Depending on which Angeleno answers the question, parts of L.A. can be two hours from other parts of L.A. All of the geographical expanses attached to the “City of Angels” moniker encompass too much territory for one to possibly generalize, which is why Dorothy Parker referred to L.A. as 72 suburbs in search of a city.
This part of Southern California cannot, however, be understood without the beach, and plenty of municipalities associated with Los Angeles provide planners with quick access to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), downtown and the coastline. Both the South Bay and the Westside are two such areas; groups are driving distance from Los Angeles proper, should they desire to venture in that direction, but if they want to set up shop near the shifting sands, plenty of opportunities await.
Long Beach
A constantly evolving waterfront destination, Long Beach continues to surprise groups and conventions with a walkable downtown that reinvents itself almost every five years. These days, more than $55 million is being spent citywide on upgrades to hotels, the convention center and public spaces.
Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the Long Beach Area CVB, says visitors can’t even recognize downtown from five years ago, let alone 10 years ago. The “I never knew” factor continues to ensue.
“The entire downtown continues to mature in a variety of ways,” he says. “And why the investment? Quite honestly, at this juncture, investing in your infrastructure and investing in your future is the right thing to do. The response from convention planners and the attendees has been very positive.”
With an ocean right across the street, the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center has evolved into a serious delegate draw in recent years. Offering more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, the facility includes 34 meeting rooms, a Grand Ballroom, three flexible exhibition halls, the old-school Long Beach Arena and the Terrace Theater. Adjacent to the Convention Center is the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, with 22,000 square feet of function space, plus the only waterfront ballroom in the city.
Newer properties include Hotel Maya, an intriguing mix of indigenous Latin-American mystique and contemporary SoCal urban vibes. The hotel includes 20,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, tropical gardens and a ballroom with a waterfront view. The AVIA Hotel Long Beach features 1,350 square feet of meeting space and the city’s only rooftop pool.
Even the Queen Mary, one of the most famous Ocean Liners in history, is reinventing itself. With a variety of banquet space and decks, the vessel can accommodate events for several thousand people. The rooms are being renovated and the restaurants are being upgraded.
“The people that booked Long Beach five years ago felt they had found a new jewel, a hidden destination that wasn’t known,” Goodling says. “And that hidden destination has only gotten better, so those that continue to find us are even more excited than the prior group.”
Manhattan Beach
Some of the most expensive real estate in the immediate area occupies Manhattan Beach, an elite setting for small groups and get-togethers. Celebrities and professional athletes call the place home, and the quality of life rates among the highest in the country.
For groups, several clear choices continue to electrify the scene. The Manhattan Beach Marriott offers 25,000 square feet of meeting space and a ballroom suited for 1,000 guests. The boutique Shade Hotel is appropriate for more intimate get-togethers, with five individual spaces accommodating up to 180 attendees.
Hermosa Beach
Hermosa exudes more a more-lively atmosphere than the other South Bay Beaches. This month, the eighth annual Hermosa Shorts Film Festival turns the tiny municipality into a rock ’n’ roll party on the beach. A weekend-long festival of short independent films and filmmaking, Hermosa Shorts attracts celebrities, sports figures, chefs and a veritable stew of hotshots and scenesters.
Overlooking the ocean and the pier, the boutique Beach House Hotel offers 96 loft-suites, plus 2,600 square feet of flexible space across three function rooms, a boardroom and a cafe. All lofts feature full or partial views of the sea. With any facet of Hermosa—day or night—sitting just minutes away, the venue embodies all that is Southern California, all the way down to yoga lessons on the beach.
Redondo Beach
Compared to Manhattan and Hermosa, Redondo is more laid-back and old school, although the party is still there, if one wishes. Like the others, it’s an easy trip from LAX and any meeting venue puts attendees right across the street from the beach or at least around the corner from it.
The Crowne Plaza Redondo Beach and Marina offers 25,000 square feet of flexible space as well as a pool deck. The property is within walking distance of the marina and several trails for walking, cycling or urban exploration.
Just a few minutes away is the Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, located right on the ocean. Exuding an upscale old-money charm, the property includes 8,000 square feet of function space, plus eight meeting and banquet rooms.
Marina del Rey
As its name suggests, Marina del Rey presents the quintessential locale for planners to get out on the water. In fact, it’s even encouraged. Only a few minutes away from LAX and providing waterfront views often seen on television, the town always has something going on. Waterfront banquets, sailboat adventures, water taxis, “sundown soirees,” chartered yachts and all sorts of aqua-centric affairs make the city a highly sought-after location.
Common for weddings and large outdoor events, The Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Rey features nine meeting rooms with approximately 16,000 square feet of conference space, plus 19,000 square feet of outdoor event space, including a private rose garden.
Several yacht clubs and charters offer their facilities for groups. Located in a two-story building with a waterfront banquet room, The California Yacht Club can accommodate a variety of small groups in various configurations. The Marina City Club offers five different rooms totaling over 11,000 square feet of space.
Santa Monica
National Geographic recently voted Santa Monica No. 7 on its list of best cities—not a bad achievement. Located just north of LAX, Santa Monica is now becoming its own destination apart from Los Angeles, according to Alison Best, vice president of sales and services for the Santa Monica CVB.
“We’re moving the needle on developing Santa Monica as a brand and destination unto itself and not just a part of L.A., where you come out for the afternoon, enjoy the beach and go back to a downtown or an airport hotel,” she says. “We are becoming the destination. The stays are getting better. Not necessarily larger, but a higher-yield client is understanding who we are and what the destination offers.”
While it’s not a large convention city per se, Santa Monica thrives with meetings since it is so close to the airport.
“Lately, we’ve been a hub for international meetings,” Best says. “People enjoy the proximity to LAX but still can put on a really nice program without being in an airport property.”
Among the destination’s many meetings-friendly hotels, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows features 25,000 square feet of function space. For a more intimate environment, the Art Deco Hotel Shangri-La provides a 300-square-foot rooftop meeting room and a 700-square-foot outdoor terrace, both literally across the street from the ocean.
Beverly Hills
One of the most famous cities in the world, Beverly Hills needs no introduction. The city seems almost designed for special events, luxury affairs and elite get-togethers for the most discerning participant. Within just a few miles’ radius of the city, one has access to several thousand deluxe rooms and over 100,000 square feet of combined meeting space.
Time-tested properties abound. Located on the corner of Wilshire and Santa Monica, the world-renowned Beverly Hilton, site of the Golden Globe Awards, has gone through several significant eras in its long, star-studded history, and the property still holds a definitive allure. Planners have access to 60,000 square feet of opulent meeting space.
The Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverley Hills offers 9,650 square feet of sunlit function space and a 500-person, ground-level ballroom connected to a canopied garden promenade. The Beverly Wilshire can handle meetings and galas for more than 800 people across over 25,000 square feet of flexible space, including two high-tech ballrooms and seven intimate function rooms.
Century City
Sandwiched between Beverly Hills and Westwood is the legendary skyline of Century City, headquarters of Twentieth Century Fox and MGM. Several law firms and talent agencies relating to the entertainment world are also located here, as are players in the hospitality, medical and financial services industries.
With 100,000 square feet of function space and a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza is common for large meetings, small get-togethers and conferences. The InterContinental Los Angeles Century City provides 15,000 square feet of space, a grand ballroom that accommodates up to 400 people, plus an outdoor gathering space with ocean views. Both properties are located on Avenue of the Stars.
Gary Singh is a newspaper columnist, travel writer and freelance journalist.
