Smart Meetings | Latest Destinations

Seattle, Washington (As Green as it Gets)

2010-03-09T04:00:01Z

And they’re right: it’s not even in the top 10 of rainiest U.S. cities (Miami averages 55.91 inches of rain per year, versus Seattle at 37.07), which means you may need to rethink your view of this northwestern gem of a destination.
But whether or not you choose to pack extra raingear in preparation for your Seattle meeting, there’s far more to the destination than precipitation. The Pacific Rim city has a long and active history with its Asian neighbors, and a prolific trading partnership with China, Japan and Korea through the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma. It’s also a city with an eye toward the future, with a host of high-tech companies calling the area home, including heavyweights like Microsoft, Nintendo, RealNetworks and Amazon.com. Boeing has long had a huge presence in the region, while the city has made a strong effort to foster a burgeoning biotech industry.
Of course, one thing Seattle has become famous for over the last 20 years is the ubiquitous coffee outlets that you’ll find on every corner of the city. The leader of the pack is, of course, Starbucks, which opened its first store here in 1971 and almost singlehandedly spurred a coffee revolution—complete with fancy lattes and mochas—throughout the country and beyond. The Fortune 500 company is a major player on the Seattle scene, and is just one of the many options for attendees to duck into before a morning meeting or during an afternoon break.
While caffeine may help fuel the local tech economy, as well as your meeting, it also may give you that second wind after your event to check out the many cultural offerings the city provides. Besides numerous museums and performing arts venues, music has long been associated with Seattle, especially of the modern variety. From Jimi Hendrix to the many grunge bands that grew out of the music scene here, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam, the city has offered fertile ground for creativity while embracing its local heroes.
This musical legacy is celebrated at the Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame (empsfm.org), which is dedicated to the history and exploration of both music and science fiction, with rock memorabilia displays, technology-intensive multimedia programs and regular exhibits, such as the current Jimi Hendrix: An Evolution of Sound. The unique Frank Gehry-designed center is the brain-child of Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, and was opened in 2000. It also has a number of spaces available for events, including the state-of-the-art JBL Theater with seating for 191, Learning Labs for up to 70, or access to the entire center for groups up to 3,000.
Besides the city’s cultural offerings, attendees will no doubt have the urge to put away their agendas and head for the hills and mountains seen from their windows in nearly any direction. Seattle and the area’s towns are surrounded by the waters of Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east, with regular ferry service to Bainbridge Island and even Victoria on Vancouver Island, B.C. Open the curtains of your hotel room and you might be facing a spectacular view of the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier, or the Olympic Mountains on the Olympic Peninsula to the west. These mountains are ideal for biking, hiking and other outdoor activities, which are popular pastimes for locals and visitors alike, with easy access to many nature areas surrounding the city.
The outdoors are also ideal for group adventures and team-building activities through organizations such as EverGreen Escapes (evergreenescapes.com), which have a number of options for groups such as sea kayaking, white-water rafting and flora and fauna interpretation. The company combines concepts on sustainability and eco-friendly practices with challenging adventure and wilderness skills, including adventure races, orienteering and team survival.
Despite the many opportunities for outdoor adventure, your attendees won’t need to step out into the surrounding nature to notice just how green Seattle is, one benefit to its rainfall and a reason for another of its nicknames—the Emerald City—in reference to the lush evergreen forests of the area. You can enjoy some of this green in several large city parks, or drive just over 30 miles to the east and be surrounded by the tall trees of the Wenatchee National Forest and Snoqualmie National Forest, while across Puget Sound to the west is the expansive Olympic National Forest.
Green is Gold
Once back in your hotel or meeting venue, you’ll discover just how green Seattle really is. The city is a leader in the sustainability movement, with eco-friendly practices incorporated into a number of properties. Forbes named it one of the cleanest cities in the country, while the Brookings Institution ranked it as one of the best U.S. cities for the small size of its carbon footprint.
Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (visitseattle.org) website has a section dedicated to green practices for meeting planner (as well as for locals and visitors) with a checklist and tips to greener meetings. The CVB has also partnered with the environmental firm Meetings Strategies Worldwide for the latest technologies and resources to achieve its green mandate. You’ll find green practices incorporated into the Washington State Convention & Trade Center (wsctc.com), which is the first convention center in the country to offer 100% compostable water bottles, and every year recycles 174 tons of cardboard, 186 tons of mixed paper, plastic and glass, 2,460 pounds of aluminum cans and 12 tons of scrap metal.
Another way to green a meeting or event is for your attendees to take the Link Light Rail (seattle.gov), which opened its first of two stages in July 2009 and includes 13.9 miles from downtown Seattle to Tukwila, as well as a 1.7-mile extension to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (portseattle.org/seatac). They can also hop on one of King County Metro Transit’s 236 hybrid buses or 150 electric trolleys.
Downtown Seattle q
Set on the eastern shores of Puget Sound, downtown Seattle is roughly two miles in length and a mile wide, starting from Pioneer Square on the south end to the Seattle Center (seattlecenter.com) on the north. This relatively small size makes it easy for attendees to get around, either on foot or via the Seattle Center Monorail (seattlemonorail.com), which runs from the Seattle Center (and through the Experience Music Project building) south along Fifth Avenue to Westlake Center Mall.
“Seattle stands out because of the quality of our convention center, and the walkability and vibrancy of our downtown—the restaurants, shopping, everything is in one compact area,” says Jerri Lane, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Seattle CVB. “There’s a lot of credit given to the infrastructure of our downtown. San Francisco and Seattle are the two shining stars for having a walkable, dynamic, vibrant experience downtown.
“Pre- and post-meeting is hugely popular in Seattle,” Lane says. “We are still a unique destination, and there are many people who haven’t been here yet. And I think a lot of people are like ‘Wow, I’d like to go to Seattle.’ Scheduling meetings here gives people a compelling reason to come,” and take advantage of the city’s many attractions.
According to Lane, the largest market segment for meetings in Seattle is medical groups and associations, followed by trade associations, business groups and scientific meetings. One such medical group is the American Epilepsy Society, which held its annual conference in Seattle in 2008 with an attendance of around 4,000.
“This particular association definitely likes a progressive city,” says Elizabeth Kunsey, CMP, meeting planner for the association, on why they like Seattle. “The convenience of hotels in regard to the convention center is great, and the availability of restaurants. Typically we use three hotels if not four, so the walking distance is important. We have 30–35% of international attendance, and they get together with their colleagues to dine. Just the hub of downtown Seattle fits that well. Some cities don’t work as cohesively, so Seattle really works well as a group [with hotels] and not just as individual entities.”
Seattle’s CVB also took a proactive approach this past year in getting the word out to local residents on the importance of meetings. “We are very proud of our meetings mean business and tourism advocacy,” Lane says. “We’re the 4th largest industry in Washington State, accounting for 150,000 state jobs and over a billion dollars generated in state and local taxes; the trickle down is pretty amazing. I think Roger Dow is doing a great job in D.C., letting them know what we do and the impact we have. We see that as our mission to tell that story as well.”
Meeting Venues
First and foremost in Seattle meeting venues is the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in downtown, and a walkable distance to 30 hotels and 8,805 guest rooms. The center offers 205,700 sq. ft. of exhibit space, as well as 61 meeting rooms and ballrooms totaling 105,000 sq. ft., and includes on-site amenities such as coffee shops, restaurants and business services. Groups can also take advantage of the CVB’s Citywide Concierge Center, a full-service concierge desk where attendees can make dinner reservations, buy theater tickets, arrange transportation and book personal services.
Coming in July, the convention center will add an additional 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space with The Conference Center, after acquiring and renovating an adjacent building on Pike St. The new center will have 17 meeting rooms and is expected to receive LEED Silver certification.
For a classic waterfront meeting, with panoramic views of the Olympic Mountains, Mt. Rainier and Puget Sound, the Bell Harbor International Conference Center (bellharbor.com) offers 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 18 meeting rooms. Ideal for the tech set, the center features state-of-the-art A/V, webcasting and videoconferencing, high-speed Internet, touch-screen control systems and an on-site technology team.
Large citywide groups may well take advantage of the 1,258-room Sheraton Seattle Hotel (sheraton.com/seattle). With 75,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and located one block from the convention center, the Sheraton is the largest hotel in the city. The Westin Seattle (westin.com/seattle) is another option, offering 891 guest rooms and 38,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.
There are two relatively new hotels on the scene in downtown, starting with the Four Seasons Hotel Seattle (fourseasons.com/seattle), featuring 147 guest rooms and 10,570 sq. ft. of meeting space. The other is Hyatt at Olive 8 (olive8.hyatt.com), with 346 guest rooms and 11,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. It’s the first LEED-certified hotel in Seattle, and includes low-flow plumbing fixtures and a landscaping irrigation system that saves up to 24,000 gallons of water per year.

Unique Venues and Attractions
The most iconic fixture on Seattle’s skyline is the Space Needle (spaceneedle.com), built for the 1962 World’s Fair and located at the Seattle Center adjacent to the Experience Music Project. Besides offering amazing views of downtown and the surrounding mountains, the Space Needle features the rotating SkyCity restaurant and the SkyLine level, available for groups up to 360. Also located at the Seattle Center is the Key Arena (keyarena.com), available for groups with a flexible seating configuration from 5,500 to 15,500 seats.
Another option for groups is the Seattle Aquarium (seattleaquarium.org), located on the downtown waterfront. Featuring the 120,000-gallon Windows on Washington Waters exhibit, with local sea life from Puget Sound, the aquarium is available for events for groups up to 1,000.
No visit to Seattle would be complete without strolling through the stalls of flowers, fresh produce, T-shirts, local crafts and artwork at Pike Place Market (pikeplacemarket.org). While it may be the most visited attraction in the city, the market is a fun and lively place to experience the local scene, which includes the famous “flying fish” seen careening through the air from one fishmonger to another at Pike Place Fish Market. You can also enjoy a latte at the original Starbucks coffeehouse, the only chain store allowed in the market.
Bellevue q
Just across Lake Washington from Seattle is the community of Bellevue. Quiet by Seattle’s big-city standards, Bellevue provides groups with a little more elbow room without sacrificing the kinds of options and amenities found in larger destinations, including high-end shops, restaurants and art galleries. A close car or bus ride from Seattle, you’ll find plenty of top meeting space here, including the Hyatt Regency Bellevue (bellevue.hyatt.com), which now has 733 guest rooms and 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space after a $185-million expansion project completed in July 2009.
The Westin Bellevue (westin.com) is another option, with 337 guest rooms and 25,510 sq. ft. of meeting space, and is located in the Bellevue Collection, which includes upscale shops and restaurants such as Tiffany and Nordstrom. New on the meeting scene is the Meydenbauer Center (meydenbauer.com), which opened last July and offers 54,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including nine meeting rooms and a 410-seat theater.
Greater Seattle q
While downtown Seattle is a mere 15 miles north from Sea-Tac airport, head south for 23 miles and you’ll soon arrive at the city of Tacoma at the southern end of Puget Sound. An excellent option for meetings here is the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center (tacomaconventioncenter.com), with 136,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space. A block away is the glass art-themed Hotel Murano (hotelmuranotacoma.com), offering 319 guest rooms and 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Glass art is a theme you’ll find throughout Tacoma, which is the home of famed glass artist Dale Chihuly and the Museum of Glass (museumofglass.org), offering 6,900 sq. ft. of space for events.
“Tacoma is truly inspired by glass art, which can be found around pretty much every corner in the downtown,” says Shauna Lunde, CASE, director of sales and marketing at the Tacoma Regional Convention & Visitor Bureau (traveltacoma.com). “The city is a great fit for small and mid-sized meetings. While Tacoma has all the urban amenities of a larger city, its smaller size allows it to focus on hospitality and service. Our meeting planners and conventioneers feel like a big deal when they meet in Tacoma,” she says.
Going in the other direction from Seattle, the towns of Lynnwood, Everett and Marysville to the north are represented by the Snohomish County Tourism Bureau (snohomish.org). For meetings and events, the Lynnwood Convention Center (lynnwoodcc.com) has 53,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, and Tulalip Resort Casino (tulalipcasino.com) in Marysville offers 370 guest rooms and 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. While meeting in the area, be sure to sample some classic Washington State wines at the award-winning Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery (st-michelle.com) in Woodinville.

Anaheim, California (Orange County’s Secret Ingredient )

2010-03-05T23:42:28Z

Orange County is sometimes overshadowed by its neighbors, sprawling Los Angeles and splashy San Diego, but the 34 cities here are every bit as stimulating and sophisticated. The destination occupies nearly 800 square miles of prime real estate that includes views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ana Mountains. Plentiful sunshine and a mild Mediterranean climate—temperatures average around 70 degrees year-round—mean outdoor adventure and alfresco events are standard. And, with the John Wayne Airport in the center of it all, plus the Long Beach and Los Angeles International Airports close by, Orange County boasts all the ingredients necessary for an ideal conference.

Frances Laven has planned the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders’ annual meeting for nearly 20 years. The group typically takes its events to venues in the southwestern United States; last April, attendees met at the Newport Beach Marriott (marriott.com).

Because delegates arrived from throughout the United States, Canada and New Zealand, airport-hotel proximity was a priority. Attendees came from educational institutions, so keeping costs down was also essential.

The Newport Beach Marriott provided a budget-friendly venue without that low-budget feeling, Laven explains. “It was one of our best venues ever,” she says. “Their service was beyond belief. The menu options, the way the food was displayed and the refreshments were all top notch. We could not have asked for more.”

