Like the younger unknown sibling of a movie star, the geographic regions that surround Los Angeles might understandably suffer from an inferiority complex. Not so, however, in the case of the Inland Empire, which has managed to carve out an identity all its own in spite of the klieg lights emanating from its big-city neighbor.
The Inland Empire refers to the region in Southern California located in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The central cities in the region—Ontario, San Bernardino and Riverside—were all founded as agricultural centers, but as they continued to grow along with the expansion of greater Southern California, these communities and their environs came to be known as the Inland Empire, giving them an identity apart from Los Angeles.
The region continues to show remarkable growth; with a population of more than 4 million people, it’s the 14th-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. and continually expanding. The by-product of this development is the ongoing addition of infrastructure and meetings-friendly amenities. Hotels, function facilities and unique venues are added to the mix each year, making the Inland Empire progressively more enticing for planners with their sights set on Southern California.
Ontario
Ontario is the largest and fastest-growing urban center in the Inland Empire.
“In the next 24 months, we will add more than 100 hotel rooms to the existing inventory,” says Theresa Moretti, director of marketing and public relations for the Ontario CVB. “The addition of these hotels is a response to the huge demand we’ve had from business travelers and groups.”
Ontario continues to be an attractive Southern California meetings destination for many reasons. It’s one of the most affordable options in the region, while also offering the full range of services and amenities. It’s also very convenient, with more than 100 daily nonstop flights to LA/Ontario International Airport from cities throughout the U.S. Meanwhile, the city’s convention center is just a couple of blocks from the airport.
“People can get in and out of Ontario with such ease,” Moretti says. “We have a pretty large corporate mix because of our accessibility. Our destination is chosen for its own merits rather than as an alternative to L.A., which is 50 miles away. We’re a value-enhanced destination. We’ve looked across the board, and we are definitively less expensive than our competition. But the A-1 thing that we have is that the airport is only two blocks from the convention center, and that is a very big plus for planners who want to bring groups in for large meetings and trade shows.”
The Ontario Convention Center is an attraction in itself—a state-of-the-art showpiece that includes more than 225,000 total square feet of function space that is entirely outfitted with the latest technology. The beautiful glass-and-steel facility features Wi-Fi access throughout, as well as DS3 and videoconferencing capabilities.
There are more than 2,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the convention center, including the Doubletree Hotel Ontario Airport, with 25,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Marriott Ontario Airport and the Hilton Ontario Airport, each featuring more than 20,000 square feet of function space. All of these airport-area hotels have recently undergone renovations, according to Moretti.
Ontario International Airport is Southern California’s second-busiest airport, with some 7 million annual passengers. It is expected to reach 30 million passengers by 2025. With the recent addition of new ExpressJet Airlines flights, the airport has significantly expanded service. As of May, ExpressJet offers service to 14 new destinations from LA/Ontario International Airport, resulting in a 25 percent increase in daily departures at the airport, a 50 percent increase in total destinations, and a 63 percent increase in the number of nonstop destinations available.
The airport’s growth reflects the activity in the city, which has numerous developments in the works. One of the major projects is Piemonte at Ontario Center, a multiuse, pedestrian-oriented development that will include retail, office and residential space, in addition to an 11,000-seat stadium and entertainment complex.
The new attractions in Ontario complement the region’s most popular draw, Ontario Mills, which spans 1.5 million square feet and is one of the largest outdoor shopping venues in California. Additionally, the recent opening of Victoria Gardens mall in nearby Rancho Cucamonga provides another option for attendees keen on shopping.
Other premier attractions include the California Speedway in nearby Fontana, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and the Joseph Filippi Winery and Vineyards in Rancho Cucamonga, which can accommodate groups as large as 120 for private dinners, receptions and wine tastings.
Riverside
The friendly city of Riverside, another rapidly expanding community, is one of the most architecturally beautiful places in Southern California. The city’s anchor, the historic Mission Inn, also happens to be an excellent venue for groups and events—indeed it remains one of Riverside’s most popular draws.
“One of our major convention hotels, the Mission Inn Resort and Spa, is one of three National Historic Landmark hotels in the state of California,” says Debbie Megna, executive director of the Riverside CVB. “So history is a major draw for Riverside. The city likes to expand on this theme with its downtown area, which has a variety of activities for groups, including restaurants, antiques stores and day spas. Also, the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, with space for 400, has historic significance.”
The Mission Inn serves as a self-contained function center, with 239 guest rooms, several great restaurants, a gorgeous presidential suite, and 22,000 square feet of meeting space. The inn is part of a walkable downtown environment, and it’s near the Riverside Convention Center, which offers approximately 50,000 square feet of flexible function space.
The convention center is connected to the newly refurbished Riverside Marriott, with 292 guest rooms and 14,000 square feet of meeting space of its own.
Other hotel options in downtown Riverside include the 163-room Courtyard by Marriott and the 116-room Comfort Inn.
Meanwhile, planners can arrange off-site events at a variety of venues, including several museums and galleries. The Riverside Art Museum is a top choice.
San Bernardino
The easygoing town of San Bernardino is one of California’s oldest communities. It’s the seat of San Bernardino County and as such enjoys a good governmental meetings business. But its ease of access and favorable climate also make it a popular destination for small groups of all kinds.
“We have great year-round weather and a central location,” says Mary Casanova-Poland, director of sales and marketing for the San Bernardino CVB. “The San Bernardino 10 Freeway and Interstate 215 run through the city, [making it convenient] for great spousal tours and day excursions.”
