Sacramento is California’s political capital and the Central Valley is the state’s agricultural—and in many ways its economic—capital. This vibrant region includes big cities, farming towns and three national parks that offer some of America’s most outstanding scenery.
Sacramento
As the state capital, Sacramento gets its share of state association business, but the city is also prepared for a variety of groups.
"We match up well against competitive destinations in terms of infrastructure—convenient and expansive convention space, large room blocks, meeting space, airport convenience and value," says Steve Hammond, president and CEO of the Sacramento CVB.
Sacramento’s position at the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers made it a natural Gold Rush boomtown, and visitors can still capture some of that 19th century spirit in the Old Sacramento district.
Sacramento’s cultural attractions, several of which also welcome group events, include the newly expanded Crocker Art Museum, the California Hall of Fame and theater spaces such as the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The California State Railroad Museum may soon be of more than historic significance as California plans an extensive high-speed rail system.
The city’s major meetings venue is the Sacramento Convention Center, which features a large exhibit hall and smaller spaces such as the Community Center Theatre, Memorial Auditorium and Jean Runyon Little Theater.
Nearby hotels include the Hyatt Regency Sacramento, which will begin a $2 million renovation of its lobby, second-floor meeting space and Capitol View Room next year; Sheraton Grand Sacramento, which recently finished a $5 million renovation of its guest rooms, fitness center and 26th-floor Club Lounge; and Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza.
Meanwhile, Sacramento International Airport will open its new $1.27 billion Central Terminal B in fall 2011.
Stockton
Stockton is historically a seaport thanks to the San Joaquin River’s connection to San Francisco Bay and the Pacific. This has made Stockton a natural point for exporting the Central Valley’s agricultural bounty, and much of its downtown sits alongside the river.
Stockton is steadily coming back from the real-estate bust thanks to low costs and facilities built during the boom years, says Wes Rhea, director of the Stockton Conference and Visitors Bureau, citing the Lexington Plaza Waterfront Hotel (completed in 2008) and the recently reflagged Hilton Stockton.
"Membership groups do well here," Rhea says. "We have an arena where we’ve done some larger religious events, three full-service properties for meetings and some limited-service properties as well."
The city’s 10,000-seat arena hosts pro soccer and hockey, while the minor-league Stockton Ports’ ballpark is on the waterfront.
Modesto
Modesto is the hometown of Hollywood notables George Lucas and Jeremy Renner and has commemorated Lucas—and his film American Graffiti—with a plaza downtown. The city’s annual Graffiti Summer celebration features classic-car parades, and Modesto is home to California’s first A&W restaurant, complete with roller-skating carhops.
Continuing that all-American feel is the Modesto Nuts, a Class A farm team of the Colorado Rockies, whose stadium doubles as a meetings venue, says Jennifer Mullen, executive director of the Modesto CVB.
"They added covered upper-level decks that are awesome for receptions for meetings, with high-end chefs for the catered food," Mullen says. "We just had our first wedding—the couple met at the stadium—and it was phenomenal. We’ve also had a lot of team-building things as well."
Planners might also consider the McHenry Mansion and Museum, which both hold up to 130 and have staff in 19th century costume. In addition, the nearby Cowboy Museum proclaims Oakdale as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" since so many rodeo champs are from the area.
Modesto’s convention center, Modesto Centre Plaza, is attached to the 258-room, recently renovated Doubletree Modesto. Courtyard Modesto was also recently renovated, and Ramada Modesto began a renovation in September.
Merced
In the past five years, the new University of California-Merced campus has complemented Merced’s traditional role as Yosemite National Park’s gateway, increasing the city’s desirability for planners, says Karen Baker, development associate for the City of Merced and head of Merced Visitor Services.
"Merced is a wonderful location for a conference," Baker says. "When the Amgen Tour of California [bicycle race] came through, we were Hospitality USA, and when you have a conference here you’ll feel that same welcoming feeling."
UC-Merced, Merced College, Playhouse Merced and the Merced Civic Center are popular meeting venues, while a Courtyard by Marriott and Hampton Inn & Suites are among the hotels available.