She calls the hotel’s public spaces “very conducive to sitting and having a drink and talking with colleagues during off times,” and praises the variety of restaurants within walking distance. Although her conference schedule included no major off-site functions, many attendees explored the neighborhood around the hotel or went shopping at nearby Fashion Island. The property is well situated for delegates interested in extending their journey, as well. “It’s a great place if you can stay longer, because you’re so close to the water and you’re so close to Highway 1,” Laven says.

And the feedback from attendees?

“They loved it,” Laven says. “We booked a multi-year contract, and we’ll be going back in 2012 and 2015. That’s how much we liked it.”

Seeing Stars: Newport Beach and Laguna Beach

Newport Beach’s place in pop culture was sealed when TV shows such as The O.C. and The Real Housewives of Orange County started spotlighting the community’s personalities, posh homes and picture-perfect scenery. But in “reality,” the destination’s celebrity appeal traces back to a 13-year-old Shirley Temple winning the first Miss Newport pageant and Humphrey Bogart giving a Newport Beach house to his young bride, Lauren Bacall.

Of course, the coastal Orange County city also makes headlines for its bustling small-craft harbor, nine miles of stunningly beautiful beaches and districts like charming Balboa Island and salty Mariner’s Mile. Visiting conference groups find golf courses, spa resorts and shopping aplenty—the venerable Fashion Island is working on exterior upgrades slated for 2011 completion—plus, more than 300 restaurants that make dine-arounds and group dinners a snap.

Montage Laguna Beach.

The average meeting size here is about 200, says Kim Severini, marketing vice president for Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. “We don’t have a convention center, so we’re not after the really huge conferences,” she says. “We’re after someone who wants that more intimate setting and that more unique fit.”

Newport’s out-of-the-ordinary meeting venues include the Marconi Museum, an automotive showplace with a 15,000-square-foot main hall and two smaller spaces packed with classic cars and memorabilia. For a less revved-up affair, the facilities at Sherman Library & Gardens are lovely and well landscaped.

Nine resort properties and a scattering of smaller inns also provide function space, and many are recently renovated. Hyatt Regency Newport Beach completed a $23-million refurbishment of its 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in 2009. The Island Hotel Newport Beach refreshed its 6,000-square-foot ballroom and 10 other meetings venues, as well. The Newport Beach Marriott Bayview recently spent $8 million on its guest rooms, and the luxurious Resort at Pelican Hill began welcoming guests in 2008. For a lively reception option, the resort sets up an Italian street festival scene and welcomes attendees to their own private block party.

The only waterfront resort in Newport Beach, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort offers 23,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space, including a 7,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom.

For intriguing off-site alternatives, Newport At Your Feet leads art walks, history treks, eco-excursions and other customized tours for groups.

Still seduced by Newport’s Hollywood glamour? Hornblower Cruises & Events hosts outings on the Wild Goose, a retired U.S. Navy minesweeper that actor John Wayne renovated and sailed for years.

Ten miles down the coast, Laguna Beach claims star power of its own—from the eponymous MTV reality show to celebrity sightings at the 250-room Montage Laguna Beach. Bette Davis, Judy Garland and Charlie Chaplain once maintained homes here, and artists have influenced the town’s ambience since the late 1800s.

Just steps from the sand, Surf & Sand Resort features a conference center that provides 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space for 10–400 attendees.

The Laguna Art Museum has more than 3,500 permanent pieces in its collection and focuses on California art. The museum’s California Gallery, with bamboo floors, high ceilings and an adjacent kitchen, accommodates 120 for strolling receptions and 80 for seated dinners. Team building at Laguna Culinary Arts attracts corporate groups looking for a taste of something new, while Laguna Canyon Winery opens its cellar and introduces its winemaker for private events.

Groups looking for fresh air head to Heisler Park for coastal cliffs, walking trails, picnic areas and public art. The European-inspired Tivoli Terrace, Tivoli Too and The Hacienda provide prime banquet venues. The Pacific Marine Mammal Center, a nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates stranded marine mammals, offers tours and programming. A short drive south in Dana Point, Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching charters whale-watching, fishing and sunset cruises.

Marriott’s Four-Diamond Laguna Cliffs Resort & Spa, also in Dana Point, is nearing completion on a multimillion-dollar renovation. The project includes updates to all 377 guest rooms and 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space. In Laguna Beach, the Pacific Edge Hotel recently refinished its 130 rooms in vintage beach style. The property welcomes small meetings and retreats on-site and in its 4,000-square-foot beachfront Pacific Edge Villa; in addition, its partnership with the Ocean Institute provides off-site space for up to 240 guests. The 65-room Hotel Laguna accommodates up to 200 in an outdoor rose garden, and seats 10 in an intimate wine cellar.

Planners can explore other accommodations and activities, and view a virtual visitors guide, on the Laguna Beach Visitors & Conference Bureau’s website.

Guest room at The Resort at Pelican Hill.

Surf’s Up: Huntington Beach

It’s no secret that the sea shapes Huntington Beach. After all, it trademarked the title “Surf City USA.” Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean, the musical duo that took “Surf City” to number one in 1963, is a local resident and former Huntington Beach Marketing and Visitors Bureau board member. The community hosts some 30 surfing competitions annually, and it’s home to the International Surfing Museum, Surfers’ Hall of Fame and Surfing Walk of Fame.

Groups gathering in Huntington Beach enjoy more than just winning waves, however. Located 35 miles south of Los Angeles and 95 north of San Diego, this coastal community offers an array of outdoor activities well suited to team building and networking events. OEX Sunset Beach rents stand-up paddle equipment and kayaks on Huntington Harbor; Duffy Electric Boat Co. rents 18-foot electric boats for cruising. An outdoor amphitheater and picnic shelters are available in Huntington Central Park. The iconic Huntington Beach Pier is worth a stroll, as is the farmer’s market held there each Friday afternoon.

Several Huntington Beach properties capitalize on the community’s golden sunshine and celebrated sands. The newest is Joie de Vivre’s Shorebreak Hotel, a hip, 157-room inn that’s part of a mixed-use downtown development dubbed The Strand. A 3,000-square-foot ballroom and the Mediterranean-inspired Zimzala restaurant are part of the property’s 8,000 sq. ft. of event space.

Bicycle rides, surf lessons and beach bonfires are the norm at Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa. Unique function space here includes three ocean-view ballrooms, classic boardrooms and chic fountain courtyards. The hideaway also has a 20,000-square-foot spa with three grottos and 517 rooms decorated in Andalusian style. Over at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, the ocean-view Cielo Mare Ballroom accommodates 220 for banquets. Smaller meetings might choose the 224-room Hotel Huntington Beach.

Attendees looking to work between events will find a handy list of the city’s Wi-Fi locations on the Huntington Beach bureau’s website, which also outlines single- and multiday itineraries. In addition, the bureau has teamed with those from Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, Dana Point and Anaheim/Orange County to form The OCeanfront, an alliance that provides information on 42 miles of O.C. coastline and the communities located there.

Central and Convenient: Costa Mesa and Irvine

Set 7 miles inland from Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa boasts some 101,000 sq. ft. of event space and more than 2,225 guest rooms concentrated in 10 convention hotels. Shaun Robinson, president of the Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau and Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa general manager, says the short distance between those hotels and John Wayne Airport makes meeting more affordable. Costa Mesa’s proximity to the Pacific Ocean also helps.

“We’re not right on the beach, so we can provide a great package for meeting planners who can’t pay those beach prices,” he says, adding that bigger deals are dished up during the slower summer months. “The quieter times for meetings here are definitely in the summer, but we feel we’ve got a great price point throughout the year. It’s a buyer’s market.”

Event set-up at Marconi Museum.

With 50,000 sq. ft. for meetings, including the 12,160-square-foot Pacific Ballroom and the 240-seat, floor-to-ceiling, windowed Fountain Terrace room, the Hilton holds the largest groups in Costa Mesa. Next in line is The Westin South Coast Plaza, a 393-room property that recently finished a $20-million renovation, followed by Marriott, Best Western and other big-brand properties.

Shopping is central to the Costa Mesa experience. South Coast Plaza’s 280 retailers and 30 restaurants often grab the spotlight, but Robinson lists the “earthy, organic, urban and hip” LAB and CAMP centers among the city’s must-see destinations. (Think lots of artsy goods, outdoor gear, indie clothing and organic fare.)

Costa Mesa’s theater and arts district is another major draw, with the South Coast Repertory and Orange County Performing Arts Center campus clustered off Bristol Avenue. Groups can hold private events in the center’s lobby and terrace spaces, plazas and concert halls. Several restaurants surround the arts center, shopping venues and hotel districts, making the community a pedestrian-friendly option for groups.

Three miles away, the OC Fair & Event Center offers expansive exhibition halls, an amphitheater and grandstand, lawn space, an on-site campground and catering services.

Just east of the John Wayne Airport, the city of Irvine sits along Interstates 405 and 5. Linksys, Toshiba and Mazda are among corporations maintaining offices here, in a city that’s big on business and convenient for conventions. “We are very budget friendly on the weekends. That definitely sets us apart from the surrounding cities,” says Jennifer McLaughlin, director of tourism for the Irvine Chamber Visitors Bureau. She cites weekend rates under $100 per night as a draw for attendees who bring their families along to visit Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and local beaches.

These days, Irvine is abuzz about the 1,300-acre Orange County Great Park, a $65.5-million project opening in stages throughout 2011. Carved out of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, the park eventually will include recreation trails, sports fields, an organic orchard, exhibition space and a military museum. Open now is the 27-acre Preview Park: It includes the Great Park Balloon, which carries visitors 500 feet up above the park for free, and a 175,000-square-foot picnic lawn available for events.

An eight-story I-MAX theater, antique carousel and 108-foot Ferris wheel entertain visitors at the Irvine Spectrum Center, a vast shopping and dining complex near the I-405/I-5 junction. Dave & Busters provides a playful venue for off-site functions. And, in nearby Tustin, another entertainment possibility is Strike bowling lanes, offering team-building opportunities and meeting space as well as glow-in-the-dark lanes.

In December 2009, Marriott opened a 132-suite SpringHill Suites in Irvine, close to the airport and the Irvine Business Complex. Amenities include an indoor pool, Zen garden, putting green and outdoor patio with a fire pit. The Atrium Hotel accommodates 850 for receptions in its Garden Ballroom, while the Embassy Suites Irvine serves smaller groups with four boardrooms that seat 10 to 70 people.

Serious Fun: Anaheim and Santa Ana

Anaheim packs a lot of action into 50 square miles, starting with the Anaheim Convention Center. The West Coast’s largest, it tops 813,000 sq. ft. with a 15,000-capacity theater, 28,000-square-foot arena, naturally-lit lobby and a 190-foot spire, making it the go-to venue for conferences, trade shows and events of all sizes. The center sits adjacent to Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure and the Downtown Disney shopping, dining and entertainment district, providing seemingly limitless options for off-site functions, including ESPN Zone, a mega-sports bar and restaurant with fun opportunities for groups. Also nearby is Anaheim GardenWalk, a palm tree-lined promenade with boutiques, bowling, dining, nightclubs and an I-MAX theater.

Garden Walk, Anaheim.

Elaine Cali, vice president of communications for the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau recommends the region’s lesser-known gems, as well. The Grove of Anaheim theater accommodates 50–4,000 attendees. Nearby Angel Stadium of Anaheim will host Major League Baseball’s 2010 All-Star Game in July, and it welcomes private parties on nongame days.

Downtown Anaheim’s Muzeo celebrates local culture and the area’s natural heritage. Six miles south in Santa Ana, the Bowers Museum charms guests with art exhibits and 15,000 sq. ft. of indoor facilities and outdoor courtyards. Also in Santa Ana is the Discovery Science Center where hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations create exciting team-building and after-hours alternatives.

Cali touts the walkability of Anaheim’s 20,000 hotel rooms, including the 1,572-room Hilton Anaheim (hilton.com) and 1,030-room Anaheim Marriott, which are just a “stone’s throw from the convention center.”

Plus, she says, “There are a variety of other hotels and different price points, so we meet the needs of many different groups.”

The Disneyland Hotel features 52 meeting rooms. Its guest rooms and exterior are undergoing a facelift with phased completion dates scheduled between this June and 2012. A 203-room and 50-villa addition recently wrapped up at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, as well. At the Hyatt Regency Orange County, a $25-million renovation is slated for completion this spring. The project includes updates to the property’s 65,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, along with improvements to the guest rooms, restaurant and lounge areas, fitness facilities and lobby.

Renee Brincks is a freelance journalist who covers travel, culinary and lifestyle topics.
For more information about properties, venues and attractions in Orange County, visit smartmeetings.com/showcases/anaheim-orange-county.

Los Cabos, Mexico (Los Cabos, Mexico March 2010)

2010-02-25T01:18:00Z

On any given day, the water temperature in Los Cabos is an ideal 72 degrees, while the air, even in the winter, rarely falls below 60 degrees. And although Los Cabos is commonly misconstrued as a spring-breakers-only getaway, it’s actually a great location for meetings—and for all the same reasons.

Located south of San Diego, Los Cabos actually refers to two different towns: the ultra-popular Cabo San Lucas (often referred to as just “Cabo”) and the lesser-known, but equally picturesque, San José del Cabo. Cabo San Lucas is what most people picture when they think of the area, as it’s where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean at Land’s End, which is the tip of the almost 1,000-mile long Baja Peninsula. Altogether, Los Cabos offers attendees 30 miles of beaches, which only adds to the city’s carefree attitude—something the city markets well.

