Dreaming About California Meetings

A planner’s guide to the Golden State’s premier meeting locations

The mission: You’re a planner outside of California looking to take a break from the unpredictable weather patterns of the East Coast.

Your goal: Create a joyous, engaging and informative event that will excite your attendees for next year.

Do you accept the challenge? Obviously, you do!

Whether you’re a planner looking to set your meeting with the Hollywood sign in the background, paired with a glass of red wine or a well-selected conference center, the Golden State is a box of crayons with a shade for every occasion.

Smart Meetings rounded up some venues, locations and activities that will turn any planner into a California Dreamer.

San Diego

Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina recently completed a multimillion-dollar redesign that included 1,366 guest rooms in two towers designed to resemble the hull of a boat and sail. Marriott Marquis has Topgolf Swing Suites for the more actively inclined. These suites feature interactive virtual games such as Zombie Dodgeball, baseball, football, hockey and golf. A new, light-filled M Club is a VIP amenity that complements the 270,836 sq. ft. of event space.

Read More: San Diego: A Saint in SoCal

Across the bridge, Hotel del Coronado recently completed a $160 million upgrade on the historic Victorian guest rooms and Crown Room at the Instagram-famous beachfront property. The final phase of a $550 million redevelopment included the debut of Ocean Concierge Club, a makeover of Beach Village at The Del and Shore House at The Del residential accommodations.

The completely refreshed Rancho Bernardo Inn preserved the Spanish Revival vibe on the 265-acre resort in San Diego’s North County while brightening the 286 guest rooms and 25,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Monterey

One of Central California’s prize jewels, Monterey is both beautiful and stocked with enticing meeting spaces. Monterey Bay Aquarium, internationally renowned for its sea life exhibits, offers dining by the light of a massive shark tank after the venue closes to the public and green-forward programming, with a capacity of 2,500.

Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay features 370 guest rooms and 60,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in combination with the adjacent Monterey Conference Center. Two recently renovated ballrooms, a historic garden and an outdoor plaza can set the stage for your next event.

In the center of it all on Cannery Row in walking distance of Monterey Bay Aquarium is Monterey Plaza Hotel. In addition to 285 bright guest rooms and 42,456 sq. ft. of distinctive meeting space, a 10,800-square-foot outdoor plaza hangs over the bay, taking advantage of the inspiring views.

San Jose

Silicon Valley bound? The 520,000-square-foot San Jose McEnery Convention Center is in the heart of downtown, less than five miles from San Jose International Airport (SJC). The central location offers easy access to The Tech Museum of Innovation (112,200 sq. ft.) and the Children’s Discovery Museum (52,000 sq. ft.).

Signia by Hilton San Jose is event central, with 541 guest rooms, 55,000 sq. ft. of space and a Four-Star rating. The former Fairmont has taken on a new life, including the addition of Aji Bar & Robata, a Japanese-Peruvian fusion gathering spot.

Also new again is the historic Hayes Mansion, Curio Collection by Hilton. The 214 exquisite guest rooms blend old and new in style with wood furniture, cozy nooks and regal design details. The 33,000 sq. ft. interior and 20 acres of landscaped outdoor areas are IACC-certified to add “wow.”

Greater Palm Springs

The nine cities in Southern California’s Coachella Valley that encompass Greater Palm Springs have grown into a wellness oasis. Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians unveiled the 72,000-square-foot The Spa at Séc-he in 2023 with 21 private hot springs fed by 12,000-year-old mineral water, plus treatment rooms, a tranquility garden and eucalyptus saunas.

Nearby in the convenient downtown Palm Springs Design District, Thompson Palm Springs opened last year with 20,000 sq. ft. of distinctive modern indoor and outdoor event space. Each of the 168 bungalow-inspired rooms affords a private balcony with views of the vibrant city below.

Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort & Spa in Indian Wells is a timeless classic with a new look worth revisiting. The olive tree-studded campus still houses an award-winning spa, 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 215 guest rooms, suites and villas.

San Francisco

The City by the Bay has always delivered dynamic gatherings via world-class food, entertainment and meeting spaces. In 2025, San Francisco Travel predicts a tourism and lodging boost driven by a strong convention calendar and the return of international leisure travel. SF Travel expects the city to see 23.9 million visitors. Moscone Center has 30 events booked, creating 590,000 hotel room nights—a 30% increase from last year.

