Before even stepping foot in the Inland Empire, it sounds like a place to be reckoned with, a place that should pique the interest of planners who haven't yet brought a group here.
As a meetings destination, it sports all the necessities, including an accessible central location in Southern California, activities ranging from wine tasting and shopping to skiing and zip lining, an array of facilities and an attractive price tag.
Comprising the outdoorsy playgrounds of Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead, the bustling cities of Ontario, Riverside, San Bernardino, Claremont and Pomona, and the wine country-inspired Temecula, the Inland Empire is a sprawling standout located within an hour of Los Angeles.
Ontario
Ontario's position in the Inland Empire makes it the "Gateway to Southern California," according to Amita Patel, CHSP, director of sales and marketing at the Ontario CVB and assistant general manager at the Ontario Convention Center. The meetings-ready destination is accessible via LA/Ontario International Airport and four major freeways, plus attractions such as Disneyland, Hollywood, beaches, mountain and desert resorts, and wine country are all within 50 minutes away.
According to developer OliverMcMillan, Ontario is "suited for some of the most exciting developments in the Inland Empire pipeline," including Guasti, a 50-acre mixed-use project the company is currently working on. Located at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains, it is scheduled to open in 2014 or 2015 with almost 400,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space, and two hotels.
The Embassy Suites Ontario Airport is set to open this month, joining a meetings-friendly portfolio that includes the 225,000-square-foot Ontario Convention Center and adjacent Ayres Hotel & Suites Ontario Convention Center, Doubletree Hotel Ontario Airport, Hilton Ontario Airport, Radisson Ontario Airport, Sheraton Ontario Airport and Holiday Inn Ontario Airport.
Leisure-time activities include shopping at Ontario Mills Mall, the largest shopping and entertainment venue on the West Coast, according to Patel; wine tasting with local vintners like Joseph Filippi Winery in Rancho Cucamonga; and excursions to Auto Club Speedway in nearby Fontana.
San Bernardino
The historic city of San Bernardino, located on Route 66 about 20 minutes from LA/Ontario International Airport, offers both affordability and value, according to Wayne Austin, president and CEO of the San Bernardino CVB.
"Abundant freeway access for drive-in meetings and plenty of mountain and desert recreation also makes this a 'must' destination for regional meeting planners," he says.
Standout properties include Hilton San Bernardino, Hilton Garden Inn, Clarion Hotel and Convention Center, which is currently closed for renovations, and National Orange Show Events Center.
Memorable off-site events can be held at California Theatre, a circa-1928 vaudeville theater, and San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum, housed in the 94-year-old restored Santa Fe depot.
San Bernardino County Museum and Robert V. Fullerton Art Museum on the campus of Cal State University-San Bernardino are the area's major cultural attractions.
Meanwhile, the San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino features headliner performances every Thursday night.
Riverside
At a time when meeting budgets are being scrutinized more than ever, Riverside is an affordable option with a unique variety of hotels, according to Debbie Megna, executive director and director of sales at the Riverside CVB, adding that while it's one of the largest cities in Southern California, Riverside has a quaint and unique downtown with a wonderful arts and culture scene.
"When a group visits Riverside, it is more often than not the only game in town, having the run of the city's hotels, convention center, shops, boutiques and restaurants," she says. "Riverside offers an exclusivity that is unmatched."
Downtown features more than 500 hotel rooms near the Riverside Convention Center, including Mission Inn Hotel and Spa, a National Historic Landmark Hotel, Marriott Riverside and Hyatt Place, which is under construction and scheduled to open in early 2012.
Also located downtown are bistros, shops, bars, day spas and attractions like the historic Fox Performing Arts Center, California Museum of Photography, Riverside Art Museum and Riverside Municipal Museum.
Beginning in April 2012, the city's meetings anchor, the Riverside Convention Center, will undergo a $25 million renovation and expansion, adding an additional 30,000 square feet of space.
Meanwhile, the Fox Entertainment Plaza is slated to open in spring 2012 with 10,000 square feet of exhibit space for the Riverside Metropolitan Museum, restaurants, shops and a black box theater.