Keeping in tune with relaxation, the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau (loscaboscvb.com; visitloscabos.travel) attracts visitors with the slogan “leave it all behind,” which has been their motto since 2008. “It is an inspirational destination, offering pristine stretches of beaches and a dramatic desert landscape. [It creates] the perfect setting for visitors to forget the demands of everyday life,” says Renato Mendoca, vice president of marketing for the Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau. “And, of course, our incredible weather year-round ensures a worry-free experience for any planner.”

In addition to sunshine and its naturally beautiful locale, Los Cabos has something other destinations do not: 0% tax for groups, which began this past year amid the economic downturn. “The 0% tax for meetings has made everything more attractive,” Mendoca says. Another plus is the numerous all-inclusive properties in Los Cabos. (For more all-inclusive options see our feature on page 40.) “All-inclusive hotels offer new options for groups that in the past have not considered us.” With all of these advantages, there really is no better time for planners to get their attendees away from it all.

MAJOR MEETING VENUES

Los Cabos offers groups several options, segueing from the historic town of San José del Cabo to the east all the way to Cabo San Lucas to the west. Groups can meet in either town, or anywhere in the 20-mile tourist corridor in between.

Porte Cochere at Esperanza Resort.

IN SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO

If there’s one thing that San José del Cabo does well, it’s all-inclusives. The following are just a taste of these all-encompassing meeting options. The 390-room Presidente InterContinental Los Cabos Resort has four meeting venues, the largest of which can accommodate up to 500 guests for a reception. On-site, groups can bond over a game of tennis or a round of golf, with horseback riding nearby. In addition, there are six restaurants on-site to ensure that everyone is satisfied.

Also playing the all-inclusive game is the Crowne Plaza Los Cabos Grand Resort, with 333 guest rooms, an 11,700-square-foot grand ballroom and 10 meeting rooms. Recreation at the resort includes bicycle tours, tennis, racquetball, tennis and volleyball, among other outdoor activities.

IN CABO SAN LUCAS

Steps from the sand, the Marquis Los Cabos offers meeting attendees 237 rooms, including suites that feature private balconies facing the Sea of Cortez. Meeting space doesn’t disappoint either, as groups can choose between two ballrooms (one with an ocean view), or any number of the property’s terraces.

Another major meeting hotel is The Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos, which was designed to reflect the very famous Arch at Land’s End. The dramatic property offers 243 guest rooms and more than 11,900 sq. ft. of meeting space as it overlooks stunning blue waters.

Guest room at The Westin Resort & Spa Los Cabos.

For attendees who want to hit the greens, try the Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, located on a wide-open stretch of beach on the southern tip of the peninsula. The 375-room property offers its El Dorado Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 800 guests, as well as multiple world-class golf courses.

Lastly, the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa has space for up to 1,600 attendees and provides 270 guest rooms. Designed in authentic Mexican style, guests will be able to walk along its cobblestone paths and enjoy the hacienda’s peaceful Cactus Spa.

UNIQUE VENUES

If you’re in Mexico, visiting the beach is a must-do. And groups can do it one better by holding their event on the beach. Planners can work with the CVB to host an event on the sand, or work with one of the hotels for a seaside selection. Some resorts even have their own private beach, such as the Marquis Los Cabos, which opens up their sand to meetings of all kinds. If you’re feeling really adventurous, charter the Marquis’ schooner, Tu Enamorado, and take your event to the seas.

In Cabo San Lucas, your group can say “arghhh” in true pirate fashion aboard the Buccaneer Queen, a 96-foot-long tall ship that has been used as a movie set. The ship offers multiple tours (some that even include pirate props).

If you’d rather keep your peg leg a secret, you can also show your group the ocean aboard a yacht. Charter de Los Cabos is one such company offering room for as many as 50 people. Also of note, part of the company’s fleet features on-board chefs—perfect for hosting a reception.

Poolside at the Sheraton Hacienda del Mar Resort & Spa.

FUN ACTIVITES

Once you’ve anchored, there is plenty to do under the sea in Los Cabos, including snorkeling and fishing. Several companies offer group tours; one nearby is Baja’s Activities, which can take 16 guests at a time to enjoy the deep blue—through the lens of those attractive goggles, of course.

On land, Wide Open Adventures specializes in ATV tours across Baja. Groups can ride for multiple-day tours (talk about team building!) or experience the beauty on one of their shorter corporate excursions.

For another kind of racing, take your team for the ultimate boost on an America’s Cup yacht race with Cabo Adventures. Chartering the yacht encompasses three hours and up to three races, along with a victory celebration. Dolphins are often spotted during these races, but if you want to be sure you interact with them, the company also offers private group dolphin encounters.

Las Vegas, Nevada (Why Vegas? Why Now? Why Not!)

2010-02-25T18:40:35Z

Originally home to the Southern Paiute tribe, in the early 1900s Las Vegas was a small oasis in the middle of the Nevada desert. In the 1930s, the legalization of gambling and the construction of the Hoover Dam put it on the map, followed in 1941 by the first Vegas Strip hotel, El Rancho. Next came the Flamingo—the first resort to combine a luxury hotel, name entertainment and gambling—launched by mobster Bugsy Siegel and similar compatriots. In the 1960s, when eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes bought the Desert Inn, it was the end of mob influence and the beginning of corporate ownership.

Another watershed era began in 1989, when entrepreneur Steve Wynn opened the 3,300-room Mirage Resort on The Strip, boasting a volcano attraction in front and triggering a flurry of themed resorts that offered a trip around the world—from Paris to New York to Egypt.

In the mid-1990s, the city launched its new persona as the country’s culinary and retail mecca, becoming a high-end dining and shopping destination that matched the luxury of its resort guest rooms and spas. But, between the proposed construction in 2005 of CityCenter, MGM Mirage’s huge, $8.5-billion city-within-a-city complex, and its opening last December, there dawned an entirely new and different type of era, one defined by a deep economic recession and the perception of Vegas as a frivolous destination for meetings, which have accounted for a huge percentage of its 40-plus million annual visitors.

As a result, Las Vegas was faced with the necessity of “reinventing” itself once again—this time in both the public’s perception and the perception of organization decision-makers—as a practical, serious, affordable destination for meeting groups, conventions and incentives.

Perhaps, however, it’s more accurate to say “reinforce” rather than “reinvent.” The meetings infrastructure has been in place at least since 1959, when the original convention center was built (it has been expanded many times). And since the late 1980s, the hospitality industry has given more than a nod to meeting and event space and services, allowing the city to compete with other first-tier cities for group business.

Hospitality suite at Aria Resort & Casino.

Education has been key in this new era, from the national Meetings Mean Business campaign to concerted efforts by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and its hotel partners to demonstrate the fact that there’s no better place to meet than Vegas.

The smart money says it’s working. Visitation numbers are up, according to the LVCVA. Although the total was expectedly lower overall in 2009, the city hosted more than 2.9 million visitors last November (the latest figures available), an increase of 2.9% compared to the same period in 2008. November also marked the third consecutive year-over-year increase in monthly visitation. (As a new attraction, CityCenter is expected to raise the annual total by 2% to 5% this year.)

Convention business is also on the rise. For example, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society recently booked its 2012 Annual HIMSS Conference & Exhibition at the Sands Expo—beating out Chicago in the process. “We made the selection based on specific input from our members and exhibitors and our lengthy discussions with both cities,” said H. Stephen Lieber, CAE, HIMSS president and CEO. “Las Vegas demonstrated and committed to the unified cooperation of the Sands Expo Convention Center, the hotels and the city, so that HIMSS can provide our members and attendees with a productive and economical experience.”

And the Professional Convention Management Association is returning in 2011 after an absence of more than three decades. “Having PCMA bring its annual meeting back to [Las Vegas] is another great opportunity for us to show planners and association executives exactly what Las Vegas has to offer,” says Michael Goldsmith, senior director of convention sales for the LVCVA.

That is not to say there’s unbridled optimism about 2010. According to Michael Massari, vice president of meeting sales and operations, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment, “2010 is likely to be another challenging year, with modest improvements. The big improvements won’t come until 2011 for us, and 2012 looks really good. All of our metrics are moving positive.”

But, he says, “that optimism comes from the realization that we know what’s coming and we’re ready for it. In 2009, we were like a little kid in the surf for the first time—the waves kept coming and knocking us over, and we didn’t know what was happening. Now we’re getting up and looking at them and diving right into them. We’re ready for them.”

In other words, Las Vegas is on the upswing. And here are 10 great reasons to book your group in Las Vegas—now.

#1 VARIETY OF ACCOMMODATIONS

Las Vegas offers a staggering 150,000 guest rooms, according to the LVCVA, both on and off The Strip, in a variety of gaming and nongaming, smoking and nonsmoking properties. Plus, there’s a range of price points to suit your budget—and plenty of ways to stretch it.

On The Strip

Las Vegas Boulevard, aka “The Strip,” is resort-central. Located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo is CityCenter, the splashy, sophisticated new entry. Its centerpiece is Aria Resort & Casino (arialasvegas.com), a 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort (the hotel is nonsmoking). Its luxury nongaming hotels include the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, with 392 guest rooms, and Vdara Hotel & Spa, with 1,495. (Veer Towers are solely residential, and The Harmon, its 400-room boutique hotel, is scheduled to open in late 2010).

Under the Harrah’s umbrella are seven major resorts (soon to be eight, see news below): Bally’s Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, Paris Las Vegas and Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.

Guest room at the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas.

A major player in Vegas, Steve Wynn has his eponymous Wynn Las Vegas, with 2,716 guest rooms, plus 2,034 suites at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas, its sister property next door, where we’re hosting our Smart Meeting this month.

Among other meetings resorts are the freshly renovated Tropicana Las Vegas, with 1,876 guest rooms; The Venetian, which features 3,036 guest rooms; The Riviera, with 2,100 rooms; and New York-New York Hotel Casino, with 2,023.

Off The Strip

Off The Strip doesn’t mean off in the boonies. Numerous properties are just a block or two from the boulevard’s bustle, and offer their own attractions and amenities. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino features 1,525 guest rooms, including its new HRH tower; Palms Place Hotel & Spa offers 599 guest rooms; and The Westin Casuarina has 826. A little farther south on The Strip is the M Resort, which opened in 2009 and has 390 guest rooms.

#2 PLENTY OF MEETING SPACE

You’d expect Vegas to have a wealth of meeting space, and you’d be right. Citywide, there are approximately 10 million sq. ft. of meeting and function space, including three of the country’s largest convention venues, plus a full complement of function space within its hotels, some with dedicated conference spaces. They draw associations, trade shows, consumer shows and corporate functions to their varied facilities; in fact, the city hosts more than 22,000 meetings, conventions and incentives a year, with anywhere from 10 to 100,000 attendees.

The largest venue is the Las Vegas Convention Center, a 3.2-million-square-foot facility. It features approximately 2 million sq. ft. of exhibit space and 144 meeting rooms (more than 241,000 sq. ft.), among its multiple options, and can handle groups from 20 to 2,500.

Sands Expo & Convention Center, adjacent to The Venetian, weighs in with 1.8 million sq. ft. of combined meeting and event space (together with the Venetian Congress facility). It can accommodate the 10 largest conventions in the country, including portions of the Consumer Electronics Show.

Blush nightclub, Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.

Mandalay Bay Convention Center, owned by MGM Mirage, offers 1.7 million sq. ft., with nearly 1 million sq. ft. of flexible exhibit space on two levels, and the largest pillarless hotel ballroom in the country (a 100,000-square-foot mega ballroom).

A lesser-known option is the Thomas & Mack Center, on the campus of the University of Nevada. Originally built as a stadium for its basketball team, the center now also serves as a venue for industrial shows, rodeos and other events, with 20,000 sq. ft. of function space (with the bleachers retracted).

The newcomer on the meetings block is Aria, at CityCenter, with 300,000 sq. ft. of function space in a dedicated conference center with ample natural light and a sleek, desert-hued design.

Set to open this month is Meet Las Vegas, a 30,000-square-foot, three-story venue and outdoor pavilion located downtown, near the Fremont Street Experience. The first two floors of the facility—which can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees—are essentially a blank canvas, with a fixed rigging and technology infrastructure. The third floor is an executive concierge lounge and a state-of-the-art multimedia training center for corporate training and VIP events.

#3 CONVENIENCE

How convenient can you get? McCarran International Airport is only one mile from The Strip and 3.5 miles from the convention center. It is served by 20 U.S. carriers (including Southwest and JetBlue), as well as numerous international airlines. Work on the new Terminal 3—a $2.4 billion, 14-gate construction project—is nearly 50% complete. Scheduled to open in mid-2012, it will allow significant increases in air service from both domestic and international cities.

#4 FINE DINING

It seems like eons ago that Wolfgang Puck opened a branch of his highly touted Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars—a huge gamble, as this was the first celebrity chef venture into an arena previously known for all-you-can-eat buffets. That was in 1992, a true eon in the restaurant business. Puck has since been joined by an entire constellation of nationally and internationally renowned chefs: Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller, Paul Bartolotta, Joel Robuchon and Guy Savoy, to name just a few. Las Vegas has become “the place to be” for the world’s überchefs and, consequently, for diners (see Chef’s Table for the scoop on Aria’s must-dines). Evidence of the caliber comes from Forbes Travel, which named Vegas the top restaurant city in the U.S., an accolade that has been echoed by epicurious.com.

Event set-up at Palms Place Hotel & Spa.

