Smart Meetings

Just south of Los Angeles, Orange County’s coastal cities—and those a few miles inland—offer beautiful locales to convene with your co-workers and reconnect with the kid in you. With team-building activities like sandcastle contests, beach relay races and art lessons, O.C. cities are bound to bring you back to a relaxed and lighthearted state of mind—and what better way is there to start your meeting?

From the southern shores of the county in Laguna Beach going northward to Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and, finally, inland to Anaheim, the famous home of Disneyland—these distinct communities conjure up thoughts of sunny days and relaxing evenings.

Whether it’s an arts festival, a surf competition or a trip to see Mickey, your group will have so many activities to choose from, they’ll want to extend their trip after the conference—everybody wins.

Go ahead; throw another log on the fire.

LAGUNA BEACH
Halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, Laguna Beach isn’t just a great location for small meetings; it’s a place where groups assemble to take advantage of the scenic beauty. And 400 working artists would agree, which is why this affluent coastal town has its own artist’s village.

Surrounded by 20 miles of wilderness, the city is cradled by canyons to the east and the Pacific to the west. It can comfortably host up to 400 attendees among several top-notch hotels, but there are other options as well, says Judy Bijlani, executive director of the Laguna Beach Visitors Bureau. Planners also have the opportunity to hold events in nontraditional facilities like galleries, museums, restaurants and even an outdoor canyon setting. “Team building is our strongest asset,” Bijlani says. “We have a lot of resources through the arts.”

MEETING VENUES
Situated on 82 acres in the canyon, Aliso Creek Inn offers six meeting rooms, including the Terrace Ballroom (1,920 sq. ft.) and a sundeck (1,350 sq. ft.). It also has the only golf course in Laguna Beach. Jennifer Daniels, an executive assistant at Laguna College of Art & Design, planned a board of trustees retreat for a group of 25 at the inn. The full-service venue “facilitated a smooth and productive meeting,” she says. “It’s a beautiful and peaceful environment, highly conducive to the creative planning components of this particular meeting.”

If you prefer the beach, stay at Surf and Sand Resort & Spa, with a 10,000-square-foot conference center that includes two ballrooms and other meeting spaces. Also on the beachfront, on a bluff overlooking the ocean, is Montage Resort & Spa, which offers three miles of sand for outdoor functions. Hotel Laguna, the first hotel in Laguna Beach, has a private beach and two meeting rooms that can accommodate approximately 130. Guests relish the rose garden courtyard and the stunning views beyond. Or enjoy the natural light in the wide-windowed meeting rooms at Inn at Laguna Beach, offering a total of 1,100 sq. ft.

UNIQUE VENUES AND ACTIVITIES
Reflecting the artistic vibe of Laguna Beach, seven-degrees is a studio and gallery space promoting creative endeavors within the community. The 25,000-square-foot venue includes two buildings for functions as well as housing for resident artists, plus a full-service kitchen and bar. The larger meeting space (4,500 sq. ft.) is completely decked out with audiovisual equipment and a terrace rooftop garden for cocktail parties. The entire space can be set up in any style. “We really like to look at it as an art installation,” says Director Dora Wexell.

Gallery space is available for events at the Laguna Art Museum in the evenings, when the museum is closed, although there is a board room for use during the day.
Another option is Art Escape—painting lessons focusing on the scenic beach—which can be arranged through the visitors bureau.  “It’s amazing how people will open up during these lessons,” Bijlani says. “It’s great for meetings or spousal programs.” All it takes is a simple request by a meeting planner, and the bureau will find a local artist who is available to lead the class, she says.

The young-at-heart will enjoy a field trip (remember field trips?) to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, where you can discover the difference between Otarids and Phocids, and learn how the center rehabilitates marine mammals. For a more hands-on team-building experience, try a cooking class at Laguna Culinary Arts. Groups here break off into teams and create exquisite four-course meals under the tutelage of culinary experts.

NEWPORT BEACH
A yacht-filled harbor, stunning coastline and upscale shopping set the tone for Newport Beach. “Because Newport Beach is a very affluent community, some meeting planners may feel that it is way out of their price range, when in fact, it can be quite affordable,” says Tim Aylsworth, vice president of sales for Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau. And there are plenty of chances to play—the area is prime for water activities like sailing, swimming and cruises. Plus, the weather rarely dips below 75 degrees.

Most of Newport Beach’s hotels have undergone some sort of renovation within the last few years. The buzz, though, is the new resort that’s already booking groups for 2009. “The Resort at Pelican Hill is going to be a tremendous addition to our city and is already noted as the ‘crown jewel’ of the Newport coast,” Aylsworth says. The luxurious property, which will have 332 rooms, is due to open this fall.   Planners looking for a quintessential Newport setting right on the water should consider The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, where fluffy bathrobes and slippers await you. In addition to the resort’s flexible grand ballroom, a 4,000-square-foot lawn is available for that impressive O.C. welcome reception. Also on the water is the Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom (harborside-pavilion.com). This elegant space is located inside the Balboa Pavilion, the city’s iconic landmark, and can handle up to 500 attendees.