Claremont and Pomona
Claremont combines the charm of a New England village with the climate and convenience of Southern California, according to Bevin Handel, public information officer for the city of Claremont, who adds that the walking- and cycling-friendly city has numerous boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and pubs within a 10-block area.
"Referred to as the Harvard of the West, the city is home to the prestigious Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven colleges," he says. "Claremont's tree-lined streets and quaint village shopping district are unlike any other town in L.A. County."
Meetings-friendly hotels include the Doubletree Hotel Claremont and Casa 425, and among its unique off-site venues for corporate events is Packing House Wine Merchants, which offers wine tastings and pairings with artisanal cheeses.
After the meeting, groups might enjoy visits to Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Hip Kitty Jazz and Fondue Lounge, with tableside fondue and live jazz music.
In nearby Pomona is California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where the group-ready Kellogg West Conference Center and Hotel resides, as well as meetings standouts like the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center. In January 2012 the Sheraton Fairplex will open its new 80,000-square-foot conference center complex.
Pomona is also home to the annual Los Angeles County Fair, which takes place in September and features a variety of attractions and entertainment, including horse racing, concerts, food and wine events, and circus shows.
Mountain Resorts
The scenic Big Bear Lake area is a huge draw for active groups. Here, planners can facilitate outings to zip line or tackle a ropes course via Lodestone Adventures, take a 4x4 tour with Off Road Adventures, or plan on horseback riding or waterborne activities such as kayaking. And that's just during the warmer months. Big Bear Lake is also a popular skiing spot during winter, when groups flock to Bear Mountain and Snow Summit resorts.
"Big Bear's superb climate, scenic beauty and wide range of recreational choices make it a preferred location for meetings and group functions," says Dan McKernan, spokesperson at Big Bear Lake Resort Association. "Groups book meetings in Big Bear to get away from the clutter and daily grind of the big city."
Among its main meetings properties are Big Bear Lake Convention Center, Northwoods Resort and Conference Center, Best Western Big Bear Chateau, Robinhood Resort and Knickerbocker Mansion Country Inn.
Like Big Bear Lake, Lake Arrowhead sits at an elevation above Southern California, "safely out of reach of the congestion and frenzied pace of city life," according to Leslie Saint McLellan, spokesperson for Lake Arrowhead Communities COC.
"It is the epitome of mountain luxury, it is a private lake, and due to its exclusivity and serene mountain location, it is very popular with meetings from 10 to 300 attendees," she says, pointing to group standouts such as the UCLA Lake Arrowhead Conference Center, as well as Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa and Saddleback Inn, which both offer team-building activities and culinary experiences.
Temecula
Temecula Valley is a unique meeting destination in that it offers groups the opportunity to convene among the vineyards of Southern California wine country, according to Leslie Mercado, director of sales at the Temecula Valley CVB.
"Many of the working wineries have converted their barrel rooms into meeting rooms," she says. "The trend in our area tends to be booking a group meeting at one of our many fine area hotels, but also taking some of those meetings and events off-site to one of Temecula's 40 wineries."
One of the newest event-ready options is Europa Village Winery.
Among the group-friendly properties is Pechanga Resort and Casino, which acts as Temecula Valley's convention center, Mercado says, with more than 53,000 square feet of meeting space and 517 newly renovated guest rooms and suites. The Temecula Creek Inn, a golf resort with newly renovated guest rooms, and the Embassy Suites Temecula Valley Wine Country Hotel round out the roster of popular group hosts.
Also, the city of Temecula Civic Center offers a 2,500-square-foot conference center.
Entertaining options for groups include Broadway-style plays and musicals at Old Town Temecula Community Theater, and headline concerts, major sporting events and tribal cultural events at Pechanga Resort and Casino.
"Many of the groups visiting Temecula Valley can enjoy activities such as sunrise hot-air ballooning, horseback riding through wine country and wine-blending, which is a great team-building event offering groups the opportunity to create their own wine," Mercado adds.
Carolyn Blackburn is a frequent contributor to Meetings Focus West.