Just as food and wine have a symbiotic affinity, the city also pairs fine wine (and wine expertise) with all that culinary talent. It’s home to 15 Master Sommeliers and other experts, such as Jaime Smith, the new director of wine for Caesars Palace, who has been voted the Best Sommelier in America by Food & Wine magazine.

#5 ENTERTAINMENT AND ATTRACTIONS

You name it, Las Vegas has it—from hot, hot clubs and headliner entertainment to grand-scale attractions and recreational opportunities.

Think nightclubs with a capital “N”: Pure at Caesars, Tao at The Venetian, Blush at Wynn and Wasted Space at the Hard Rock come to mind immediately. Here’s all the glitz and glamour your group can want—and you can arrange private events for a taste of A-list exclusivity.

Headliner entertainment? Country favorite Garth Brooks has launched a concert run at Encore, Carlos Santana has dates at The Joint, a new concert hall at the Hard Rock and—just announced—is Celine Dion’s return to Vegas for a three-year residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace beginning March 2011.

Cirque du Soleil plays the town—showcasing seven “worlds” in seven venues. Choose among Mystère at Treasure Island, Zumanity at New York-New York, KÀ at MGM Grand, The Beatles Love at The Mirage, Criss Angel Believe at Luxor and the innovative company’s newest production, Viva Elvis, at Aria. The latter is a tribute to The King, featuring film clips and his legendary music, performed in Cirque du Soleil’s inimitable fashion.

Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis at Aria Resort & Casino.

If your attendees have a free night—or some free time post-meeting—just have them download Harrah’s new iPhone app, which will follow their movements throughout all of its Vegas properties with a GPS locator. This high-tech application then sends out messages with offers for discounts or deals at the company’s nearby restaurants, showrooms and other attractions—for instance, tickets for a show that has a few last-minute seats available.

Maybe you’ve got a group of sports fans, or just thrill-seekers looking for an adrenaline rush. There’s plenty for them as well. ESPN Zone—consistently named best sports bar in Las Vegas—specializes in team building, customer entertaining and networking possibilities. X-Scream, Stratosphere’s giant teeter-totter, towering 866 feet above the ground, is a guaranteed rush.

With the Grand Canyon only about 100 miles away (as the crow—or in this case—as the helicopter flies), you can tie in a visit. Papillon Airways has a new add-on menu of tours that are easy to book. Once you choose the way you’d like to travel—by helicopter or the longer, scenic bus trip—you select other components such as ATVs, kayaking, pontoon tours or walking on the Grand Skywalk, the transparent walkway suspended 4,000 feet above the canyon floor.

Got golfers? Walters Golf offers three challenging courses, all within nine miles of The Strip (one, the tropical-themed Bali Hai Golf Club, is actually right on it). Their full-time event services coordinator can arrange tournaments, lessons and clinics, and equipment rental—plus transportation and dining—with one phone call.

#6 INCREASED ATTENDANCE

If your attendance has been lagging the past few years and you really need a boost—count Las Vegas in. According to the LVCVA, on average, attendance increases 14% when conventions rotate into Las Vegas. Research shows, too, that trade show delegates spend more time on the show floor here (11.5 hours vs. 5.8–9.5 hours) than in other cities. And there’s the fact that all of the city’s attractions are available when you walk out of your meeting at 5 p.m.—no need for your attendees to skip out on a session to have some fun.

#7 WARM WEATHER

Las Vegas averages 320 days of sunshine a year, with an average temperature of 66.3 degrees and an annual rainfall of 4.13 inches. Winters can be quite cool, as can evenings. Summer is hot—no getting around the fact (that’s why they invented air conditioning). But some groups prefer to meet in summer, due to more favorable rates in value season—just keep in mind the temperature when you’re planning outdoor events.

#8 IT’S GREEN

While mentioning green and Las Vegas in the same sentence may seem like an oxymoron, nothing could be further than the truth, as the city’s resorts have made a concerted effort toward conservation and sustainability. For example, as our View from Vegas columnist Chuck Kapelke reported last October, the entire resort industry consumes only 3% of the water in Las Vegas. Individual properties have made water usage reduction part of their overall environmental program, such as Harrah’s company-wide initiative, CodeGreen. This is nothing new for Harrah’s, however, as over the past five years, implementation of 74 different energy conservation projects has reduced their carbon emissions by the equivalent of 164,440 barrels of oil.

Perhaps surprising, too, given the scope of the project, CityCenter’s Aria and Vdara have received three LEED-Gold certifications: Aria for both its hotel tower and its convention center and theater, and the third for Vdara Hotel. CityCenter also anticipates Gold or Silver LEED certification for its remaining developments, including the Mandarin Oriental, Crystals (its 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district), Veer Towers and The Harmon.

#9 NEW(S) AND RENOVATED

Something new and larger-than-life is always happening in Vegas—you can bet on it (it’s that reinvention thing). Which means that there’s always a buzz, and also that returning visitors can always find something fresh to see and experience.

Of course, there’s CityCenter. But there’s plenty more. In early February, Harrah’s Entertainment received preliminary state approval to acquire Planet Hollywood—making the celebrity-themed property the eighth in its Las Vegas portfolio. At press time, the Nevada Gaming Commission was meeting to give final approval of the deal; if approved, Harrah’s will assume full control, not just management, on February 19 (see smartmeetings.com for future updates). Planet Hollywood earlier launched its 52-story, 1,201-room PH Towers, and will offer the same Harrah’s one-stop, multiple-venues, one master account options.

Speaking of reinventions, Tropicana’s $125-million renovation is giving the property a beach-club resort feel, according to President Thomas J. McCartney. Under new ownership since last summer, both the resort’s Paradise and Island towers are being renovated: the Paradise is anticipated to finish up this month, and the Island starts directly after.

The hotel’s conference space was one of the first areas to be addressed, and 50,000 sq. ft. has already been renovated, with new carpeting, wall coverings, enhanced lighting, accessories and artwork among the refurbishments. “We’re investing a significant amount of capital to make the transformation meaningful,” he says. “We’re also taking the same initiatives to make sure our service standards meet or exceed expectations.”

Other renovation components include new restaurants, a new casino and a new nightclub, plus a redesigned pool, which will open in late April or early May, sporting a brand-new look. “It will have a very tropical environment with lush landscaping,” he says.

Pools, apparently, are still pretty cool. This month, Caesars Palace unveils five new multi-layer pools, joining three existing pools, increasing the “Garden of the Gods” area to five acres.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino also recently opened its HRH Tower, an all-suite tower that is part of its $750-million expansion. The project, which adds 860 guest rooms, also includes the Paradise Tower (a new 17-story guest wing) and approximately 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting and convention space, and more than 40,000 sq. ft. of casino space.
Delayed earlier due to financing, the opening of the $3.9-billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, just south of Bellagio, is now scheduled for late 2010. It will feature 800 hotel rooms, 2,200 condominium-hotel units, an 1,800-seat theater and 150,000 sq. ft. of meeting and convention space.

And stay tuned for updates on the much-anticipated, but also delayed, Fontainebleau, a 3,800-room casino resort located toward the northern end of The Strip. The unfinished property was recently purchased by billionaire Carl Icahn.

#10 DEALS, DEALS, DEALS

Lower rates and added value are still on the table—for now. “If you’re looking for a meeting in 2010, Las Vegas has some great values, ones we haven’t seen in years,” Harrah’s Massari says. “If you’re looking for 2011, you’d better sign up now—as the pace is moving fast.”

Given that value—plus the sheer number of guest rooms, amount of meeting space, dining and all of the city’s other amenities, “Bringing an event to Las Vegas right now is simply a good business decision,” the LVCVA’s Goldsmith says.

CASE STUDY: THE ULTIMATE TASTING RUN

Looking for a special event with a foodie twist? The Snowden Group, a new Las Vegas-based DMC, recently coordinated an evening event dubbed The Ultimate Tasting Run for Navistar Inc.’s Diamond Club, working through Legacy Marketing Partners, during the IBS show at the Sands Convention Center.

The tasting “run”—one of The Snowden Group’s customizable packages—featured some of the top culinary talent in Vegas. It was hosted at the Palazzo and Venetian hotels and started at Palazzo’s Sushi Samba, where guests had an opportunity to watch, roll and eat sushi, led by a sushi master and followed by a sake tasting.

The next stop was Enoteca San Marco in St. Marks Square, at The Venetian, where attendees sampled the chef’s Antipasti “Italian Formaggi, Carne and Wine Tasting.”

And, of course, there was dessert. The final stop was the award-winning David Burke’s, also at The Venetian, where the bartenders first mixed up their signature chocolate martinis. For the grand finale, the executive pastry chef gave a demonstration in the art of chocolate dipping and molding, followed by a chocolate tasting. Yum!

For more information on properties, venues and attractions in Las Vegas, visit smartmeetings.com/showcases/las-vegas.

Phoenix, Arizona (Cactus Flowers)

2010-02-25T00:58:45Z

Found nowhere else in the U.S., it’s a sure sign that you’re now in Arizona (the saguaro blossom is the state flower), a vast place with wide-open spaces and wholly unique attractions.

For groups holding their meeting in Arizona, they’ll find a state with an impressive array of stunning scenery and unrivaled natural wonders, from its deserts in the south (with a surprising variety of plant life) to the pine forests and mountain ranges in the north. With numerous national and state parks, Arizona is both a perfect playground for the outdoor enthusiast and an ideal backdrop for a meeting or event. These include Coronado National Forest in the south, Catalina State Park just outside Tucson, the Petrified Forest National Park within the painted desert east of Flagstaff and the grandest site of all—the Grand Canyon in the northwest of the state. Due in large part to the Grand Canyon, for decades Arizona has been the quintessential American destination, equal parts Old West of cowboys and gunslingers and the new west of seemingly endless possibilities.

If sunshine is at all a factor for your group, there’s a strong chance you’ll get it—yearly averages of possible sunshine range from 86% to 92%, according to climatologists. And for warm winter weather, snowbirds have migrated for years to the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe, which are clustered together in the south central part of the state, with Tucson farther south. If you think Arizona is too hot to handle in the summer months, just travel to the northern half of the state for cool mountain forests in places like Flagstaff, which has nearly the most days below freezing (in winter) as anywhere in the lower 48 states.

Phoenix Convention Center.

Regardless of the temperature outside, Arizona offers much more than just great weather and scenery. The cultural diversity and attractions of the state run the gamut from the whimsical to the prehistoric. A trip to Lake Havasu will no doubt include a visit to the London Bridge, the actual bridge built in London in 1831, which was sold, shipped and rebuilt in the Arizona desert in the late 1960s—and is the second most visited site in the state after the Grand Canyon.

Even older than the London Bridge, you’ll find ancient Native American petroglyphs at several sites around the state, including the Painted Rock Petroglyph Site near the Painted Rock Mountains southwest of Phoenix. For more modern cultural experiences, museums abound in all of Arizona’s major cities, from Phoenix’s Heard Museum, the Scottsdale Art District and the city’s 125 art galleries and studios, to the Center for Creative Photography on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson featuring works by Ansel Adams and Edward Weston.

Whatever your reason to hold a meeting in Arizona, you’ll have plenty of options when it comes to impressive venues, attractions and activities. But be warned: you may have trouble explaining that winter tan to colleagues back home in Chicago.

Phoenix

There’s no mistaking Phoenix from an airplane on your descent—it’s vast, covering nearly 2,000 square miles of land in the Salt River Valley on the northeastern edge of the Sonoran Desert, a flat expanse located within several mountain ranges. The largest city in the Southwest, its location partly accounts for its nickname: Valley of the Sun. The “Sun” part of the moniker is due to the 300 days of sunshine the city gets every year, partly accounting for its high summer temperatures—the hottest climate of any major city in the U.S.—and warm winter days.

It’s these balmy days that prove so popular with groups, especially when attendees are coming from the cold in snowier climes to the north. And whether or not your group uses the Phoenix Convention Center, expanded in 2008 to 900,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space, the convenience of the downtown core offers plenty of built-in attractions including restaurants, nightlife and shopping. The center added another high-end meeting option in January 2009 with the addition of its Executive Conference Center, which offers 21,000 sq. ft. of IACC-certified meeting space.

“We went [to Phoenix] because it was going to be warm, nobody needed to rent cars and all of our nightlife was reachable on foot or inexpensive by cabs. Everything was good, and it was cheap,” says Mike McKenna, who plans meetings for the National Fire Protection Association. He also adds that airlift to Phoenix, which is the hub city for US Airways and a major focus city for Southwest Airlines, is popular for the group’s East Coast attendees who appreciate the nonstop flight options.

The group held its meeting during the soft opening of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel in the fall of 2008, and returned just over a year later. With 1,000 guest rooms and 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, the Sheraton is owned by the city of Phoenix and was part of an initiative to reinvigorate downtown while bringing in more meeting business to the convention center. The hotel features the 11,500-square-foot District restaurant and has extensive green initiatives throughout its operations.

“Our convention center went from being unknown to having about 900,000 sq. ft., competing on a level we’ve never been able to compete on before. So we badly needed the addition of 1,000 rooms [with the Sheraton],” says Kevin Kamenzind, CMP, senior vice president, sales and marketing, with the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau. “We’re seeing a lot of interest from planners.”

Two other major downtown hotels are the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, which has 693 guest rooms and 48,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and the Wyndham Phoenix, with 532 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Both are close to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and within walking distance to the convention center. The hotels are also near the Metro Light Rail, which opened in December 2008—a 20-mile-long system that connects to Mesa, Tempe and the airport.