Located right in the center of town is the Five-Diamond Island Hotel Newport Beach. It offers 30,000 sq. ft. of function space, including a 7,000-square-foot Palm Garden ballroom.

Located on the Pacific Coast Highway, the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach is an easily accessible starting point for recreational sports such as the Newport Dunes, a lively aquatic park, or the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Nature Preserve. The Hyatt has 26,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and several acres of well-groomed grounds for your fresh-air fiesta.

Farther inland, about four miles from the beach, is The Fairmont Newport Beach, which recently completed a $32-million renovation, and has 17,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including the Orchid Terrace, which allows groups of up to 150 to mingle outside.     
    
FUN ACTIVITIES
The best way to see Newport Beach’s premier real estate is from the water—take your group on a boat tour along the harbor, past some of Southern California’s most stunning mansions and private yachts. Several companies offer private charters and public cruises, including Hornblower Cruises & Events, Shellback Yacht Cruises and Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters.  Carrie Williams, the event coordinator for Pacific Avalon, says they book between 15 and 30 corporate group outings per month depending on the season, especially on the Majestic Yacht. It can accommodate up to 400 guests, and there’s a 1,000-square-foot dance floor for parties. “Our yachts are some of the newest in the harbor,” she says.  

HUNTINGTON BEACH
The town, rightly named Surf City U.S.A., has eight miles of gorgeous sandy beaches and, although it’s the third-largest city in Orange County, it still has that small beach-town feel. Popular activities outside of the board room include exploring the beachfront on rented bicycles and participating in relay races on the beach.

Donna Mulgrew, vice president of marketing for Huntington Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, says recent meeting trends have involved finding ways to give back. “One recent group we had at the Hyatt did a team-building event where they went to the Boys and Girls club and built them a playground; another group built bicycles and donated them to local kids in need,” she says.
 
MEETING VENUES
Huntington Beach has two Four-Diamond hotels that offer superb views of the waves. Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa has more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, including a large ballroom for up to 2,000 attendees. Post-meeting, your attendees can easily tote their beach bags across the Pacific Coast Highway via a convenient footbridge.

Also close to the water you’ll find the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort with 290 guest rooms and wide-open views of the Pacific. Among the resort’s 3,000 sq. ft. of meeting space is the West Coast Room, a former bar and lounge that has maintained the relaxed atmosphere by the help of plush furnishings and access to an outdoor patio.

Chris Rocke, regional sales manager (Calif.) for Bayer Diabetes Care Division, says the West Coast Room was a good match for his group of 25 because it allowed attendees to move around more, get some fresh air and stretch their legs during the sales meeting. It was his group’s fourth time at the Hilton, where, he says, the staff is always one step ahead, remembering details that please particular attendees in his group. “The A/V is always up. If you need a better room for the VIP, it’s done. They’re on it.” Plus, Rocke says, he tries to plan his meetings for Monday through Thursday so that his group can take advantage of the Tuesday night farmer’s market that is held downtown.

A 15-minute drive to the beach, Hotel Huntington Beach is in close proximity to Bella Terra, a major O.C. shopping and entertainment area. The hotel offers guest’s free Internet access and four meeting rooms—the largest can accommodate 200 in a classroom set-up.

UNIQUE VENUES AND ACTIVITIES
Groups can opt to meet outside the hotels at nontraditional venues such as the Newland Barn at the Newland House Museum (714-962-5777). The barn can handle about 70 guests inside and 200 on the beautiful, rose-adorned grounds. Also, the Huntington Beach Central Library and Cultural Center has a 320-seat theater with a full-service kitchen. And don’t worry about the A/V; there are seven other well-equipped meeting areas for your use. Huntington Beach Art Center, which showcases local and regional artists, has a meeting room available for up to 90 attendees theater-style. It has a built-in stage and audiovisual capabilities. Check their website for jazz and blues performances during the week.

ACTIVITIES
You’re in one of the west’s premier surf destinations, and it would be a shame to miss an opportunity for a surf lesson. Group lessons are available through Corky Carroll’s Surf School (surfschool.net), located at Bolsa Chica State Beach. For attendees who would like to enjoy the view from dry land, they can explore the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve to spy on active waterfowl and endangered species of the wetlands. Or get some exercise on the eight-mile bike path along the beach.
    
