Celebrate under the sun
Los Angeles and Orange counties have long been lauded as epicenters of stars, artists and world-class athletes, who gather to make their impression upon the world in bustling SoCal. This, of course, makes for an endlessly exciting and rich destination for meetings. Even as I buzzed from place to place (of course, there’s so much you’ll want to do, and more!) I found a great sense contentment as I explored it all under that perfect sunshine.
Where to Meet and Stay
At JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, meetings can take place in the heart of L.A. LIVE, a vibrant entertainment campus in L.A.’s South Park district. Peacock Theater and the GRAMMY Museum are only steps from the hotel, as is crypto.com arena, where I had the opportunity to see NHL’s L.A. Kings practice from a rink-level private booth (and your attendees can, too, if you’re planning one of those extra-special incentives). The hotel brings 134,143 sq. ft. of versatile, recently renovated meeting and event space of varying sizes to L.A. LIVE. In 2027, the hotel will unveil a new 40-story, 850-room tower, which will include a 51,000-square-foot ballroom—largest in Los Angeles.
I found VEA Newport Beach to be a serene, stylish escape, where the hotel’s philosophy of “approachable luxury” is infused in every detail. “Vea,” in Spanish, means “see.” As director of sales and marketing, Ben Stinnett pointed out that even the architecture inspires this: Long wooden columns extend from the driveway through the lobby and out to the back patio, drawing visitors’ eyes to the green golf course and ocean beyond, and inviting them to relax and take in the picturesque view. The hotel offers 400 guest rooms and 72,981 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space that seamlessly bring the outdoors in.
Maybe, though, you’re looking for somewhere in between the busy city and relaxing seaside. In that case, you’ll want to head to Anaheim Marriott. In addition to over 1,000 guest rooms and 109,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, a dedicated events team passionately explained to me and my fellow travelers how “ease of planning” is their focal point. Here, planners bring the theme, thought and purpose and can then leave it all in the hotel team’s hands. They are there to take weight off the planner’s shoulders—and that sense of ease is what SoCal is all about!
Glitz and Glamour
L.A. has a long list of incredible things to see and do, but one of the most awe-inspiring is the L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Towering stone arches mimic the grandeur of the coliseums of ancient Greece and Rome, but this space offers visitors the opportunity to experience a version of these historic sporting settings as bold and grand as they were in their heyday.
Meeting and event space abounds, and if you choose to bring your event to the coliseum, know that the onsite staff can bring legendary grandeur to life by not only displaying your logo on the scoreboards, but even lighting the Olympic Torch for you (if there is no other Olympic event taking place at that time).
When the torch blazed to life for my group, I can only say it was a moment of perfect synchronicity—my day-to-day worries faded away as I absorbed this symbol of the incredible feats humanity has accomplished, and the sense of communal pride and celebration of those accomplishments. Safe to say, no attendee will walk away feeling uninspired.
Anaheim Marriott saw me off to explore the bright downtown area in a FRAN (Free Rides Around the Neighborhood), a quaint, orange micro-transit vehicle popular among guests and locals alike. FRAN took us over to the Packing District, where, at its center, the historic Packing House is home to numerous small-biz food stands and local artisan shops. A great place to drink and dine, it can also be rented out for private events.
This article appears in the May 2024 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.