Meeting Venues and Activities

With the expansion of the convention center and addition of the Sheraton, downtown Phoenix has suddenly become capable of larger citywide events. But the area is more than just hotels and meeting space. Attendees will find plenty of restaurants, shops and nightclubs, as well as a number of museums and theaters that double as unique venues. The 1,364-seat Orpheum Theatre, for instance, has been carefully restored to its 1929 original splendor while upgrading its ability to handle modern productions. Similar in grandeur, the Phoenix Symphony Hall has 2,312 seats and offers state-of-the-art facilities.

Besides hosting the performing arts, downtown Phoenix is a sports fan’s paradise, with the US Airways Center, home of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, featuring the 14,000-square-foot Casino Arizona Pavilion. Nearby is Chase Field, where Major League Baseball’s Arizona Diamondbacks play, which can host groups up to 74 in one of six luxury suites, or up to 12,000 for events on the field itself.

Other attractions and venues include the Heard Museum, one of the top museums in the country for showcasing American Indian arts and cultures, highlighting the state’s 21 federally recognized tribes. The 145-acre Desert Botanical Garden features desert plants from across the globe, especially from the Southwest, and can accommodate groups up to 400 in one of six venues.

InterContinental Montelucia.

Scottsdale

West of Phoenix and part of the greater metro area, Scottsdale has long enjoyed a reputation as an upscale neighborhood filled with high-end resorts, tony shops and a happening nightlife, which makes it a natural as the new home of the first W Scottsdale in Arizona. The famously hip hotel has 224 guest rooms, 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and its signature Bliss Spa.

“I think one of the great things about us is accessibility—there are so many direct flights. And the proximity to the properties—generally there’s a long transfer to get to resort properties, but we’re only 15–25 minutes to Sky Harbor Airport,” says Kelli Blubaum, CMP, senior national sales manager with the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Sixty percent of our business to Scottsdale is repeat business, because there are so many different things to experience here.”

With 330 days of sunshine a year, Blubaum says groups can count on the weather for spectacular outdoor events, with unique settings in the desert, on golf courses and poolside, “events you couldn’t do in Chicago in January,” she says. And while Scottsdale doesn’t have its own convention center, there is such a large number and wide variety of resorts that most any group up to 250 will find ample opportunity to have a successful meeting.

Besides the W Scottsdale, which opened in 2008, the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, which will be hosting the upcoming Smart Meeting, debuted around the same time, and features 285 guest rooms and suites and 27,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, all at the foot of stunning Camelback Mountain. Opening its doors this spring is the Talking Stick Resort, which will offer 497 guest rooms, 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, eight restaurants and 240,000 sq. ft. of gaming.

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, a desert hideaway named for the massive boulders piled up (by nature) near the resort, is celebrating its 25-year anniversary, and features 160 guest casitas, 60 villas and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Other options include the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, with 490 guest rooms and 70,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and The Phoenician, offering 647 guest rooms and 64,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa.

Tempe

Bordering Scottsdale to the south is the city of Tempe, known largely as the home to Arizona State University and where you can enjoy the shops and restaurants of the Mill Avenue District. The university has a number of venues available for meeting and events, including the 14,000-seat Wells Fargo Arena, the Memorial Union for groups up to 575, and the 3,000-seat Grady Gammage Memorial Union, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

For hotels, The Buttes, A Marriott Resort is the largest in town, with 353 guest rooms and 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, followed by the Aloft Tempe, the newest property in the city with 136 guest rooms and an executive boardroom for meetings. For outdoor recreation, Tempe Town Lake offers everything from boating and fishing to biking and rowing.

Mesa

Directly east of Tempe is Mesa, a short rail-link ride from the airport (and Tempe and Phoenix) and offering a number of affordable options for groups. For meetings and events, the Mesa Convention Center has a total of 38,000 sq. ft. of space, and is adjacent to the 275-room Phoenix Marriott Mesa, offering 56,000 sq. ft. of its own meeting space. The future of meetings in Mesa may include a massive 1,200-room Gaylord resort, which got approval for the project in 2008. But due to the economy, the company has yet to begin development, and has until the end of 2011 to break ground.

Tucson

One of the most western of towns in Arizona, and the entire Southwest for the matter, is the southern Arizona city of Tucson. Surrounded by craggy mountains, as well as the cactus-filled Saguaro National Park, the city has a rich cultural history from its mix of Native Americans, early Spanish settlers and American frontiersmen.

“Tucson is the authentic Arizona where we have a lot of premium open space. The emphasis is on the natural beauty of the Sonoran Desert—it’s a little more rugged and picturesque—and the vegetation a little lusher,” says Graeme Hughes, CTA, director of convention sales for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“Wherever you are in the community, you’re 20 minutes from a national park or national forest. The outdoors and natural elements of the destination are the showcase. All the other amenities are here, but they’re in such a dramatic desert setting that when people get here it really stands out to them,” Hughes says. “The other thing that’s really unique is the cultural experience. There’s a heavy influence of Native American, Mexican American and Western American cultures—a blending of those three cultures. They’re all authentic and unique, and people really respond to that.”

Hughes says the CVB is still offering its popular meeting planner incentive package through June 30, where groups can get as much as a $30,000 credit to their hotel master account. “It’s been a huge driver for us; it’s driven well over 200 leads and close to 100 definite bookings,” he says.

Tucson is home to the University of Arizona, which has a number of museums and venues for group meetings and events, such as the 340-seat Gallagher Theater. Otherwise, the largest venue in the city is the Tucson Convention Center with 205,000 sq. ft. of function space. Other options include the Omni Tucson National Reserve, featuring 279 guest rooms and 22,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa, with 575 guest rooms, 88,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and a 27-hole Arnold Palmer-designed golf course.

The biggest news for Tucson is the December 2009 opening of The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain on the northwestern outskirts of the city near the Tortolita Mountains. The resort has 209 guest rooms, 44 individual casitas and 44,000 sq. ft. of indoor/outdoor function space, and is located adjacent to the 27-hole golf course that is home to the PGA’s Accenture Match Play Championship.

Mii amo spa at Enchantment Resort.

Sedona

Surrounded by the stunning Red Rocks, Sedona is a popular destination for an eclectic mix of artists and New Age luminaries, as well as groups interested in the beautiful setting and numerous outdoor activities. A two-hour drive north of Phoenix, the city has strong Native American influences, while offering a host of art galleries and spiritual and personal enrichment programs (which includes the area’s many spas). For meetings, the Hilton Sedona Resort and Spa has 219 guest rooms and 20,000 sq. ft. of meeting facilities. Another popular option is the Enchantment Resort, located on 70 acres in Boynton Canyon, with 236 guest rooms, 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and the acclaimed Mii Amo spa.

Flagstaff

Just north of Sedona and at 7,000 feet elevation, Flagstaff is a cool summer alternative to the hotter regions of the state. In winter, the area gets plenty of snow, enough to support downhill and cross-country skiing at the nearby Arizona Snowbowl. For many attendees, Flagstaff’s close proximity to the Grand Canyon 80 miles to the north is one of its main attractions, with numerous organized tours available to shuttle groups to the canyon’s southern rim. For meetings venues, the High Country Conference Center, which opened in 2008, has 25,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space, while the Little America Hotel, Flagstaff offers 247 guest rooms and 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Lake Havasu

One of the more curious destinations in Arizona is Lake Havasu City on the state’s border with California. A planned community established in 1964, the surrounding landscape is dry desert yet the city is popular with the boating and fishing crowd on the nearly 20,000 acres of Lake Havasu. Another popular attraction is the London Bridge, the original English span that was brought to the city and opened in 1971. The London Bridge Resort takes its name from the attraction, and offers 122 guest rooms and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

For more information about properties, venues and attractions in Arizona, visit smartmeetings.com/showcases/arizona.

Yosemite, California (THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA)

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These landforms are a visual feast of nature at her best, with emerald blue waters, snow-capped peaks and deep, thick woods filled with pines, firs and giant sequoias.

They also create the settings for year-round recreation possibilities, and with them, the comforts of lodging and dining. Leisure travelers and outdoor enthusiasts have long flocked to the Sierras—and meeting groups haven’t been far behind. Whether looking for retreats, incentives, conferences or just plain inspiration, planners have snapped up the opportunities offered, while savvy concessionaires and hoteliers have amped up their offerings to make their properties even more meetings-friendly. Following are several not-to-be-missed attractions open year-round when you’re Sierra dreaming.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Yosemite National Park spans an area of over 760,000 acres, although most people are more familiar with the seven-square-mile Yosemite Valley, with its iconic Half Dome and towering waterfalls. Among the valley’s lodging choices is the renowned Ahwahnee, built in the grand old lodge tradition, with 123 guest rooms and meeting space for up to 150 attendees. Minutes from The Ahwahnee, at the base of Yosemite Falls, is Yosemite Lodge, a 245-room property that offers meeting space for 200.

Outside the various park entrances are numerous lodging options, from cabins to Four-Diamond hotels. Tenaya Lodge, in Fish Camp, about two miles from the park’s southern gate, is a classic mountain resort with all the modern amenities. The 244-room property features 9,000 sq. ft. of function space with nine meeting rooms, including a 500-person grand ballroom.

KINGS CANYON/SEQUOIA NATIONAL PARKS

Grouped together due to their side-by-side proximity in the southern Sierra Nevada, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks share a landscape of mountains, canyons, caverns—and sequoias, the world’s largest trees. Of the 75 sequoia groves in the world, these parks encompass 29.

Lodging here also runs the gamut of offerings, from hotels to cabins to small resorts. John Muir Lodge, in Kings Canyon’s Grant Grove Village, is a new property with 36 guest rooms; all-inclusive Montecito Sequoia Resort, surrounded by both parks, has 52 guest rooms. Each offers meeting space as well.

MAMMOTH

About 20 miles south of Yosemite, Mammoth is a hugely popular ski and snowboard area, especially for Southern Californians (mountain bikers claim it in summer). The ski resort is located on the north side of Mammoth Mountain, which rises to a picturesque elevation of 11,053 feet.

Mammoth Lodging offers four properties ranging from a classic ski lodge to rustic cabins, all with easy access to the slopes. For example, there’s the Village Lodge, with modern condos in the social center of town, and Mammoth Mountain Inn, with hotel rooms and condos. The recently renovated Mountainside Conference Center, in the Main Lodge, is the largest meeting venue, with 6,600 sq. ft. of dedicated space; it’s directly across from Mammoth Mountain Inn.

Lake Tahoe, California (The Sky’s the Limit )

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Situated at an elevation of 6,200 feet, Lake Tahoe is split by California and Nevada. The lake’s remarkable clarity is as celebrated today as it was in the 1880s when Mark Twain described it in his book Roughing It: “…the water was not merely transparent, but dazzlingly, brilliantly so.” This Sierra gem is 22 miles long, 12 miles across at its widest point and 72 miles around; its deepest point reaches 1,636 feet.

While scenic beauty burns a lasting impression, Lake Tahoe’s appeal to meeting planners leaves its own indelible mark. Look for an abundance of meeting and group facilities, lodging across all price points and sales teams eager to negotiate value-added programs. World-class outdoor recreation and 24-hour entertainment within steps of the conference table ensure that professional events offer a fine balance of leisure pursuits. Lake Tahoe is also a convenient drive from the San Francisco Bay Area and Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nev.

NORTH SHORE

While official state lines divide the Tahoe Basin, Lake Tahoe’s commercial centers are more symbolically marked with a line in the sand—that dividing the North Shore from South Shore. The North Shore of Lake Tahoe is often regarded as the quiet side to South Shore’s Vegas-style tendencies. Nearly a dozen golf courses and the majority of California’s ski resorts, including Squaw Valley USA, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort and Alpine Meadows are located on the North Shore.

WHERE TO MEET

Tahoe City, Truckee and Incline Village are the meeting hubs of North Shore. The North Lake Tahoe Visitors & Convention Bureau reports that the region offers an estimated 200,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event space among 30 sites, and more than 7,000 accommodations. Included in the room total is everything from standard hotel rooms to large condominiums.

The biggest news in North Shore meetings is the opening last month of The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe. Located mid-mountain at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort in Truckee, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe is the region’s first Five-Star hotel. “This location and the resort are unprecedented,” says Steven Holt, director of public relations. The property is situated just above Northstar’s mid-mountain day lodge, offering quick access to the ski slopes.

Built with a $300-million price tag, the luxury hotel offers 170 guest rooms and more than 15,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of which comprise The Ritz-Carlton Ballroom (6,600 sq. ft.) and The Pines Ballroom (3,000 sq. ft.). Each is divisible into smaller spaces and features floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terraces with views of the distant Martis Valley.

Guest room at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino.

Kimber Chavez, CMP, with UC Davis Health System near Sacramento, is among the first meeting planners to host an event here. She booked two multiday continuing education seminars taking place this month, when site tours still required a hard hat. Chavez says that her group chose The Ritz-Carlton for a couple of reasons. “We asked for a great rate to be one of their first groups, and it’s The Ritz-Carlton,” Chavez says. “It’s exciting to have something new in Tahoe.” Chavez also notes the hotel’s ski-in/ski-out access as a major draw. “The key is ski-in, ski- out. You can walk out of meetings in your ski gear, go skiing and then go back to the meeting. It’s the easiest thing to do,” she says.

In addition to meeting spaces high on design and technical capabilities, The Ritz-Carlton Highlands features a full-service spa with 16 treatment rooms, year-round heated swimming pool and hot tubs, ski/snowboard rental shop and an executive business center. Manzanita, the resort’s signature restaurant, was created by San Francisco chef and James Beard Award-recipient Traci Des Jardin.