The Merced Multicultural Arts Center gets arts and culture lovers together for its quarterly Art Hop at downtown galleries. In addition, the 1931 Merced Theatre is undergoing a $12.6 million renovation, and the 1875 Courthouse Museum—built by the architect of the California State Capitol building—is also open. Nature lovers can view birds and tule elk at San Luis Wildlife Refuge, which is building a new 16,500-square-foot visitor center, while nearby Castle Air Museum presents aviation history from World War II to today.
Fresno
Fresno, California’s fifth-largest city, has branded itself as "California’s year-round playground," and Fresno CVB’s acting CEO Layla Forstedt credits the city’s numerous sports venues for the inspiration.
"Our No. 1 [group] market here is sports because of our weather and our venues," she says, pointing to 300 sunny days per year and adding that it’s possible to golf and ski in the same day.
The Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center is the city’s major meetings venue and includes the 2,353-seat William Saroyan Theatre and 9,300-seat Selland Arena, which host everything from touring productions of Wicked to professional hockey and the Fresno Philharmonic.
Fresno has also added eight limited-service hotel properties recently, including a Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Garden Inn.
National Parks
Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks contain some of the largest glacial canyons and the largest trees on Earth, and sights such as Half Dome and the General Grant Tree are beloved American icons.
Yosemite’s favorite group-friendly properties include the Ahwahnee Hotel, Wawona Hotel, Yosemite Lodge and Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, which recently expanded its meeting space and added a new spa. Meanwhile, the Wuksachi Lodge at Sequoia National Park and the John Muir Lodge at Kings Canyon National Park offer guest rooms and meeting facilities.
Mammoth
Mammoth Lakes is an all-season outdoor playground east of Yosemite National Park, where mountains and reliable snow make it a popular ski destination. Winter visitation here should benefit from a new daily United flight from San Francisco, complementing existing flights from San Jose and Los Angeles. Mammoth is also an economical driving destination, according to John Urdi, executive director, Mammoth Lakes Tourism and Recreation Department.
Non-skiing attractions include the spires of Devil’s Postpile National Monument and the beauty of Rainbow Falls, which attract 3,000 to 4,000 summer visitors per day.
Mammoth Mountain Inn, the Village Lodge and Mountainside Conference Center are among the destination’s popular group properties.
Visalia
Visalia is the oldest permanent settlement between Stockton and Los Angeles, says Aaryn Skaggs, director of sales and marketing for the Visalia CVB.
"We get a lot of fraternal organizations and religious events, and a lot of agricultural business," Skaggs says, citing an upcoming United Farm Workers event and a UC Davis-sponsored symposium on alfalfa and forage.
The Visalia Convention Center is the largest meeting venue here, and the Visalia Marriott’s 195 guest rooms are attached. Nearby are the Comfort Suites, Quality Inn Hotel and Conference Center, and Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, while Visalia’s Main Street sports four dozen locally owned restaurants, including steakhouses, Brewbakers Brewing Company and the Wine Spectator award-winning Vintage Press restaurant.
One of Visalia’s cultural draws is the Antique Farm Equipment Museum, which lets visitors see the machines that have helped Visalia progress "from desert to garden.
Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a microcosm of the Central Valley. It is a processor for the surrounding, phenomenally productive farmland; the urban center of Kern County, which pumps more oil than all but two American states; and the home of the "Bakersfield Sound," widely credited with revolutionizing American roots music.
Bakersfield’s meetings business has a strong SMERF and especially religious component, and the city also attracts numerous sports groups, according to Don Cohen, manager of the Bakersfield CVB.
Cohen emphasizes Bakersfield’s location and cultural amenities as top selling points.
"If you’re talking about a statewide California event, we are that one city of our size that’s within a four-hour drive of 90 percent of the [California] population," he says.
Bakersfield also has entertainment venues such as Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace and the historic Fox Theater. Other cultural attractions include the Bakersfield Museum of Art, the Kern County Museum and the California Living Museum.
Following a two-year, $18 million renovation, the 1928-era Padre Hotel recently reopened. The property offers 112 guest rooms and meeting space for up to 200.
Paul D. Kretkowski writes frequently about travel, food and sports. He is also the founder of Beacon (www.softpowerbeacon.blogspot.com), a blog about foreign policy.
