MONTEREY, Calif.
Monterey County will be celebrating an exciting new year with the grand reopening of the newly renovated $60 million Monterey Conference Center in January 2018. The conference center, located in the heart of historic downtown City of Monterey, will be a catalyst for the revitalization of the city.
"The renovation and grand reopening of this modern, state-of-the-art building will be an important contribution to the continued economic revitalization of Monterey and the Monterey Peninsula,” said Mike McCarthy, city manager. “Groups meeting or hosting events in the Monterey Conference Center will also be spending money in our communities including local hotels, attractions [and restaurants].”
The Monterey Conference Center will be a modern, LEED-certified meeting facility with more than 40,000 square feet of meeting space and a capacity of 3,200. The facility is adjacent to the newly renovated Portola Hotel & Spa and connected to the Monterey Marriott. Altogether, these properties will offer 85,000 square feet of meeting space, 19,150 square feet of exhibition space and 700 hotel rooms. The conference center is expected to draw business that will benefit all hotels.
“What better way to kick off a new year than by welcoming visitors to the new Monterey Conference Center and our destination,” said Monterey County CVB (MCCVB) President and CEO Tammy Blount “We see the facility as a regional hub of innovation that will capitalize on our destination’s natural allure.”
The Monterey Conference Center opened its doors on April 30, 1977, and became instrumental for the growth of the hospitality and tourism industries in Monterey County. Over the years, the conference center hosted a number of notable events including the first-ever TED Conference in 1984.
With the grand reopening just a few weeks away, groups have already begun to book meetings and events in the new space for 2018 and beyond. The Monterey Conference Center will celebrate the reopening of the facility with the community during a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018.