A gondola ride away from The Ritz-Carlton is the Northstar Village, replete with 5,000 sq. ft. of conference space, shops and galleries, restaurants and a 9,000-square-foot seasonal ice skating rink. “The Highlands Gondola is dedicated public transportation from the Village to The Ritz-Carlton,” Holt says. The purpose, he explains, is to encourage hotel guests to enjoy village services without driving. (Meeting and event space in Northstar Village is operated by the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.)

Sharing The Ritz-Carlton’s distinction of ski-in/ski-out meeting facilities is the Four-Diamond Resort at Squaw Creek. Located at the base of Squaw Valley USA ski resort, between Truckee and Tahoe City, the resort offers 33,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space that breaks down into 24 conference rooms. Indoor spaces include two sizeable ballrooms, one measuring 9,525 sq. ft., the other offering 5,200 sq. ft. of space. Outside, 14,750 sq. ft. of dedicated space is popular for tented banquets.

New this season, the Resort at Squaw Creek is incorporating Squaw Valley’s Olympic heritage into its meetings programs (Squaw Valley is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Olympics this year). Team-building exercises and private group ski tours with former Olympians and World Cup athletes will be available (the resort’s director of sales, Cory Carlson, was a member of the U.S. Ski Team).

The resort offers 360 accommodations for groups, a full-service spa with 10 treatment rooms, a championship golf course, ski equipment storage and outdoor heated swimming pools. A private chairlift provides direct access to Squaw Valley’s slopes.

The Ritz-Carlton Highlands, Lake Tahoe.

Rounding Highway 89 into Tahoe City, Granlibakken Conference Center & Lodge is a family-owned departure from conventional hotel meeting sites. Homey accommodations range from hotel-style rooms to townhouses, and all meetings packages include three meals a day. The Main Conference Center features five conference rooms that accommodate groups of up to 400 guests. The Mountain Ballroom offers 5,400 sq. ft. of meeting space and 1,600 sq. ft. of prefunction space, collectively accommodating up to 500. The resort’s high-tech amenities include wireless Internet access, private servers for group use and IT staff assistance.

The Tahoe Yacht Club is a little-known secret for small meetings and private events in the heart of Tahoe City. Adjacent to the Tahoe City Marina, the Club offers lakefront meeting space for up to 50 people. Reception-style gatherings accommodate up to 100 guests. Space at the Tahoe Yacht Club is available daily from September through June.

The North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach is a dedicated event facility offering 8,000 sq. ft. of flexible space for meetings, conferences, exhibits and banquets. All facilities are conveniently located on ground level.

The historic Cal Neva Resort, Spa & Casino in Crystal Bay is the only hotel in the country that straddles two states. Built in 1926, Cal Neva’s storied past includes raucous tales of Frank Sinatra’s Rat Pack, Marilyn Monroe and other celebrities. Cal Neva offers 16,000 sq. ft. of function space, including the Frank Sinatra Celebrity Showroom with seating for up to 150, and the Indian Room, where the California/Nevada state line runs through the room’s granite fireplace.

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Incline Village, Nev. offers 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space, including the 5,813-square-foot Lakeside Ballroom with a prime lakefront location. When asked to define the Hyatt’s competitive edge, Director of Sales and Marketing Nate Hardesty says, “We’re the only resort [at Lake Tahoe] with a private beach, and gaming is not in your face. It’s here if you want it.” Planners may consider the resort’s 10% rebate on meetings booked in 2010 as a competitive advantage when shopping for venues.

Dr. Timothy O’Brien, organizer of the annual Lake Tahoe Equine Conference, is particularly fond of the Hyatt’s location. “It’s a little more secluded, but not that far from the Reno airport,” he says. Since its inception 32 years ago, the conference is always held in January. “This time of year is really beautiful,” O’Brien says. “It’s a unique environment with lots of activities.”

SOUTH SHORE

A dichotomy of Vegas-style excitement and endless outdoor recreation, South Shore enjoys mass appeal. South Shore is the common reference to the area spanning South Lake Tahoe, California and Stateline, Nevada. Visitor activity is centered in the casino corridor with full-service conference hotels, high-rise casinos, restaurants and a pedestrian village with shops, art galleries, a movie theater, a seasonal ice skating rink and a gondola providing direct access to Heavenly Mountain Resort. South Shore’s five casinos, each within walking distance of the other, offer 24-hour entertainment options, with headliner performances, cabaret-style shows, trendy nightclubs and gaming.

Affordably priced and free public transportation is plentiful in South Shore. Sierra-at-Tahoe and Heavenly Mountain Resort provide complimentary shuttle transportation to the slopes from downtown hotels and casinos. Many tour operators and attractions such as the Tahoe Queen and M.S. Dixie II paddle-wheel cruises offer complimentary hotel pick-ups for groups. The South Tahoe Express is a convenient, no-car alternative for guests traveling through Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Fares are reasonable, and service runs nearly 24 hours a day between major South Shore hotels/casinos and the airport.

WHERE TO MEET

South Shore offers the most variety in accommodations and meeting facilities concentrated in one area at Lake Tahoe. With more than 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space and an estimated 4,000 hotel rooms, as reported by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, meeting planners have the luxury of choice in South Shore.

Embassy Suites Lake Tahoe Hotel & Ski Resort is a chalet-style conference hotel steps from the Nevada state line. The hotel’s complimentary, cooked-to-order breakfast and nightly cocktail reception have long added extra value to Embassy Suites programs. In the current economic climate, group-specific deals like Hot Dates/Hot Rates and Pick Your Perks stretch planners’ budgets.

Banquet at the Inn by the Lake.

“Hot Dates/Hot Rates has been very successful for us,” says Senior Sales Manager Kris Keesling, CMP, CHME, CTP. “Cost savings can be generous because [the program] includes more than just a reduced rate. Upgrades, reduced parking and lower comp policy all enhance a planner’s budget needs. We encourage multiple-year contracts and future bookings for the best rates concessions right now.”

The property also offers 10,000 sq. ft. of dedicated meeting space for up to 500 guests and a 4,212-square-foot ballroom comfortably accommodates groups up to 440.

Situated on 19 acres, Lakeland Village Beach & Mountain Resort is the only lakefront conference hotel with private beach access in South Lake Tahoe. The property can host groups of up to 150 people in its two no-frills meeting rooms and seasonal Pavilion Deck. Condominium accommodations are individually owned and decorated.

Two miles from the casino bling, Inn by the Lake does business quietly and efficiently. The inn features show-stopping views of Lake Tahoe, even from its Event Center. The 2,000-square-foot center can accommodate up to 100 guests.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe and Harveys Lake Tahoe casino resorts are the biggest venues in South Shore. The sister properties are located across the street from one another and are joined by an underground passageway. Together, Harrah’s and Harveys offer more than 42,000 sq. ft. of meeting and event facilities for planners requiring spaces for 1,000 attendees. The 9,230-square-foot ballroom at Harveys Lake Tahoe seats up to 750 for banquet service. While midweek bookings at Harrah’s and Harveys can yield attractive discounts and Nevada’s 10% room tax is considered a bargain, Director of Sales Steve Lowe insists that meetings aren’t all about rates, dates and space. “Relationships based on trust and integrity play a critical role in our clients’ experience,” Lowe says.

MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, formerly Caesars Tahoe, offers 440 guest rooms and a convention center with 16,000 sq. ft. of function space. The flexible spaces can be broken into nine meeting rooms, the largest of which will accommodate 1,300 attendees. The MontBleu Theatre is a memorable setting for spotlight events like product launches or programs with an entertainment component; it accommodates 1,500 attendees in theater-style seating or 950 banquet guests.

Horizon Casino Resort offers a versatile floor plan with 12,350 sq. ft. of conference space, divisible into eight meeting rooms. The Golden Cabaret theater gives planners some flexibility in creative presentations, with a 24-foot-stage, theater-style seating, and a professional sound and lighting system.

Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, among the top-rated courses in the country, recently added to its inventory of group facilities. The new Beach House, located on the lakeshore adjacent to the 18-hole golf course, can host events for 40 guests inside the 3,652-square-foot, two-story house and 60 people outdoors. The home, which sleeps eight, is available for overnight retreats. Inside Edgewood’s Clubhouse are two sizeable spaces accommodating 100 and 250 guests respectively. Or, arrange a summer event outdoors for 1,000 attendees under a tented canopy that opens to views of Mt. Tallac.

Sprawled across 11 acres at the top of Kingsbury Grade, The Ridge Tahoe overlooks Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley in Nevada. The Ridge Tahoe is a full-service hotel condominium complex with 3,500 sq. ft. of conference facilities and a clubhouse. Shuttle service provides round-trip transportation to South Shore casinos six miles away.

LAKE TAHOE ACTIVITIES

Lake Tahoe’s variety of meeting venues and lodgings is equally matched by endless choices in leisure activities. Casino gaming, live entertainment, historic landmarks, quirky attractions and mountain recreation put Lake Tahoe in a class by itself.

The M.S. Dixie II and Tahoe Queen paddle-wheel boats are bonus activities at Lake Tahoe. In addition to offering year-round sightseeing cruises to Emerald Bay from South Shore, the vessels can be rented for private events and meetings. The Dixie accommodates up to 570 passengers for reception-style events, while the Tahoe Queen’s passenger load is 500. Each boat offers seated dining for approximately 300 guests.

Winter activities available to groups include snowmobile tours arranged through Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center and Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, and skiing and snowboarding at the area’s 12 ski resorts. Ask about group rates on lift-ticket and rental-equipment packages.

Choice activities during the summer include hiking and biking segments of the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, and kayaking or waterskiing on Lake Tahoe. Boat rentals are available around the lake. Or, coordinate a gentle white-water ride down the Truckee River from Tahoe City. Tahoe’s myriad golf courses, including the prestigious Edgewood Tahoe, are perfect for shotgun-start tournaments.

“Tahoe is a beautiful destination on all accounts,” says Jeff Bristow, an executive director who recently attended a Public Agency Risk Management Association conference in South Shore. He took full advantage of Lake Tahoe’s offerings outside the ballroom. “After the session hours, I enjoyed running and sightseeing.” Among the stops on his self-guided tour around the lake were Thunderbird Lodge estate, the Ehrman Mansion and Emerald Bay’s Vikingsholm Castle.

Variety in venues, meetings packages and leisure activities aside, Bristow offers this perspective on Lake Tahoe: “Given two identical conferences, one at Tahoe and another elsewhere, I would have picked Tahoe because of the natural beauty.”

Erin Bernall reports on trends and developments in the tourism and hospitality industries. Her work has appeared in American Spa and Ski Area Management, among other publications.

Palm Springs, California (“Geocaching” in Palm Springs)

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With a little imagination in mind, we’ll apply the concept to the meetings world, where planners search for meeting sites utilizing technology for research, conduct old-fashioned on-the-ground legwork for site inspections and choose a property or venue for a win-win contract.

When it comes to Palm Springs, in the heart of Southern California’s desert region, you can think of geocaching as a journey, one where you’ll find eight sophisticated, yet low-key resort communities with a multitude of properties awaiting discovery. The payoff? Over the past five years, the area has embarked on an astonishing $2+ billion program that has enhanced the entire meetings product, from upgrades and renovations to rebuilds and new builds.

And your trusty GPS? The Palm Springs Desert Resort Communities Convention & Visitors Authority, both your resource and your gateway. Like all destinations, the area was impacted by the economic climate of 2009, but, says Mark Graves, executive director, marketing and communications for the CVA, “Things are picking up; it’s very encouraging to us.”

The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa.

And right now, there’s a unique way to “cache” in on upcoming meetings. For a limited time, planners who sign a
contract for any year will qualify to freeze the room and F&B rates for up to two additional consecutive years—an excellent way to take advantage of 2010 pricing (all leads must come through the CVA sales team to qualify, and some restrictions apply).

That understood, let’s go!

LAY OF THE LAND

The Coachella Valley is a 45-mile stretch of scenic desert that’s famous for its agriculture and—perhaps even more famous—for its resort communities and recreational opportunities (namely, golf). And it’s easy to see why, with 354 days of sunshine a year and more than 100 well-manicured, emerald-green courses.

Located in Riverside County, the valley extends southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the Salton Sea, a saltwater lake that’s the largest in the state. Only 15 miles wide for most of its route, the valley is bordered on the west by the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains, and on the north and east by the Little San Bernardino Mountains.

Hyatt Grand Champions Spa.

Two main arteries dissect its length—Interstate Highway 10 and State Route 11—making it easy to get around and to connect. Seven of its major destination cities (Cathedral City, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage) line these connectors; the eighth, Desert Hot Springs, is just a little east. And although they segue easily from one to the other, each has its own distinct personality and attractions.

The largest, and the valley’s epicenter, is Palm Springs, which has updated its persona as a hip, modern destination over the past few years. But, purists, never fear: there’s more than a nod to its illustrious past as a magnet for old Hollywood, partially due to a plethora of mid-20th century architecture. (You can rent one of Frank Sinatra’s houses, for example, although it will set your budget back $1,950 a night.) Combining the best of both worlds is the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, a $30-million property that opened in February 2009 featuring classic mid-century desert style, a private pool with 4,000 sq. ft. of event space—and green technology.

Desert Hot Springs, in the foothills of the Joshua Tree National Park, lives up to its name with spas and resorts featuring steaming mineral waters, and Cathedral City is home to a shrine to baseball—the Big League Dreams ballpark. Palm Desert is a hub for shopping and dining (its El Paseo Drive is touted as “Rodeo Drive of the Desert”), as well as golf, with 25 courses. Rancho Mirage, in between Cathedral City and Palm Desert, encompasses lushly landscaped grand estates, such as the Annenberg Estate popular with presidents, film stars and visiting royalty.

