New developments and expansions are popping up all over Southern California’s Orange County region. Home to the largest convention center on the West Coast and a growing number of hotel rooms, Orange County, known as a destination for business, is also a recognized hub for entertainment, recreation and food and beverage.
Anaheim
One of the largest projects in the works is the expansion of the Anaheim Convention Center, scheduled for completion this fall. Some 200,000 square feet is being added to the facility, increasing the potential exhibit space to over 1 million square feet.
In addition to its size, the offerings at the Anaheim Convention Center set it apart.
“The building is LEED Gold-certified and there are solar panels on the roof and organic gardens on the property,” explained Charles Harris, senior vice president of marketing for Visit Anaheim. “If clients don’t want to leave any waste or usage, there is a zero footprint program.”
The convention center is flanked by the Anaheim Marriott and the Hilton Anaheim. Right outside the center’s doors, the Hilton offers more than 100,000 square feet of indoor meeting space as well as twin sundecks on one level for groups that want to take advantage of the nearly perfect year-round weather. The hotel also debuted its “California Road Trip” program in April that will run through Labor Day. The destination package, offered at six California Hilton properties, includes special rates and highlights the adventures and experiences of the Golden State.
The city of Anaheim is preparing to debut four new AAA Four Diamond hotels to open over the next four years, which will also increase the city’s meeting space square footage. Disneyland Resort will add a fourth property, the first new-build in nearly 20 years. The 700-room luxury hotel will be located at the north end of Downtown Disney with construction beginning in 2018.
Orange County’s first JW Marriott will open adjacent to the Anaheim GardenWalk with 466 guest rooms and meeting space for large groups. Two additional, unnamed projects are also underway. A luxury hotel, replacing the Anaheim Plaza Hotel & Suites, will offer 50,000 square feet of meeting space and is set to open in 2018, while the other, next to the Anaheim Convention Center, will offer 42,000 square feet of meeting space and is expected to break ground next year.
For entertainment, House of Blues (HOB) relocated from Downtown Disney to a larger space at the Anaheim GardenWalk. The new venue opened in February and boasts four stages with a 2,200-person capacity in the main concert hall and a restaurant on-site. There is the Parish for smaller concerts and events as well as the Foundation Room/VIP Club for up to 175 guests. All rooms are soundproof, allowing for events to happen simultaneously.
“At the GardenWalk, HOB is across the street from the convention center and is now the prototype for all HOB. It is an amazing facility,” Harris said. “They are committed to having live music in the facility every night.”
Splitsville Luxury Lanes bowling center is moving into the former HOB venue at the Downtown Disney District. The new entertainment venue will feature 20 bowling lanes, a 625-seat restaurant, two bars and a large outdoor patio, and will open later this year.
In the historic downtown area, the Center Street Promenade, Anaheim’s center for commerce at the turn of the 20th century, is now filled with shops, outdoor cafes and eateries. Options include Barbeer, a barbershop offering a straight razor shave, haircut and a cold beer; the Center Street Cheese Shop, stocked with domestic and imported cheese and gourmet snacks; and Healthy Junk, a vegan restaurant serving takes on classic comfort cuisine, such as tacos and burgers. The local farmers market, art shows and street fairs also take over the promenade.
“In Anaheim you have the convention center, and for free time there is music, food, breweries and two professional sports teams,” Harris said. “People are now discovering what is happening in downtown Anaheim.”
In nearby Garden Grove, Great Wolf Resorts opened Great Wolf Lodge Southern California last year. The centerpiece of the 600-all-suite resort is the 105,000-square-foot waterpark, but it also offers 20,000 square feet of event space.
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Irvine
The wave of development stretches south to Irvine. The AC Hotel Irvine, scheduled to open in mid-May, is located in Park Place, a live, stay, play and work campus. The modern, design-driven hotel features 176 guest rooms, meeting space, a lounge specializing in craft cocktails and Puesto, a San Diego-based eatery serving Mexican dishes.
Also opening this year is the Hyatt House Irvine/John Wayne Airport, and following next year is the Irvine Spectrum Marriott, which will offer 13,000 square feet of meeting space. Currently, the Irvine Marriott is undergoing renovations, with completion expected by July.
On the Coast
The coastline in Huntington Beach is continuing to change. On the heels of the new Pasea Hotel & Spa that opened along Pacific Coast Highway last year, the Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel is getting ready to unveil its expansion with the Twin Dolphin Tower. The new tower includes an additional 152 guest accommodations; 20,000 square feet of meeting facilities; Offshore 9, the ocean-view rooftop lounge; a new pool deck; two event lawns; and its own check-in and lobby space.
“We will have the two Vista Lawns, which are tiered and have full ocean views. They can be used as one large space, but since it’s tiered, as you step down between the two, a wall made of water fountains can be turned up or down to divide the two lawns,” said Scott O’Hanlon, director of marketing for Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel. “They are remarkably quiet, but it creates a water wall to divide the spaces, so you can have two totally separate functions happening at the same time, divided by the water wall, and both will still have ocean views.”
After the summer, the property will embark on a renovation of its existing tower and amenities, including its current pool and restaurant.
“Come the week after Labor Day, we will then begin demo and refresh on the existing side of the resort,” O’Hanlon said. “We will reconfigure the pool, put in a new restaurant and retail area and build our spa. Everything will be complete by January 2018.”
Down the coast, the 444-room Fairmont Newport Beach was sold earlier this year and is being renovated to reopen as a Marriott Renaissance property.
The rebranding will include upgrades to the lobby, guest rooms, restaurant and bar space and is expected to be completed early next year.
