Anyone looking for the much-celebrated Southern California lifestyle—sleek yachts, golden beaches, fresh cuisine, pristine golf courses, chic resorts and shopping galore—need look no further than the sun-kissed coastal communities of Orange County.
"Orange County is the heart of Southern California—in many ways it is the real California that people envision," says Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County CVB. "It’s possible to get a taste of everything Southern California has to offer right here in a compact area. You can get from the inland theme parks to the beaches in 30 minutes."
Like many resort destinations with a glamorous persona, the O.C. coast has experienced a drop-off in corporate business this year. However, Ahlers is confident that corporate business will bounce back, while noting that association and SMERF groups are finding new opportunities to meet at luxury resorts once out of reach.
"We have a wonderful collection of properties right on the beach, all the way from Dana Point up to Huntington Beach," Ahlers says. "Before we went into the economic slide, these hotels were pulling really good rates. I’m confident they will again because everything goes in cycles—ultimately, Corporate America likes nice things. Right now, however, it’s pretty much a buyer’s market."
Huntington Beach
The O.C. coast’s northernmost destination, Huntington Beach, touts its proximity to not only Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, but to the Los Angeles and Long Beach airports as well. It also promotes a casual, laid-back ambience that is tied into the "Surf City USA" brand adopted by the Hunting Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau several years ago.
"People come here for the authenticity—the quintessential beach experience," says Donna Mulgrew, the bureau’s vice president of sales and marketing. "We don’t pretend to be anything other than a true beach destination. We’re very convenient, yet you feel like you’ve really gotten away."
At the same time, Huntington Beach has been steadily building an impressive portfolio of meetings-friendly hotels and resorts. The latest addition is the Shorebreak Hotel, a 157-room boutique property operated by San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre Hospitality and part of The Strand, a new downtown complex that also includes shops and restaurants. Along with a spa and Mediterranean-style restaurant, Shorebreak offers 8,000 square feet of meeting space that includes a ballroom, private dining room with a wraparound terrace and an interior courtyard with outdoor fire pits.
"The Shorebreak brings something different for us—a boutique hotel that is also pet-friendly," Mulgrew says. "They’ve been attracting a lot of small groups. And their restaurant, Zimzala, is a very hot dining spot."
Another new development for Huntington Beach is Pacific City, a retail and shopping complex across from the Hilton Waterfront that is to include a W hotel. Although some construction on the project, including the W, is currently on hold, the W is expected to open in 2011 or 2012, according to Mulgrew.
Huntington Beach’s major resort properties, the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, which offers 100,000 square feet of meeting space, and the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, are adjacent properties under the same ownership. The two properties are joining forces as the Surf City Conference Collection to market themselves for meetings.
"The marketing agreement will include a new brochure and a new website, www.meetinsurfcity.com," Mulgrew says. "The idea is that large conferences requiring a lot of rooms can share the two hotels."
Newport Beach
Largely due to its expansive harbor filled with palatial yachts, Newport Beach has always had an aura of glamour. Now, thanks to more than $200 million worth of hotel upgrades during the past six years, it is now just as impressive on land as it is on sea.
While justifiably proud of being a luxury destination, the Newport Beach CVB also likes to point out to planners that there are many factors that make Newport Beach an affordable and practical place for meetings.
"For one thing, our great weather makes things less expensive," says Kim Severini, director of marketing for the Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau. "All of the hotels have beautiful outdoor event space, where you don’t need any expensive props. There’s no need to spend a lot on extracurricular activities—just set people free for an afternoon to go kayaking, take a photography walk or rent a Segway."
Particularly when pitching to the association market, Severini says the bureau emphasizes that Newport Beach is a safe destination with plenty for family members brought along to the meeting.
"Kids and spouses can go to the beach or go shopping—Newport Beach is known for its unique stores," Severini says. "Yacht charters are really popular for meetings. There are tons of charter options, including Hornblower Yachts’ The Wild Goose, which was once owned by John Wayne and has an incredible history."
A signature water experience in Newport Beach is provided by Duffy boats, powerboats with awnings that hold up to 22 passengers. The Newport Beach CVB is currently offering free Duffy boat cruises to groups who book meetings totaling 100 room nights or more by the middle of next year.
Newport Beach’s newest ultra-luxe property is The Resort at Pelican Hill, which opened a year ago with 204 bungalows and suites, as well as 128 villas with up to four bedrooms. The property also boasts a full-service spa with 22 treatment rooms, 36 holes of golf and 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space.
Wrapping up a renovation of its 26,000 thousand square feet of meeting space earlier this year, the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach added a new area called the Ballroom Arbor, a landscaped area with a fountain and palm trees that can be used for outdoor receptions and banquets. The Island Hotel Newport Beach also recently completed a makeover, which included its 6,000-square-foot ballroom and 10 smaller meeting rooms.
Other major group-friendly properties include the Fairmont Newport Beach, which underwent a property-wide renovation in 2006 following its conversion to the Fairmont brand; the Radisson Hotel Newport Beach, which refurbished its guest rooms and suites earlier this year; the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa; and the Balboa Bay Club & Resort, a popular gathering spot for Hollywood celebrities since the 1940s.
Laguna Beach, Dana Point
One of the OC coasts’ most scenic spots, Laguna Beach, is spread over seven miles of coastline interspersed with deep coves and tide pools rich with marine life. With a long history as an art colony, Laguna Beach is filled with arts-related activities for visitors, including art workshops and the renowned Pageant of the Masters, where local residents portray famous works of art every summer at an amphitheater in Laguna Canyon.
Laguna Beach’s two main resort properties are Montage Resort and Spa and the Surf and Sand Resort, which completed a $9 million renovation two years ago. Laguna Beach also offers several boutique properties, including Seven4One, which opened recently with 10 guest rooms, two suites and a boardroom and outdoor courtyard available for meetings.
Just to the south of Laguna Beach, Dana Point offers some of the region’s most esteemed coastal resorts, including The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel; St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort; and the Laguna Cliffs Marriott.
The focal point of the community is Dana Point Harbor, where visitors can enjoy dozens of shops and restaurants that ring the harbor or embark on whale-watching or sport-fishing excursions, or trips to Catalina Island.
To the south of Dana Point, the quaint communities of San Clemente and Seal Beach provide a tranquil landscape of sea cliffs and pristine beaches, while San Juan Capistrano is home to the adobe remains of California’s most romantic Spanish mission settlement.
Close to the Coast
Not far inland, the communities of Irvine and Costa Mesa are also popular meetings destinations. When it comes to convenience, it’s hard to beat Irvine, which is located in the exact center of Orange County and is also home to John Wayne Airport.
"We’re a destination and we’re also a hub," says Jennifer McLaughlin, director of tourism for the Irvine Chamber Visitors Bureau. "We’re just a few minutes from the beach or to Disney, but we also offer a lot of places for hiking and other outdoor activities that are free, which is an important consideration to meeting planners these days."
Currently under development in Irvine is the Great Park, which will be the largest city park in the U.S. when it opens in 2011.
Meetings-friendly hotels in Irvine include the Hyatt Regency Irvine, Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport and the recently renovated Irvine Airport Residence Inn by Marriott. Expected to open in December, the 132-unit Spring Hill Suites by Marriott will be the city’s first green hotel.
Nearby Costa Mesa is home to Orange County’s premier shopping experience, South Coast Plaza, and the recently expanded Orange County Performing Arts Center, which offers an events plaza and two theaters available for groups.
Meetings-friendly hotels in the city include the Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa, Westin South Coast Plaza, Wyndham Orange County and Costa Mesa Marriott. The Westin recently completed a property-wide, $20 million renovation.