Upscale Indian Wells features some of the valley’s best known resorts, and La Quinta is famous worldwide for its golf. Capping the edge of the Palm Springs Desert Resorts is Indio, dubbed The City of Festivals due to its many festivals and fairs—not to mention the fact that 90% of the nation’s dates are grown here.

Guestroom at the Spa Resort Casino.

Along with your GPS, consult your weather app. Palm Springs is warm year-round, a real bonus for groups that want to escape cold climates December through April. Recognize that winter is high season, with the thermometer rising (but prices declining) in summer, creating a budget-friendly value season.

MAJOR MEETINGS VENUES

Ground zero for meetings (GZ in cache speak) is the dazzling Palm Springs Convention Center, ideal for large groups and “citywides.” This is the massive, $32-million expansion and renovation, completed in 2005, that sparked not only the downtown revitalization but also upped the ante for area hotels and resorts, which rose to the challenge. With colors and elements that reflect its desert setting, the 261,000-square-foot convention center now provides 120,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 21 total breakouts of various sizes, including a 20,000-square-foot ballroom. It is supplemented by the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel at the Convention Center, offering 30,000 sq. ft. of its own space, plus 410 guest rooms. The former Wyndham Palm Springs has wrapped up a $25-million renovation, featuring both exterior and interior areas, including meeting space and sleeping rooms.

Just a quick block away is the Spa Resort Casino, a new $95-million property with 228 guest rooms, more than 7,879 sq. ft. of meeting space, a spa and a casino—another part of a hotel infrastructure that offers groups 2,700 hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center. It’s anticipated they’ll be joined in 2011 by the very hip Hard Rock Hotel and Mondrian Hotel & Condos, adjacent to the center.

Palm Springs Convention Center.

Nearby are several other national brand properties of interest to meeting groups. The Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs, which recently underwent a $15-million renovation, offers 194 suites and more than 12,250 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor space. The Hilton Palm Springs Resort has 261 guest rooms and 33,000 sq. ft. of flexible special event space; it recently completed a multimillion-dollar renovation of its Elements Spa. Still fresh from its makeover, Holiday Inn Palm Springs City Center features 249 guest rooms, an Olympic-size swimming pool and more than 8,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space.

Offering a different type of ambience is the Riviera Resort & Spa, a historic property that returned to its retro roots after a $70-million makeover (think “Hollywood glam with a twist”). The resort has 406 guest rooms and 45,000 sq. ft. of meeting space to accommodate groups.

BEYOND THE CONVENTION CENTER

Honing your GPS, venture out of Palm Springs to its neighboring resort communities, where much of that $2+ billion has been invested. You’ll find updated hotel guest rooms, new spas, refurbished golf courses and new fine-dining opportunities, not to mention upgrades to meeting space at its various properties. The advantage to resort meetings, of course, is the ability to keep your attendees focused and on-site, with both indoor and outdoor settings for meals and events.

Examples of renovations and enhancements proliferate. Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, for example, has been completely renewed after a $40-million renovation and expansion. It offers groups 444 guest rooms, 29,400 sq. ft. of indoor function space and 13,000 outdoors. Also in Rancho Mirage, Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa now features a 340-room luxury hotel and a 13,000-square-foot conference center. In 2009 it opened “The Show,” a new, $75-million high-tech, 2,000-seat headliner showroom. And, The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa, completed a $28-million room and exterior property renewal a little over a year ago. This upgrade added 30 new resort suites, for a total of 512 guest rooms. Meeting space tallies in at 65,000 sq. ft.

Indian Wells has its own cache of renovated properties, including Miramonte Resort & Spa. Complementing its 215 guest rooms and 18,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, this resort added a $5.8-million, 6,000-square-foot ballroom, a 3,000-square-foot event lawn and The Well Spa.

In Palm Desert, Desert Springs, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa is still enjoying the results of its $30-million renovation that included a stunning atrium lobby, with a new lobby bar and a waterway sporting runabouts that cruise you to your dinner reservation. With 884 guest rooms, it has a whopping 210,000 sq. ft. of meeting space (indoors and outdoors), plus a newly renovated 38,000-square-foot spa.

The town of La Quinta is small on town but large on golf and tennis. Two hotels have opened over the past couple of years, making tee time even more convenient. In Old Town, the Embassy Suites La Quinta Hotel & Spa offers 146 all-suite accommodations, while Homewood Suites by Hilton La Quinta, across the street from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, has 130 suites.

UNIQUE VENUES AND ACTIVITIES

Golfers all over the world tune in (if they can’t make it in person) to some of the area’s high-profile events, such as the annual Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, a celebrity-studded pro-am in January, and the Kraft Nabisco Championship Golf Tournament, featuring the world’s best female golfers in April. A round of golf ranks high on the attendee wish list; the problem, for planners, is deciding which one of the more than 100 courses to choose. The biggest golf news is the recent refurbishment of both courses at the Indian Wells Golf Resort; it also opened a new 53,000-square-foot, two-story clubhouse ideal for events, with a 2,000-square-foot ballroom and several smaller spaces.

A must-do in Palm Springs is a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which zips you up a 2.5-mile vertical climb in 10 minutes aboard the world’s largest rotating tram cars. The views at the peak are also spectacular, and there’s both a fine dining restaurant and small private event space to cap the experience.

Your group can score a dose of old-time glam at the Palm Springs Follies, as much an icon of the area as the tram. The Follies are a Broadway-caliber production of music, dance and comedy from the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s, with a cast that’s old enough to have lived them.

Or, for a dose of new-time glam, you can rub elbows with the Hollywood stars who come out in force for the Palm Springs International Film Festival early each January. You’ll likely catch a glimpse of A-listers like Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman, Jeff Bridges and Mariah Carey, among others (see our Smart Scene on page 15 for a few we saw this year). Or get star-struck in another way, with Sky Watcher star gazing tours.

Empire Polo Club.

For a glimpse into a rarified world, there’s the Empire Polo Club in Indio. Few cities in the U.S. can boast polo fields fielding professional players (and their mounts) participating in the “Sport of Kings.” Your group, too, can participate—whether as spectators at a match produced just for you, or as mallet-wielding players in a round of golf-cart polo (experienced players take the driver’s seat). There’s also a full complement of indoor and outdoor settings for more traditional events.

You won’t want to miss an up-close-and-personal foray into the desert, to experience the gorgeous terrain, plus the flora and fauna that thrive in this region. Transportation options range from horsepower to horseback. Choose
an excursion like “Shake, Rattle & Roll,” a desert Jeep adventure, or “Giddy Up Little Doggie,” horseback riding in the Andreas Canyon, both offered by Access Destination Services, as a memorable off-site excursion.

For more information on properties, venues and attractions in Palm Springs, visit smartmeetings.com/showcases/palm-springs-and-the-deserts.

Vancouver, Canada

2010-02-02T05:36:57Z

If you want to organize a retreat or incentive meeting that’s memorable, cost-effective, and breathtaking, put down British Columbia as your must-go locale for 2010.

In addition to the Vancouver, Coast and Mountain area, British Columbia’s five other regions offer urban pleasures, wilderness experiences and everything in between. Thompson Okanagan, known for vineyards and rolling hills, is a land with a wine reputation winning more awards every year. The Kootenay Rockies, meanwhile, are designed for outdoor lovers of every ilk.

In the Cariboo, Chilcotin and Coast region, rugged grassland and Pacific Ocean views draw out everyone’s inner cowboy and cowgirl. The Islands, consisting of the popular Vancouver Island, deliver on locations with historical interest and outdoor team-building fun. And, northern British Columbia is ideal for fishing and water activities alongside wild terrain.

VANCOUVER, COAST and MOUNTAINS

The Vancouver region abounds with city delights and natural pursuits. A winter ski incentive meeting in Whistler, where we will see athletes swoosh their way to victory, is sure to enthrall your attendees and their families this season. The region recently completed a $600- million safety upgrade and expansion on its Sea to Sky Highway, the main artery from Vancouver to Whistler. Now a three- and four-lane highway instead of a two-lane road, this improvement will make driving from the airport to Whistler much more efficient.

Due to the Olympics and other incentives, there is a total inventory of 10,000 sleeping rooms that can host more than 30,000 overnight guests. Over the past few years, the resort has been expanding in accordance with its long-term development plan. The newly opened Aava Whistler Hotel, formerly the Coast Whistler Hotel, now offers 185 suites with flat-screen TVs, iPod docking stations and complimentary Internet. The hotel also offers a heated outdoor pool and hot tub, and is walking distance to the Whistler Conference Centre. The hotel offers three meeting rooms, with 2,434 sq. ft. of meeting space, that can hold up to 120 attendees.

While the adventurous go for outdoor fun, those who prefer comfort can indulge in the new Scandinave Spa in Whistler, which just opened in January. A spa aimed to be true to Finnish spa traditions, it features a wood-burning sauna, eucalyptus steam bath, thermal and Nordic waterfalls and more. This three-acre spa is situated in a forest setting overlooking the mountains.

Vancouver Convention Centre.

Those with a taste for the Olympics can go to Callaghan Valley, 11 miles south of Whistler to the Whistler Olympic/Paralympic Park, which opened in December 2008. The venue is hosting cross country skiing, ski jumping and biathlon Olympic sports here. Snowshoe and cross-country trails will be open to the public from March 1 to April 18 after the games are over.

Take your group to General Motors Place in town for a Canucks game and see why hockey is the country’s favorite sport. Visit BC Place Stadium, where open and closing ceremonies will take place. Go to nearby Richmond for a Vegas-like experience at the 220-room River Rock Casino, where you’ll find a glamorous four-story lobby with ponds and waterfalls, a unique circular escalator, 19,500 sq. ft. of meeting space, a casino with 1,000 slot machines, a theater, a spa and restaurants. It also features a direct-rail connection to downtown Vancouver.

Foodies will be more than satiated with restaurants and cafes that will please every palate and budget in quaint neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Yaletown and East Vancouver. And you can point shopaholics to Granville Island, Robson Street, South Granville and Gastown, chock full of interesting boutiques and stores.

For meetings, book the architecturally stunning Vancouver Convention Centre, with 471,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The waterfront facility has completed its expansion plan, and, last April, unveiled the new spaces, literally tripling its size. The venue has a new West building connected to the original East building, most known for its five large “sails.” The west wing expansion and renovation showcases a living roof among its many environmentally friendly features.

In West Vancouver, just 20 minutes from downtown, you can go to Cypress Mountain, the Olympics venue for snowboard freestyle skiing events. In North Vancouver at Grouse Mountain, you can take your group to its 8,000-square-foot outdoor ice skating pond at the top. The mountain also features ziplining, helicopter tours and sleigh rides. Snowshoe action can be found at Mount Seymour, also in North Vancouver, where you can enjoy a weekend twilight guided tour through the woods. Give your top sales reps the gift of a guided snowshoe tour and fondue experience on Mount Seymour as well.

One hour east of Vancouver, in the picturesque Fraser Valley, stands the Best Western Rainbow Country Inn with 5,750 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a ballroom that can seat up to 450 people. Based in Chilliwack, this full-service hotel and conference center features 74 guest rooms and is situated across the highway from Chilliwack Heritage Park.

Horses grazing in Kamloops.

Have your attendees arrive at the Vancouver International Airport and reach any destination in this region via cab, shuttle or private limo.

THOMPSON OKANAGAN

The Thompson Okanagan region is steeped in a rich cultural heritage and offers a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities and plenty of indoor meeting space. It is split into the Thompson in the north, with Kamloops and Sun Peaks, Clearwater, Barriere and Chase representing main centers for visitors. In the Okanagan Valley, below, key cities are Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos and Penticton. The valley is known for more than 100 wineries.

Exquisite wineries that have fine-tuned their group hospitality include the Quails’ Gate Okanagan Winery, Kelowna; Lake Breeze Vineyards, known for mountain and water views, Naramata; and the Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, Oliver, with its own 10-room guest house and gourmet restaurant.

Groups will begin their adventure by flying into the Kelowna International Airport. Kelowna can accommodate all types of groups comfortably and also has resources at its visitors bureau to help. The Delta Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Centre is its largest event space, with 390 guest rooms, 15 meeting rooms and 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Another popular spot for meetings is the Manteo Resort Waterfront Hotel and Villas, featuring 78 rooms and 14 villas, and 2,688 sq. ft. of meeting space.

When you want to get your attendees outside, book a bicycling activity along the breathtaking Myra Canyon with Monashee Adventure Tours for views of Okanagan Lake. For a wine tour, go to Top Cat Tours.

To plan a meeting in Kamloops, start with meeting planners at Tourism Kamloops. Organize an assembly at the Kamloops Convention Centre, which has 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and is the largest facility in town, complete with its own dinner theater. The site also is home to the eco-friendly Kamloops Towne Lodge, with 203 guest rooms. Nearby, high-comfort digs can be discovered at the European-style village of Sun Peaks. Among the many hotels and condos in this popular ski destination is the Delta Sun Peaks Resort, a Four-Diamond facility with 220 guest rooms and 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

If you need to host a convention, look to the city of Penticton, where you’ll find the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, which provides 60,000 sq. ft. of event space. The center is now attached via an enclosed walkway to the South Okanagan Events Centre, which has 35,000 sq. ft. of its own function space.

