |
| Malibu Beach Innmalibubeachinn.com | 47 rms1,500 sq. ft. | On the sand at “Billionaire’s Beach” with a private beach club. Has various outdoor spaces and a custom tent; catering for small events on the hotel’s private beach. |
| SANTA MONICA | ||
| The Fairmont Miramar Hotelfairmont.com | 209 rms5,000 sq. ft. | $18-million renovation completed in 2007; hip, 18th-floor Penthouse Restaurant with 360-degree views; member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. |
| Le Merigot Beach Hotel and Spalemerigothotel.com | 175 rms10,000 sq. ft. | A JW Marriott property, with a 6,500-square-foot spa. Wi-Fi Internet access in public spaces and meeting rooms; 2 poolside terraces can accommodate up to 600. |
| Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotelsantamonicaloewshotel.com | 342 rms20,000+ sq. ft. | Four-Diamond Beachfront hotel with fitness center and spa; Grand Ballroom of 6,188 sq. ft, Junior Ballroom of 1,633 sq. ft. plus boardroom and 7 additional meeting spaces. |
| Sheraton Delfinasheratonsantamonica.com | 307 rms10,000 sq. ft. | $11-million renovation in 2005; 4,500-square-foot penthouse ballroom; heated plunge pool; fitness center with cardio theater. |
| MARINA DEL REY | ||
| Marriott Marina del Reymarriott.com | 370 rms18,000 sq. ft. | Largest meeting space has capacity of 700; 17 meeting rooms total; expert audiovisual resources available. Their lounge, Glow, is one of the top 10 lounges in the US. |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Reyritzcarlton.com | 304 rms15,000 sq. ft. | The only waterfront Five-Diamond property in Los Angeles. New Boutique Spa with eight treatment rooms and state-of-the-art cardio/weight studio. |
| LAX VICINITY | ||
| Sheraton Gateway Los Angelessheratonlosangeles.com | 802 rms50,000 sq. ft. | Contemporary “boutique” atmosphere. 40 flexible, newly renovated meeting and event spaces, including an 11,400-square-foot grand ballroom. Poolside fitness center. |
| Hilton Los Angeles Airporthilton.com | 1,234 rms55,000 sq. ft. | Offers complementary shuttles to LAX 24 hours a day; 22 meeting rooms, including several ballrooms; The Bistro café is always open for a light meal. |
| Marriott Los Angeles Airportmarriott.com | 1,004 rms55,000 sq. ft. | Recently completed a $20-million facelift; 12,320 square-foot Marquis Ballroom has a maximum capacity of 1,300; wireless Internet in guest rooms and public areas. |
| MANHATTAN BEACH | ||
| The Belamarthebelamar.com | 127 rms 6,300 sq. ft. | Gorgeous courtyard available for outdoor events and meetings; audiovisual equipment available by reservation; exquisite catering provided by on-site restaurant Vibe. |
| Manhattan Beach Marriott marriott.com | 385 rms25,000 sq. ft. | Features 9-hole, par 3 executive golf course on-site; Manhattan Ballroom can hold up to 900; convenient to LAX, only 3 miles away. |
| Shade Hotelshadehotel.com | 38 rms5,500 sq. ft. | One of 19 US properties to make the Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List for 2007; sophisticated Sky Bar offers breathtaking views. |
| HERMOSA BEACH | ||
| Beach House Hotelbeach-house.com/hermosa | 96 rms2,600 sq. ft. | All 96 loft suites have full or partial ocean view; can accommodate groups of up to 100; listed in LA Magazine as one of the 100 sexiest things, people or places in L.A. |
| REDONDO BEACH | ||
| Crowne Plaza Redondo Beachichotels.com | 339 rms24,333 sq. ft. | Renovated in 2004; overlooks the Pacific Ocean and King Harbor Marina. Seven miles from LAX. Golds Gym adjacent to hotel. |
| Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, Redondo Beachhotelportofino.com | 161 rms8,000 sq. ft. | Guest rooms include 5 beautifully renovated suites; Bayside and Pacific Ballrooms each feature floor-to-ceiling windows; can accommodate up to 160 guests fo |
Getting There
Los Angeles International Airport offers flights all over the world. Santa Monica Municipal Airport accommodates private, corporate and charter aircraft. Back to TopWhat's New?
New Marriott in L.A. | A new brand of hotel is emerging from a collaboration between J.W. Marriott Jr. and Ian Schrager ...
Back to TopFast Facts
| Population | 3,849,378 |
|---|---|
| Altitude | 233 ft |
| Temperature | 49°f - 83°f |
| Nearest Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
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Tempting Turkeys
Gobble up the iced sugar cookies yourself or bring them to a holiday party, they are the perfect treat to satisfy any sweet tooth.