A block from the expanded convention center, The St. Regis San Francisco is a beacon of luxury. The 260 generous guest rooms and 22,257 sq. ft. of meeting space embrace the mild climate and boast generous outdoor areas that can be tented or open to the Yerba Buena Gardens views.

The Westin St. Francis San Francisco in Union Square dates back to 1904 and has a museum of highlights tucked in the lobby to prove it. The 56,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 1,195 guest rooms are an elegant backdrop for some of the most powerful financial and medical meetings held anywhere. A new signature restaurant and oversized club lounge add to the sophisticated options.

Union Square is filled with creative reuse projects. The former Macy’s Men’s store transformed into Convene 100 Stockton, a 53,000-square-foot flexible working, meeting and gathering place with advanced technology tools and elevated catering options. The decor celebrates the city’s Karl the Fog persona, with dynamic lighting and art.

The newest hotel in the Embarcadero neighborhood is The Jay, an Autograph Collection Hotel that opened in 2023 after a multimillion-dollar renovation and offers 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The former Le Meridien property features angled, floor-to-ceiling windows in the 360 guest rooms. The third-floor lobby and restaurant invite lingering, while the rooftop terrace bar is a popular local destination.

Nearby, Hyatt Regency San Francisco soars with a massive signature lobby sculpture, 821 newly renovated guest rooms, Ferry Building views and 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco in the Financial District at Embarcadero (155 guest rooms and 8,750 sq. ft. of event space) is fresh from a two-year renovation that added two new private terrace suites to the top floors of the 48-story California Center building.

Aerial view of Oracle Park — Oracle Park photo by Marcus E Jones / Shutterstock.com

Fairmont San Francisco in Nob Hill’s iconic building offers 72,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 606 guest rooms. Penthouse receptions are a memorable VIP experience for dignitaries of all types.

Across the street, InterContinental Mark Hopkins San Francisco recently celebrated its centennial in the popular Top of the Mark restaurant and renovated Peacock Court, the crown jewel of its 19,000 sq. ft. of meeting space.

In the fast-growing Mission Bay neighborhood, LUMA Hotel San Francisco emerged two years ago as a technology-enabled refuge paying homage to its watery past in walking distance of Chase Center and Oracle Park. With 299 bright, touch-button-operated guest rooms and more than 7,000 sq. ft. of meeting space with plugged-in board tables and video cameras that will follow the movements of the speaker, it is a fitting stage for innovative AI companies.

Nearby, Giants Enterprises manages 200,000 sq. ft. of events space and China Basin Park on Pier 48. Inside Oracle Park, historic-chic Gotham Club spaces are tucked behind visitor-team scoreboards with incredible views and creative catering options.

San Luis Obispo

If you’re looking for a modern urban resort that embodies the spirit of SLO, Hotel San Luis Obispo is a must-visit. With 15,534 sq. ft. of meeting space, planners can set their event with the hills in the distance.

The hotel’s offerings include the restaurant Ox + Anchor, helmed by Executive Chef Ryan Fancher. The steakhouse features a modern twist inspired by its surroundings, with wines sourced from the Central Coast.

San Francisco Peninsula

The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay Men’s relaxation room — The Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay, Men’s relaxation room

Crowne Plaza Foster City, San Mateo, is nine miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). It has 23,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and is within driving distance of San Mateo Event Center and Stanford University.

Housed on 48 acres, San Mateo Event Center has 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space, with 5,000 to 105,000 sq. ft. of space between the seven buildings.

On the Pacific coast, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay recently revealed a refresh that touched all 261 guest rooms, the spa, Restaurant Navio and The Conservatory. The historic property has set the bar high for luxury with wood paneling, arched vaulted ceilings and a stately silhouette.

Mendocino

For a smaller gathering of 50 or fewer guests, Stanford Inn & Resort is the perfect pick. Located on the scenic Mendocino Coast, it offers an overlooking view of the Pacific Ocean—a perfect mix of relaxation and team building. A corporate wellness (Interpersonal Wellness) experience includes classes and workshops on stress management, nutrition, breathwork and creativity. Other activities include trail running and nature hikes.

Santa Barbara

Woman walking toward Hotel Californian entrance — Hotel Californian

Located in the Funk Zone, Santa Barbara’s Hotel Californian blends Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with Moroccan interior design. It offers 23,780 sq. ft. of meeting space, 16 meeting rooms and 121 guest rooms.

Guests can relax at the Majorelle spa, named after a vibrant Moroccan blue that evokes a sense of revitalization. Spa experts help guests select customized aromatherapy, treatments and oils.

