Innovation is a way of life in Silicon Valley. Home to high-tech giants including Apple, Oracle, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems, as well as the prestigious Stanford University, the region boasts a sensational concentration of brainpower. The ideas born in Silicon Valley have shaped the lives of nearly everyone on the planet.
Brilliant scientists and inventors enjoy warm, sunny weather, beautiful scenery, outdoor activities and cool attractions as much as the next person, and it’s easy to see why Silicon Valley, which sports those assets in abundance, has had no trouble luring the top minds from all over the world for years. The combination of science and sunshine keeps proving itself a winning one for meetings as well.
San Jose
Now the largest city in Northern California and 10th-largest city in the U.S., San Jose is the undisputed capital of Silicon Valley. For years the city has attracted bright minds from all over the world, and its residents are responsible for more patents than any other city in the country. San Jose is not afraid of looking for new and better ways to do anything and everything, and that includes meetings.
"We put the edge in edgy," says Dan Fenton, CEO of Team San Jose and chair of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI). "San Jose’s rich multicultural flavor and innovative spirit makes our city memorable. Because we’re one of the safest big cities in the U.S., delegates feel comfortable enjoying nightlife. Another great selling point for our city is that in addition to being walkable and offering the most diverse shopping in the Bay Area, we offer centralized access to nearby theme parks and destinations such as Santa Cruz beaches and wineries, Monterey, Napa and San Francisco."
Speaking of innovation, Team San Jose has created an exciting new partnership with Nederlander Producing Company that will benefit planners by offering a unique opportunity to arrange Broadway and customized concert entertainment for groups, starting with the fall 2009 season.
This is just the latest aspect of Team San Jose’s unique approach to providing planners with a one-stop shop that centralizes decision-making and controls costs.
"Our ‘one team’ model definitely sets us apart from other destinations in the West," Fenton says. "Rather than referring clients to multiple organizations in our city, our team handles it all for them—all part of why 97 percent of planners surveyed last year say they’d book San Jose again. We’re continuing to redefine ourselves and look for ways to raise the bar on how destinations serve clients."
Other news in town includes progress on the $1.3 billion modernization of Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport, scheduled for completion next year. Upgrades will increase efficiency for ticketing, security checks, baggage processing and parking.
Apart from the 425,000 square feet of space at San Jose McEnery Convention Center, some of the major meetings properties in town are the recently renovated Hilton San Jose, which just finished an $11 million renovation; San Jose Marriott, also sporting recent enhancements; Fairmont San Jose; Hotel Montgomery; Hyatt San Jose; Doubletree San Jose; The Saint Claire; Hotel Valencia; and Dolce Hayes Mansion.
Meanwhile, off-site events can be held at several of San Jose’s unique and memorable attractions.
A must-see stop for any science-related group, the Tech Museum of Innovation showcases the wonders of technology—from robots to a simulated trip over the surface of Mars, among many other amazing gadgets.
Groups will enjoy a visit to the weird and wild Winchester Mystery House, the quirky, world-famous former mansion of the heiress to the Winchester Rifle fortune. Private tours and picnics are available for groups, and there is meeting space for 65 people. Planners can also arrange a team-building photo scavenger hunt of the unique property.
Children’s Discovery Museum can accommodate banquets and receptions. Located near San Jose Convention Center, the museum brings out the kid in each attendee with its interactive exhibits devoted to art, nature and community.
As one should expect from the capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is focused on the future.
"As the incoming chair for DMAI, I see San Jose continuing to be on the cutting edge of what can happen when your model puts the customer first," Fenton says. "Customers are demanding more from a destination, and Team San Jose will continue to lead the way in assisting clients in cost cutting, creative ways to create value for attendees and merging meetings."
Santa Clara
Home to Intel Corporation, a newly expanded convention center and perhaps a future 68,500-seat NFL stadium, Santa Clara also offers winning attractions such as a theme park and a number of wineries.
"Santa Clara is Silicon Valley Central," says Steve Van Dorn, president and CEO of the Santa Clara CVB. "We are the birthplace of the big idea. Innovations that have changed the world started here and continue to happen here. The big edge we have, however, is our convention center. We have one of the best-run convention centers in the world and consistently get high marks on client reviews. Our hotel product is also exceptional and has been completely upgraded within the last few years."
The new 22,400-square-foot addition to the Santa Clara Convention Center brings the facility’s total to 302,000 square feet of versatile event space. The center has been recognized as one of the greenest buildings in the U.S.
Prominent meetings hotels include Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Santa Clara Marriott, Hilton Santa Clara, Embassy Suites Santa Clara and Biltmore Hotel and Suites.
The IACC-certified Network Meeting Center at Tech Mart offers meeting space for groups as large as 500 people.
Besides the thrills and chills of roller coasters, California’s Great America theme park features a 15,000-square-foot picnic pavilion and three theaters that can accommodate up to 10,000 people.
Triton Museum of Art offers free admission to its collection of Bay Area-centered exhibitions. The museum provides an eclectic backdrop for banquets and receptions.
For a truly far-out experience, groups can visit NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in Mountain View, and Airship Ventures offers zeppelin tours based out of Moffett Field.
According to Van Dorn, the future looks shiny for the land of bright ideas.
"We see our city as continuing to be one of the premier meetings destinations in the United States," he says. "A recent report regarding the proposed 49ers stadium indicated if built it would drive up convention business. In addition, the new stadium would include some 109,000 square feet of new high-end banquet and meeting space for use by convention center clients and others."
Palo Alto/Menlo Park
Stanford University, based in Palo Alto, has long been an incubator for innovation. The founders of some of today’s largest and most influential companies are among its alumni, and its medical center is ranked as one of the top hospitals in the country. Both Palo Alto and nearby Menlo Park are steeped in the tradition of research and technological advancement.
"Our entire area is a draw, not only because of its beauty, but because of its reputation as the center of great ideas," says Anne LeClair, president and CEO of the San Mateo County/Silicon Valley CVB. "The Stanford University Campus and medical center lend an air of being on the cutting edge of everything in terms of research and inventions. From the humble Hewlett Packard garage to the new Facebook headquarters, the area is inspirational."
There’s no shortage of meetings hotels. Larger properties in Palo Alto include Dinah’s Garden Hotel, Cardinal Hotel, Crowne Plaza Cabana Palo Alto, Sheraton Palo Alto, Westin Palo Alto, Garden Court Hotel and Stanford Terrace Inn. Four Seasons Silicon Valley in East Palo Alto and Stanford Park Hotel and the new Rosewood Sand Hill, both in Menlo Park, round out the major players.
Stanford’s Cantor Art Center holds the world’s second-largest collection of Rodin sculptures, and it can also host groups as large as 700 for outdoor receptions and 400 for banquets.
"Our entire area is growing in popularity as a meetings destination," LeClair says. "We are a sunny, scenic, safe destination with quick access to San Francisco, and we have never been more affordable."
