Destination: Inland Empire (Ontario/Riverside) Meeting & Event Planning City Guide
Featured Venue
Riverside CVB
3750 University Ave. # 175, Riverside, California, 92501-3344
0
45,000 sq ft
With an ideal Southern California climate, Riverside is where Hollywood celebrities first came to vacation and honeymoon.
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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Hot Spots & Cool Places
By Josef Aukee
January 30, 2012
Known for its role as the perfect escape for the L.A. in-crowd and A-list celebrities, Palm Springs puts out the welcome red carpet for all. But Hollywood glitz is only one aspect of the communities that make up this desert meeting destination
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The United Nations of California
By Sandi Cain
December 28, 2011
California is well known for its Spanish and Mexican heritage, but it also boasts roughly 70 other ethnicities, reflected in delightful museums, restaurants and cultural centers throughout the state.
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Southern California Confidential
By Nikki Gloudeman
June 30, 2010
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.
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Empire Under the Sun
By Nikki Gloudeman
June 23, 2010
When planners hold meetings in California, they typically gravitate to its scenic coast, whether it’s the glistening beaches of Los Angeles or picturesque bay of San Francisco.
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Exploring the Empire
By Macie Schreibman
May 29, 2009
With a prime central location less than an hour from the beach and the mountains, the Inland Empire (often referred to as the I.E.) is a part of Southern California that often gets overlooked—for no good reason.
Learn about Inland Empire (Ontario/Riverside) for Event Venues, Services & Meeting Destinations
Destination Description
Smart Stats:
Number of Meetings Hotels: 17
Total Hotel Rooms: 1,871
Number of Special Events Venues: 580
Local Airports: McClellan-Palomar Airport(CLD), John Wayne Airport (SNA), Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT)
Local CVB: Temecula Convention and Visitors Bureau, Ontario Convention Center & CVB, Temecula Valley CVB, Riverside CVB
Smart Snapshot:
Why not choose something out of the ordinary? That definitely could be the inspiration for planners deciding to hold their meetings in Southern California’s Inland Empire—just east of Los Angeles and near Palm Springs—where attendees can bond amid everything from award-winning wineries and soaring mountains to orange groves and historic relics from the Old West.
Venture a little farther beyond the region’s borders and its populous counties of San Bernardino and Riverside, and meeting planners not only will find desert backdrops for their events, but amusement parks and sandy Pacific Coast beaches as well.
Aside from its varied geography and attractions, value is the top reason for hosting meetings in the Inland Empire, says Wayne Austin, president and CEO of the San Bernardino Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Rates are by far more palatable in the Inland Empire, and it is still close to many different entertainment venues.”
Riverside is the sixth-largest city in Southern California and the central hub of the Inland Empire, maintaining its small-town feel with the quaint Main Street Pedestrian Mall full of interesting shops, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, bistros, bars and nightclubs.
Those interested in immersing themselves further in Riverside’s downtown arts and culture scene will find ideal meeting sites at the California Museum of Photography and the historic Fox Performing Arts Center, which recently underwent a $30 million renovation.
Visitors will also enjoy visiting the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino, which holds performances year round. Plus, there are numerous restaurants and bars along Hospitality Lane, several nearby Indian casino resorts, spas, shopping and wineries. The Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous classic car show is also held downtown every September.
For your next California meeting, try something a little different, a little off the beaten path, and a little Inland. With so much to offer, the Inland Empire is waiting to make your next event a memorable success.
