What service can you provide to groups that they normally might not receive?
We provide them with San Diego literature for their attendees at the group registration desk and can assist with personal Concierge services in their private meeting rooms. We also give the group a personal presentation for the spouses and visitors of the convention attendees.
What are your bar or nightclub recommendations?
I like to recommend Fluxx, the newest hip spot in the Gaslamp Quarter for music, drinks and dancing. Some other hot spots I recommend are 207 bar at the Hard Rock which has some of the top DJs and Stingaree–a popular night club with multi-level bars.
For a more casual atmosphere, the Blind Burro has a fun bar with great food in the Gaslamp and it’s right near the baseball stadium. Barley Mash is a fun, hip, spot with great microbrews (San Diego is known for its beer) and innovative food, located in heart of the Gaslamp quarter near the hotel.
Craft and Commerce is also a great local bar and restaurant located in Little Italy with fantastic food and crafted cocktails, it is sort of hidden and has a heavy local scene.
Other local favorites are La Puerta, a great bar with Mexican border town street food, top shelf tequilas and 98 Bottles, also located in Little Italy which has local jazz and fine spirits.
Can you recommend a good place to take a stroll?
There are so many places within walking distance from the hotel. Definitely along the San Diego bay which is just steps from the hotel.
Coronado Island, along Orange Ave. has quaint shops and restaurants and can be reached by ferry which departs right near the hotel. While there I always recommend a stroll along Coronado beach in front of the Hotel Del Coronado.
The beautiful Balboa Park, with all of its amazing gardens and museums is not to be missed and it’s definitely a historic landmark. The zoo is also located within the park.
Are there any quirky places we should check out?
Lion's Share has eclectic cocktails and a variety of exotic foods such as an antelope slider. Vin De Syrah, is a wine parlor with an edgy interactive bar reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Night and Day Café, located in Coronado Island is one that locals frequent anytime time of the day of night which makes for a fun crowd. It’s open 24 hours and has a food counter with the classics. Quick and good food, a true greasy spoon!
Upstart Crow in Seaport Village is a great alternative coffee house with lots of fun surprises, just steps from the hotel.
For shopping, check out Pigment, a home store located in the North Park neighborhood and Mint, a shoe store with one-of-a-kind shoes with popular and unique styles located in the heart of the Hillcrest area.
What is an unusual request from a group you’ve had?
Booking flights for a foreign group that had never been to the Grand Canyon, which consisted of booking flights to Las Vegas and having a helicopter waiting to take them to lunch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, then back to the Las Vegas airport and a flight to San Diego, all on the same day. Just amazing!
Another unusual request was locating professional leather NBA basketballs for a basketball player to sign at their conference. We did manage to find 20 of them. Also requests for renting lots of pedi cabs and adding the company logo for the group to enjoy at their disposal.
A party of 12 wants to have dinner right away. What restaurant can accommodate last-minute requests of this size?
Sally’s on the Water, Oceanaire Seafood, Spike Africa Sea Food, La Fiesta Mexican Food, Osteria Pane Vino, Bandar Persian food, Rama Thai, Urban Bar and Grill, Lou and Mickey’s Steak and Seafood, and Gang Kitchen would be my top recommendations.
What’s a unique event that has taken place at your property?
Over the Edge had 50 people repelling from the 33rd floor (we are the tallest waterfront building on the west coast) of the hotel for the Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure charity each year. This year it will take place on Sunday, November 3. Comic Con events take place each year which are always unique and innovative.
Also our annual ginger bread house display where local school children come and build gingerbread houses with our managers is pretty unique. We then display the houses in our lobby over the holidays and guests vote on their favorite house. A check is given to the Make A Wish Foundation in the name of the winning class.
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