Blue, a very deep blue, is the ocean that crashes along the shores of Monterey, Carmel and Santa Cruz. Leisure travelers and groups alike are drawn to the Pacific and everything else that the region offers: great golf, wildlife sightings, art galleries and a boardwalk by the sea. It’s easy to see why the area is a perennial hit.
Monterey
Groups are doing more than meeting when they come to Monterey; they are making memories.
"Monterey is one of those unforgettable destinations," says Dan Concepcion, general manager of the Monterey Meeting Connection. "There is a unique beauty, historical aspects, all the attractions. The area draws people from all over the world."
Concepcion says the region has a high success rate when it comes to repeat meetings business. Monterey is also a popular destination for drive-in meetings because of the natural beauty and scores of diversions.
Checking out the seahorses and sea otters at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, dolphin- and whale-watching trips, golfing at legendary Pebble Beach (which is a public course, after all), birding, shopping or just strolling along the Pacific are just a smidge of diversions that keep groups coming back.
The outdoor fun continues throughout the year. For example, whales can be spotted year-round in Monterey Bay. In winter and spring, gray whales are present. In summer and fall, there are blue and humpback whales. Plus, the farmer’s market, held rain or shine every Tuesday, is a great way to enjoy the agricultural bounty of the area.
For planners looking to streamline the budget, many attractions in Monterey are located within walking distance. If attendees wish to explore more of the county, that’s not hard either.
"Public transit can get you to wineries that are just 25 minutes away," Concepcion notes. "It’s just $4.50 roundtrip."
The mighty Pacific inspires many to get in touch with their higher selves. Consequently, Monterey County offers several spiritual retreats such as Big Sur’s Esalen Institute. Esalen, famous for its hot springs and visits by The Beatles and Aldous Huxley, is available for meetings between November and March.
Monterey’s main meeting venues, represented by the Monterey Meeting Connection, are downtown’s Monterey Marriott, which features 50,000 square feet of meeting space; the Monterey Conference Center, which is connected to the Marriott by footbridge; the Portola Hotel & Spa; and the Hotel Pacific. The partnership, with 800-plus rooms and 75,000 square feet of meeting space, is part of the citywide Monterey Collection, which handles shuttle services and boasts 2,000 rooms and 125,000 square feet of meeting space.
Concepcion says the Portola property and the conference center are in the process of becoming LEED-certified.
"We expect the designation sometime this year," Concepcion says. "It’s been a lengthy process, but it’s really exciting to become part of a growing group of places that hold sustainable meetings in the West."
Other top group-ready properties include the historic, Spanish hacienda-inspired Casa Munras, Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Resort & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course, Embassy Suites Monterey Bay in nearby Seaside and the InterContinental Clement Monterey, which is just steps from the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Cannery Row.
A visit to the aquarium is one way to acquaint attendees with mysteries of the deep.
Kayaking is another option for getting out and about to see the region’s birds, seals and sea otters; outfitters include AB Sea Kayaks, Monterey Bay Kayaks and Adventures by the Sea. Beginners and expert kayakers are all welcome. Some outfits provide more than kayak tours and rentals. They can arrange catered beach parties, team-building activities or fishing trips.
Agricultural tours are also available and gaining in popularity, according to Celeste White, director of marketing and communications for the Monterey County CVB.
"Ag Venture Tours takes groups to a working artichoke ranch," she says. "They learn all aspects of organic farming."
Carmel
Situated south of Monterey, picturesque Carmel-by-the-Sea, known simply as Carmel, draws visitors with its art galleries, rugged coastline and historic Carmel Mission. It’s a place renowned for unique shops and its former mayor, Clint Eastwood.
Top group properties here include Highlands Inn, A Hyatt Hotel; Bernardus Lodge; Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club; Carmel Valley Ranch Resort; La Playa Hotel and Pine Inn.
Carmel offers a popular beach, excursions to the Carmel Mission and hikes in Point Lobos State Reserve.
The Tassajera-Zen Mountain Center in Carmel Valley is becoming more popular with groups.
"The center is electricity-free and includes jaw-dropping vegan cuisine, gourmet breads and massages in between workshops," White says.
Nearby Escapes
Aside from Pebble Beach, where every golfer yearns to make a pilgrimage, Pacific Grove, Salinas, Seaside, Marina and Moss Landing provide more options for groups.
Pebble Beach Resorts includes The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Casa Palmero and The Inn at Spanish Bay. Meanwhile, Pacific Grove is the place to check out the orange-and-black bevies of Monarch butterflies that migrate to the area every October. The Asilomar Conference Grounds, located in Asilomar State Park, is the main meetings property here.
Salinas, the agricultural heart of the Monterey region, offers the National Steinbeck Center, which features space for meetings and receptions.
Seaside and Marina include the Fairmont Resort Seaside and Marina’s Sanctuary Beach Resort.
Moss Landing, a quaint fishing village, features several charming boutique options and many outdoor pursuits, such as birding trips, tours of Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve and kayak tours.
Santa Cruz
Groups heading to Santa Cruz on a regular basis find that the area has more going on than even its main draws: a moderate climate, a laid-back feel, beaches and the fun of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
"Santa Cruz is primarily a leisure destination," says Christina Glynn, communications director at the Santa Cruz County Conference and Visitors Council.
She adds, though, that Santa Cruz can be a great discovery for groups. In addition to sun and sand, the region offers retreats tucked into dense redwood forests, cool wineries and mountains vistas. The Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos, Seacliff State Beach and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park are popular outdoor escapes.
The region is home to more than 70 wineries and tasting rooms. Pinot noir is the star here, but many other varietals are also produced. Some cool areas in Santa Cruz to try include the Corralitos Wine Trail, which features four family-owned wineries surrounded by redwood trees and apple orchards. Five wineries on the Summit Wine Trail offer slices of views along with the wine.
Many wineries here are group-friendly. Bargetto Winery, the oldest continuously-operated winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains, offers event space and winery tours. Vine Hill Winery features several spaces for groups to mingle, including a redwood deck, tasting room and an upper patio with views of Monterey Bay.
Other properties geared toward groups include Chaminade Resort & Spa, the University Inn & Conference Center and Cocoanut Grove Conference Center, which is located next to the boardwalk. Cocoanut Grove is a California Historic Landmark; it was built in 1907 as the Neptune Casino.
On the renovation front, the Santa Cruz Dream Inn recently completed the second phase of a major remodel. The Joie de Vivre property debuted in spring 2009, and its 4,000 square feet of event space has already been completely reconfigured. The space now has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of Monterey Bay. The hotel also debuted Aquarius Restaurant, featuring oceanfront dining and sustainable menu options.
Additional conference space is available at the Hilton Santa Cruz/Scotts Valley. Several guest rooms were recently converted into meeting rooms, for a total of about 10,000 square feet of event space. The property also upgraded its fitness center.
Santa Cruz offers a number of memorable team-building options that incorporate that inimitable Santa Cruz flavor, including surf schools such as the Richard Schmidt School of Surfing and Club Ed International Surf School & Camps. A number of kayak outfitters can take care of groups that aren’t interested in surfing but still want to be out on the water. Other possibilities include ropes courses in the redwoods and beachside games.
One particularly unique option for groups is Jim Grenier’s Hands-On Drumming, which organizes drumming for groups of various sizes. Glynn says many Santa Cruz County hotels get requests for drumming sessions on the beach.