COSTA MESA
About 20 minutes inland from the coast, the city of Costa Mesa is a destination where entertainment, the arts, world-class shopping and easy access to post-meeting activities regularly attract groups. Costa Mesa is a pedestrian-friendly city with great emphasis on the visual and performing arts. Among the complex of commercial buildings, visitors will find at least 15 outdoor sculptures enhancing the area.

The arts flourish indoors, as well. The Orange County Performing Artscenter is home to several venues, including the new Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Samueli Theater (with room for 2,500 guests) and Founders Hall. This is the first year Costa Mesa has been able to offer two concert halls as part of the entertainment scene. Tom Smalley, general manager of the Wyndham Hotel and president of the Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau, says that having these renovated venues open provides more options to attendees after the meeting. “We’ve always been faced with [suggesting] the show, but now planners can choose from many shows,” he says. “There’s more nighttime entertainment than ever before.” The Artscenter is located near the South Coast Plaza metro area, making your post-meeting activities
like shopping or attending a musical very convenient.

And while the visual beauty of the city is important, awareness of environmental stewardship is also taking place. In fact, all the hotels in Costa Mesa are working together to share ideas on how to support the green cause, such as employee-driven recycling programs. “We want all of our hotels to take a stand,” Smalley says. “We’re really proud of that.”

Among these hotels is the Hilton Orange County, the largest of Costa Mesa’s hotel inventory. It’s got 48,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space, featuring a 12,160-square-foot Pacific Ballroom and the Bristol Palms Restaurant and Bar within a seven-story atrium. “They do meetings well,” says Randi Rosenberg, owner of Travelinks Marketing, an independent planning company based in New Jersey. Rosenberg brought a group of 80 to the Hilton for a sales and training event last September. “We’ve been there a few times, and we’ve always been very happy,” she says. “You know what you’re getting, and they check up on you and make sure everything is running as planned.”

Costa Mesa Marriott, The Westin South Coast Plaza and the recently renovated Wyndham Orange County Airport are conveniently located near the Orange County Performing Artscenter. All three hotels, like most of the lodging in Costa Mesa, offer complimentary airport shuttles. Ayres Hotel and Suites offers 50,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and has 282 guest rooms modeled after European boutique-style hotels. Guests can dine inside or out in Le Chateau Garden Bistro.
    
ANAHEIM
Mention Anaheim, and many people will immediately start reminiscing about Mickey Mouse. But Anaheim offers a lot of great benefits for meetings in addition to the ever-popular Disneyland, including the largest convention center on the West Coast.

 “Anaheim is perceived as a top-tier meeting destination by most planners, because of the massive Anaheim Convention Center,” says Juan Flores, communication manager for Anaheim Orange County CVB. The convention center is currently undergoing significant renovations, including the addition of an outdoor courtyard and enhanced pedestrian walkways. It offers 51 meeting rooms and 813,000 sq. ft. of exhibit and function space, including a 38,000-square-foot ballroom.

“The best thing about the convention center is the campus atmosphere,” says Kevin Johnstone, director of trade shows for NAMM, the International Music Products Association. “We’ve had [the show] there for 31 years; it’s like a family reunion. If the show fits, book it.” Plus, the center’s proximity to Disneyland and the new GardenWalk (a 19-acre development featuring hotels, retail shops and restaurants) will make your attendees very happy.  
Disneyland Resort has two theme parks, three hotels and the Downtown Disney District, which offers visitors all sorts of dining and shopping possibilities within walking distance of the hotels and bountiful meeting space. The Disneyland Hotel is the most popular for meetings because of its size—136,000 sq. ft. The Hilton and Marriott are two other major players on the meetings scene.

Sandi Atkinson, director of membership and events for the American Football Coaches Association, coordinated educational seminars and an awards seminar for more than 6,000 attendees at Hilton Anaheim in January. She says that choosing this property “was based, primarily, on the previous level of service we had received, but also for its extensive meeting space, proximity to the convention center and overflow hotel rooms and reasonably priced rates.” The Hilton has about 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, while the Anaheim Marriott (marriott.com) has 1,031 guest rooms and recently gained an additional 25,500 sq. ft. of function space for large groups. “We were pleasantly surprised to see the amount, variety, quality and functionality of meeting space within such a small geographic area—between the Anaheim Convention Center, the Hilton and the Marriott, there is a huge amount of space,” Atkinson says.

Other favorable options in the area include Doubletree Guest Suites Anaheim Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Orange County and Crowne Plaza Anaheim, which plans to renovate all guest rooms this May.

Cap your O.C. meeting with a show at the Grove of Anaheim, a live-music venue that will keep your attendees groovin’ long after their trip home.

Getting There

John Wayne Airport in Costa Mesa, offering nonstop flights to 25 destinations

Long Beach Airport is about 30 minutes to the north

Los Angeles International Airport is farther north

Ontario International Airport is a full-service airport located in the Inland Empire to the east.

San Diego International Airport is south of O.C.