Santa Ana

Embassy Suites by Hilton Santa Ana Orange County Airport, which holds 7,629 sq. ft. of event space, is only four minutes from John Wayne Airport (SNA) and is a 15-minute drive to Disneyland Park and Newport Beach.

Anaheim

Expected to open in 2026, ocV!BE will be located next to Honda Center, which will have a 5,700-capacity concert venue, over 30 restaurants and four public plazas. The Le Meridien by Marriott and Kimpton Hotel will break ground in 2025 and will have 39,000 sq. ft. of conference space.

Huntington Beach

The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, is a seaside luxury resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Huntington Beach. It is located just 30 minutes from Disneyland and offers two pools and water slides.

The resort has over 50,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space, including 30,251 sq. ft. of meeting space in indoor boardrooms and ballrooms.

Los Angeles

Pool at The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel — The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel

JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, located downtown, provides the perfect mix of business and leisure. It is within walking distance of venues like Crypto.com Arena, Peacock Theater and Los Angeles Convention Center, offering unmatched convenience. The 134,143 sq. ft. of total event space, 44 event rooms and 35 breakout rooms enjoy views of the downtown skyline, the L.A. Live district and the Hollywood Hills—ideal for Hollywood-certified meetings.

New in the cultural hub of downtown is Conrad Los Angeles. Across the street from Walt Disney Concert Hall, the modern luxury structure mirrors the artistic approach to hospitality with 305 guest rooms and 13,000 sq. ft. in a dedicated conference center.

Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown recalls the city’s glamour of the Prohibition era framed by a modern escapism artistic style. With 21,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and nine meeting rooms, Hotel Indigo allows planners to utilize nearby venues like L.A. Live and Crypto.com Arena and a wide variety of options for window-shopping fans.

Downtown L.A. has plenty of offerings for planners, including Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza, which has over 25,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Recently, “The 4” was introduced, a series of outdoor spaces that are great for receptions and gala dinners.

The Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown offers a spectacular view of L.A. and a heated rooftop pool. Planners can utilize 68,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 33 meeting rooms, including ballrooms, boardrooms and open-air terraces. Electric vehicle drivers will appreciate the ten paid charging spots available onsite.

Another great selection in downtown L.A. is The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites, Los Angeles, which has hosted U.S. Presidents, dignitaries and Hollywood’s elite. It has 166,552 sq. ft. of event space, 47 event rooms and 40 breakout rooms.

Sonoma County

Salmon at The Sea Ranch Lodge — Dinner at The Sea Ranch Lodge

The Sea Ranch Lodge harmonizes serenely with its coastal surroundings, so planners can utilize spaces like The Meadow, a 5,000-square-foot outdoor area with oceanfront views and wildflowers. The biggest indoor space in the lodge itself provides planners with 3,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and can host 110 guests.

Escape to Montage Healdsburg with your team to explore the vineyards and incorporate Sonoma wine country into your visit. Montage Healdsburg offers more than 6,300 sq. ft. of flexible indoor meeting space. Guests can take advantage of Compass Sports, which includes archery and e-bikes.

Montage Healdsburg indoor space — Montage Healdsburg

A new, exciting venue is coming to the area in June of 2025: Appellation, Healdsburg. Planners will have various choices to host their events, whether it is a dinner in the orchard or within the Grange that connects to the event lawn. The hotel will also host crafted classes featuring winemakers, chefs, bakers and painters.

Only an hour away from San Francisco is Fairmont Sonoma Mission & Spa, an award-winning venue with a wide selection of activities and amenities, such as geothermal pools, farm-to-table dining and 33,833 sq. ft. of meeting space.

Sacramento

Charcuterie board at Kimpton Sawyer Hotel

Sacramento’s SAFE Credit Union Convention Center provides the perfect setting for a meeting in the heart of downtown. The exhibit hall is 160,000 sq. ft., with 37 breakout rooms and several outdoor options, including 15,000 sq. ft. of outdoor plaza space.

Read More: Explore Sacramento

Located in the Public Marketing Building in downtown Sacramento, Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel is across the street from Sacramento Convention Center. The venue has 19,300 sq. ft. of event space and 14 breakout rooms.

Kimpton Sawyer Hotel is another gem in downtown Sacramento. This boutique hotel overlooks Golden 1 Center. It has 22,000 sq. ft. of flexible event space and can host corporate events, fundraisers, cocktail receptions, galas and more.