“I don’t think people realize what really great space they [Penticton] have at substantially less cost than anywhere in the province,” says Judy Williams, an independent meeting planner in Vancouver. Williams, who manages a trade show annually for 1,500 delegates, reports that Penticton offers the best facilities for her group’s needs. She rates the conference center as “fabulous” and hotel rooms as “incredible and plentiful.”

The largest hotel to house a vast throng of conventioneers is at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, Convention Centre & Casino, offering 203 guest rooms and facilities for up to 1,000 attendees. Folks coming here can fly into the Penticton Regional Airport. For planning assistance in this area, contact the Penticton Tourism Bureau.

If you have a small group, consider the Naramata Heritage Inn & Spa, north of Penticton. With 12 rooms, a 60-seat restaurant and an Aveda Concept spa, it is known, according to inn owner Norm Davies, for its gourmet cuisine and a peaceful setting that’s somewhat remote. “We are a base for a number of different wine tours in the southern part of the Okanagan Valley,” he says.

Event set-up at the Pan Pacific Hotel Vancouver.

And there’s the NK’MIP Conference Centre at Spirit Ridge in Osoyoos, which opened in late October and can accommodate groups of up to 350—the largest in the South Okanagan. The unique connection to the Osoyoos Indian Band offers a cultural element that can be integrated into meetings and events. The conference center is part of Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa, which also features the NK’MIP Cellars winery, a 9-hole golf course, a desert-inspired spa and lodging with 226 villas and suites.

KOOTENAY ROCKIES

Located in the southeast corner of the province, the Kootenay Rockies are comprised of five spectacular mountain ranges with inspirational views. Outdoor activities such as heli-skiing, snowmobiling, golfing and hiking make for exhilarating adventure.

The area is well suited for conferences of varying sizes. Panorama Mountain Village, in Panorama, is an enclave of condos and lodging with a total of 4,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. In Cranbrook, the area’s largest community, you’ll find the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort & Convention Centre, with 9,963 sq. ft. of meeting and function space. It is conveniently located next to the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel.

Your attendees can stay in luxurious accommodations such as Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, in the resort community of Fairmont, which also offers a spa and a golf course. This facility, with five meeting rooms and 2,680 sq. ft. of conference space, features odorless, hot mineral pools. In fact, the Kootenay Rockies region is popular for its natural mineral springs, and hotels such as Fairmont Hot Springs have capitalized on this natural wonder.

For something completely out of the ordinary, have your conferees spend a night or eat dinner in an igloo with Spirit Trail Adventure near Kimberley. In the summer your group can try dog scooting, an activity similar to dog sledding, with Adventure Source Tours. For team building, try the zip-trek/rope courses at Skytrek Adventure Park, located near Revelstoke.

Fly into the Canadian Rockies International Airport (YXC), Cranbrook, to begin your adventure. Delta Airlines recently started direct flights into YXC from Salt Lake City, Utah.

CARIBOO, CHILCOTIN, COAST

Stash away those high heels and wingtips—just for now. Instead, slap on those chaps, boot up and saddle up your cowpokes at guest ranches throughout the region and take ’em on a gut-bustin’ cattle drive (for more information on guest ranches, see page 48). Adventure is the name of the game in this area known for lush forests in Cariboo, grasslands in Chilcotin and the wild Pacific Ocean on the Coast.

Guest room at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler.

All of the Cariboo, Chilcotin and Coast section hangs north of Vancouver. With the help of tourism experts at Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association, the Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce and Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce, you can arrange a gold-panning team-building exercise in the Cariboo. How about fly fishing in the Chilcotin? Or, you can visit First Nation Villages on the Coast and explore the water via kayak.

This is not your big-box convention hotspot, but a treasure trove best saved for retreats and intimate meetings. At Echo Valley Ranch in the Cariboo region, guests can luxuriate under the nimble hands of a massage therapist exercising Thai spa techniques. Over at the Lodge at Chilko Lake in the Chilcotin, your folks can go on a grizzly bear photo safari.

The Tweedsmuir Park Lodge in the Coast is open throughout the year and delivers on jaw-dropping adventure trips, such as heli-skiing and heli-hiking. Over at the Elkin Creek Guest Ranch, your meeting-goers can saddle up for a cattle drive.

In Lone Butte in the South Cariboo, the intimate family-run Lac Des Roches Resort features six cabins, five suites and a chalet that sleeps 10. What makes this lakeside gem most interesting is that the owner is also a chef. Luca Lanzoni, from Italy, prepares gourmet northern Italian and Tuscan meals in this forested enclave.

The most seasonable weather sets in from June to September, so now is the time to plan. Fly your group into the Vancouver International Airport to make connections into smaller airports.

THE ISLANDS

Nibbling on crumpets and savoring afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress is a signature activity on everyone’s to-do list while staying in Victoria, Vancouver Island’s most popular city. But there is much, much more to do in Victoria. There’s Craigdarroch Castle, a stunning example of Victorian architecture; the 10-acre organic Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse with ocean views; and the Abigail Hotel with its trendy cooking classes.

The city offers a dedicated meeting and incentive department, helpful to planners as the options for lodging and activities are staggering. Victoria offers everything from historic inns to mega hotels with every high-tech convenience imaginable.

Immediately downtown is the Victoria Conference Centre, providing approximately 73,000 sq. ft. of meeting space for up to 1,500 people. It is, by the way, connected to The Fairmont Empress hotel via a walking bridge.

No doubt you will want your attendees to do something quite unforgettable when they come. How about diving? Sure, you aren’t going nose-to-nose with dolphins in Hawaii, but the Brentwood Bay Lodge & Spa, 30 minutes north of downtown Victoria, offers a scuba dive bed and breakfast package throughout the year and can provide lessons for groups at various levels of skill. Guests at this Five-Star oceanfront resort can obtain their scuba certification and go on a boat dive with expert instructors.

Two hours from Victoria is the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, Nanaimo, with 38,000 sq. ft. of floor space, representing the newest conference center in the region. Opened in 2008, it has already garnered 11 major building awards for technology, and eco-friendly architecture and interiors. Of note is the Silver Service Award for superb service on every level bestowed by the Meeting Planners International BC Chapter in 2009.

In Parksville, also on Vancouver Island, many have delighted in the comforts of Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort & Conference Centre, with 192 log units. This ocean-front facility offers direct access to the warm waters of Rathtrevor Beach, the warmest ocean swimming area in Canada. The site can accommodate up to 300 guests and offers more than 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Nearby Tigh-Na-Mara resort is the Morningstar Golf Course, a course for golfers of every ability level. Horne Lake Caves in Qualicum Bay is well known for kayaking, canoeing and rock-climbing. Bring your entourage here for a cavern tour or a five-hour rappelling adventure down a seven-story underground waterfall.

NORTHERN B.C.

Northern B.C. is comprised of a vast body of land, brimming with unforgettable landscape. The northernmost region of British Columbia features the misty and mystical Haida Gwaii (formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). The Northwest region is rich with cultural heritage, while the Northeast is known for forests, farmland and the famous Alaska Highway.

Off the west coast, you’ll find Haida Gwaii, a chain of more than 150 islands, many within the Gwaii Haanas National Park, Reserve, and Haida Heritage Site. Consider booking a pre- or post-trip in the summer with a tour operator such as The Moresby Explorers Ltd. to see these ancient village sites with remains of totem poles and longhouses. And the 53,000-square-foot Haida Heritage Centre works as an ideal place for a group gathering.

On the mainland, the port city of Prince Rupert is home to the North Coast Meeting & Convention Centre. With 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space overlooking the water, this site also features state-of-the-art technology to support various meeting needs.

In this town you can take your attendees on the Kaien Island Circle Tour with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours. This harbor outing with blow-by-blow commentary is led by experienced, no-nonsense skippers. The same outfitter can take groups whale watching or on a grizzly bear-viewing excursion.

Farther east in Prince George, consider the elegant Coast Inn of the North with more than 8,000 sq. ft. of meeting and conference space on two levels. The Four-Star hotel features a total of eight conference rooms, 155 guest rooms, a spa and two restaurants.

Need something larger? The Prince George Civic Centre offers 18,000 sq. ft. of function space to accommodate up to 2,000 guests. With eight upper-level meeting rooms, it also sports an outdoor plaza that becomes a skating rink during winter and transforms into a water fountain during the spring and summer.

For fresh air, take your group to the top of downtown’s Connaught Hill for a panoramic view of the city. Working with Outdoor Life Adventure Company, you can also arrange a day trip to the Ancient Forest, an amazing scenic icon filled with 1,000-year-old trees.

Direct flights with Air Canada, Westjet, Pacific Coastal Airlines and Hawkair from Vancouver can get you into most Northern B.C. cities. For more assistance on activities, log onto the website.

You’ll be pleased with the sophisticated city and laid-back country options in British Columbia, and so amazed by the variety you will be tempted to return year after year for new exploits.

Freelance writer and editor Kathy Chin Leong has won the Northern Lights Award for travel writing by the Canadian Tourism Commission. She has written for the Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News, Working Woman and many other publications.

Long Beach, California (LONG BEACH, CALIF.)

2010-02-02T04:45:39Z

“You can’t beat the weather. You can almost be sure that it will be sunny and mild,” says Meri Beth Wojtaszek, director of education and marketing (and meeting planner) for the Solid Waste Association of North America, who held her annual meeting in Long Beach for 2,500 attendees this past September. Aside from the weather, reasons for choosing Long Beach are aplenty for Wojtaszek, and include that it’s very accessible for a large number of her attendees—a fact further proven by Long Beach Airport’s recent recognition as one of the Top 10 Best Business Travel Airports in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler.

Once attendees arrive, the city’s convenience becomes even more apparent, with a large complement of downtown guest rooms, most of which are within walking distance of conference facilities, entertainment and dining. “There are so many things [downtown]. You can walk to dinner and you can walk to the convention center,” she says.

It seems to be just an added bonus, then, that groups can watch the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean just outside of their meeting rooms. “It’s not often that you can get waterfront property for your convention,” Wojtaszek says. “And once people see it, they can’t wait to get back there again.” (This particular association won’t have to wait too long, however, because their meeting planner already has them on the books for 2013!)

Fuego restaurant at Hotel Maya.

Another plus, Wojtaszek says, is that the city has a small-town hospitality unexpected in a large urban area with its numerous entertainment and dining options. Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, agrees that a sense of community is one of the city’s strong points. “It’s really what differentiates us. We are small enough to deliver that personal service.”

MEETING VENUES

Just steps from the water, and topped with eco-friendly solar panels, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is the city’s main meetings draw. With more than 400,000 sq. ft. of function space, the center has 34 meeting rooms, a grand ballroom, three exhibition areas, a 13,500-seat arena and a 3,051-seat theater.

Within blocks of the convention center, the city is also home to a number of major meetings hotels (several of which were taken advantage of during the Solid Waste Association’s annual meeting).

For ultra-convenience, the Hyatt Regency Long Beach is adjacent to the convention center with 27,000 sq. ft. of meeting space of its own. In addition, the property offers 528 guest rooms that offer either water or city views. Another of note is the Hilton Long Beach & Executive Meeting Center, which is just four blocks away. The 398-room hotel provides approximately 40,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a 9,730-square-foot ballroom.

Event set-up at the Queen Mary’s Salon.

Other nearby meetings-friendly properties are The Westin Long Beach, with 469 guest rooms (most of which offer harbor views), and 51,000-plus sq. ft. of meeting space; and the 308-room Long Beach Marriott, which has 10,000 sq. ft. of function space.

Newer additions to the city’s shoreline include Joie de Vivre’s Hotel Maya, which features tropical gardens on-site, along with 15 meeting rooms and outdoor function space that, together, total more than 20,000 sq. ft. Another newcomer is the boutique, 138-room Avia Long Beach, which has multiple venues to choose from, including a rooftop terrace for as many as 75 guests.

UNIQUE VENUES

With its location along 5.5 miles of ocean, it’s only natural that Long Beach is also home to the Aquarium of the Pacific, which features exhibits, tropical reefs and more than 12,500 animals. As the anchor to the city’s Pike at Rainbow Harbor (the largest waterfront development in California history), the venue also has options for groups to dive a little deeper with behind-the-scenes tours or harbor cruises. If you’d rather stay on-site, private events of up to 1,800 can be accommodated.

Guest room at Avia Long Beach.

Showing off what the city has to offer above the sea is the legendary Queen Mary, a now permanently docked World War II troopship. Although its final voyage was back in 1967, the seafaring vessel now has banquet seating for 1,700 attendees, a 1,000-person theater or the nearby Queen Mary Events Park for up to 5,000.

If your group would like to get closer to nature (and a bit closer to their Zen state of mind), the Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on the California State University Long Beach campus is a beautiful venue. Known for its Koi pond, the sprawling 1.3-acre garden also has outdoor function space for up to 165 guests, or the tented “Friends Garden” for as many as 80.

ACTIVITIES

Keeping your attendees busy in between meetings is also easy in this beach city with The Pike at Rainbow Harbor Entertainment Complex, just a few blocks from the convention center. The large complex is packed with entertainment options, including shopping, dining and a movie theater.

You can also take your group offshore aboard Catalina Express, which picks up passengers at docks downtown or near the Queen Mary. The ride to Catalina Island takes about one hour, but the views alone are well worth the trip. Water sports, shopping and dining are also available once you anchor at the island.
Small groups can get some serious air on an Island Express Helicopter, which flies three, six-passenger helicopters out of Long Beach Airport. They promise to be a memorable flight and give the opportunity to see the city from a new perspective.