From the Oscars to the Olympics, The Town is having a moment
After Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler and Grammy-winning R&B artist Kehlani brought national attention to their hometown, Oakland, California, is once again in the spotlight, highlighting the creativity, culinary talent and cultural energy that define the Bay Area city affectionately known as The Town.
Smart Meetings sat down with Visit Oakland President and CEO Peter Gamez to talk about the international buzz surrounding the city and what makes Oakland an appealing destination for meeting planners.
Smart Meetings Oakland has been getting a lot of attention lately, especially with Alysa Liu, Ryan Coogler and other hometown figures making headlines. How does that kind of visibility affect interest in Oakland as a destination for meetings and events?
Peter Gamez It has been quite a week of celebration in The Town. We had close to 10,000 people in downtown Oakland welcoming our hometown hero Alysa Liu, and she has brought so much light to Oakland, definitely putting us on the global stage.
What I love about this, especially for the meetings world, is that she represents what Oakland has always been about—persistence, multiculturalism and soulfulness. When planners are looking for that kind of energy for their meeting, they can find it here in Oakland.
And it is not just Alysa. When Ryan Coogler received an Academy Award and said he was from Oakland, that meant a lot. Then you add Kehlani winning Grammys. In sports, film and music, Oaklanders are putting our city on the global stage, and that positive storytelling is creating a new narrative for us.
Read More: Oakland: A City Rooted in Community
SM For planners who are not from the Bay Area, what do you think they are seeing right now as Oakland gets this kind of national and global attention?
PG What we are seeing is curiosity. People are reaching out from all over the world asking about Oakland, from Asia, Australia, South America and Mexico. That opens the door for dialogue.
Some people may have heard about Oakland in the past in a negative light, and that can happen with any urban destination. But now they are seeing something different. They are seeing our culture, our food scene and our arts community.
We have been named the number one food city in America two years in a row by Condé Nast, and that reflects the diversity of Oakland. We have more than 125 languages spoken here. That diversity shows up in our food, in our neighborhoods and in our people, and planners are starting to notice that.
SM What kinds of questions are you hearing from planners right now?
PG A lot of planners are asking how they can incorporate the local culture into their meetings. They are reading about our food scene, so they want to know how to bring that into their event.
They are also asking about sports and entertainment experiences. For example, people have asked about the ice rink where Alysa Liu trained. That is not a question we used to get, but now planners want to know how they can create an outing around that.
We also talk about our local sports teams like the Oakland Roots, Oakland Soul and the Oakland Ballers. These grassroots teams are a big part of our story, and planners like the idea of giving attendees an authentic local experience.
Read More: Oakland Sports Remain Strong Despite Exodus of Major Sports Teams
SM With so much attention right now, what do you hope this moment leads to for Oakland?
PG Our biggest asset in Oakland is our people. When meetings come here, they impact the people who live and work here, the cooks, the housekeepers, the teachers and the families who raised people like Alysa Liu and Ryan Coogler.
We always say we are not just marketing a destination. We are creating economic impact for our community. When a convention comes to Oakland, it supports the people of Oakland, and that is what matters most to us.
So, my hope is that this positive storytelling leads to more meetings, more events and more opportunities for our community.
SM How do you keep that momentum going after the headlines fade?
PG That is where our team comes in. Our marketing, PR and sales teams work every day to keep telling Oakland’s story.
Read More: Case Study: Oakland Style Steers the Narrative
A few years ago we focused on culinary, and that led to national recognition for our food scene. Now we can build on what is happening in sports, film and music.
We have the World Cup coming, we have a strong arts community, we have historic theaters like the Fox and the Paramount, and we have outdoor experiences you cannot find in most urban destinations. Our job is to keep connecting those stories to the meetings world.
SM Are there new or renovated venues planners should know about?
PG One exciting space is the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts near Lake Merritt. It has a lot of history and has recently been renovated, and it is becoming very popular for events.
We also have the Rotunda in downtown Oakland, which is a beautiful restored historic space that works well for receptions and special events.
And beyond venues, Oakland has many unique spaces, restaurants, outdoor locations and historic theaters that planners can use to create something different.
SM For planners considering Oakland for the first time, what would you want them to know?
PG I would tell them to be curious and come see it for themselves.
Oakland has incredible culture, amazing food, beautiful outdoor spaces and a creative community that makes every meeting feel different. The best way to understand Oakland is to experience it.
And when planners bring their events here, they are not just choosing a destination; they are supporting the people who make Oakland what it is.