San Bernardino features more than 150,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, as well as 1,000 hotel rooms. The city welcomed two new hotels last year—a Residence Inn and a Fairfield Inn & Suites—and two more are currently under construction.
“Our valley is growing immensely and is anxious to fill the needs of meeting planners,” Casanova-Poland says.
San Bernardino’s central function space is the NOS Events Center, with approximately 200,000 square feet of function space.
The city’s collection of meetings-capable hotels includes the 250-room Hilton San Bernardino, with 14,000 square feet of meeting space, and the 230-room Clarion Hotel and Convention Center, with 19,000 square feet of meeting space. Most of the larger hotels are within easy walking distance of San Bernardino’s Hospitality Lane, featuring an assortment of shops and restaurants, many of which can accommodate groups.
In May, California’s newest official welcome center opened in San Bernardino. The 2,400-square-foot center features a Route 66 theme and offers numerous visitor services.
“We will provide concierge service to the business traveler, as well as to conference attendees,” Casanova-Poland says, adding that the center also features an Internet cafe.
Claremont and Pomona
The neighboring cities of Claremont and Pomona, separated by Interstate 10, each offer historic charm, peaceful surroundings and small-town appeal—a bit of Los Angeles from a bygone era.
Recalling the region’s agricultural heritage, the Los Angeles County Fair is held each year in Pomona at the Fairplex, a 543-acre complex that includes nearly 325,000 square feet of column-free indoor exhibition space in eight halls. Also on the grounds is the meetings-ready, 247-room Sheraton Suites Fairplex as well as Fairplex Park, one of Los Angeles County’s top horse-racing tracks.
Pomona is also home to the Kellogg West Conference Center and Lodge, offering 85 guest rooms and 16,000 square feet of function space.
Property options in Claremont include the Doubletree Hotel Claremont, which was renovated last year and features 11,000 square feet of meeting space and 197 guest rooms. The hotel also has a dinner theater and a Buca di Beppo restaurant.
Both cities also offer small college campuses available for meetings. Pomona College can accommodate groups as large as 600 people in some 50 meeting and event rooms. Claremont McKenna College, situated in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, can also host as many as 600 people.
Area attractions include Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Planes of Fame Air Museum and Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum at the Fairplex.
Temecula
Known as Southern California’s Wine Country, Temecula, situated east of San Diego, is a diverse destination with a wealth of selling points for groups.
“Temecula Valley not only provides outstanding meeting locations, but also a multitude of leisure opportunities for busy attendees,” says Kimberly Adams, executive director of the Temecula CVB. “With assets such as resorts, wine country, Old Town Temecula, casino gaming, spas, shopping, hot-air ballooning, golf, and the numerous other untapped treasures of the valley, we are many destinations all in one.”
Among the major attractions for groups is the South Coast Winery Resort & Spa, a working winery that opened in 2005 with 76 villas and 14,000 square feet of indoor function space as well as a terraced outdoor amphitheater seating 1,500 people.
The popular AAA Four Diamond Pechanga Resort & Casino is another premier option in the valley. The property has 522 guest rooms, more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a 188,000-square-foot casino.
The 130-room Temecula Creek Inn recently unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation of its guest rooms, each of which comes with private balconies or patios that overlook the hotel’s 27-hole championship golf course and the nearby mountains. The inn features 12,000 square feet of function space.
Other meetings-friendly properties in the area include the newly renovated Embassy Suites Temecula Valley Wine Country near Old Town and the Hampton Inn and Suites Temecula.
The region boasts more than two-dozen wineries, many of which allow groups to hold meetings and events in the vineyards. Several wineries can also arrange customized seminars on making and tasting wine for groups.
“Temecula is the new boutique destination,” Adams says. “Wine country is a great amenity for any meeting in the Inland Empire.”
Mountain Resorts
Though Los Angelinos regard the mountain resorts of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake as their winter skiing destination, the region is actually an active year-round playground, with ample hiking trails, water skiing spots, and fishing and golfing opportunities. Groups at the mountain resorts typically include one or more of these activities in their agenda.
Lake Arrowhead, part of the San Bernardino National Forest, is located 90 miles east of Los Angeles and 50 minutes from LA/Ontario International Airport. There are more than 400 guest rooms in the area, including hotels and bed-and-breakfast properties, as well as 500 cabins and condos available for group use.
The Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa is still enjoying a recent $12 million renovation that added a new spa and restaurant. With 12,000 square feet of Wi-Fi-equipped function space, the property features a board room with its own business center and outdoor meeting areas that include a private beach.
Other Lake Arrowhead-area options include the UCLA Conference Center, with space for up to 185 people, and the Alpine Conference Center, accommodating 285 people.
The Big Bear Lake Convention Center is the major venue in the Big Bear area, and Southern California’s largest mountain event facility. It features 11,000 square feet of meeting space and can accommodate 2,500 people.
Meanwhile, the Northwoods Resort & Conference Center offers 9,000 square feet of function space and 148 guest rooms, and the 80-room Best Western Big Bear Chateau has function space for up to 200 people.
For More Info
Big Bear Lake Resort Association 800.424.4232
www.bigbear.com
Claremont COC 909.624.1681
www.claremontchamber.org
Lake Arrowhead Communities COC 909.337.3715
www.lakearrowhead.net
Ontario CVB 909.937.3000
www.ontariocc.com
Pomona COC 951.222.4700
www.pomonachamber.org
Riverside CVB 800.424.4232
www.riversidecb.com
San Bernardino CVB 909.889.3980
www.san-bernardino.org
Temecula Valley CVB 888.363.2852
www.temeculacvb.com
