HAT’S NEW IN LONG BEACH? Plenty, and the changes are appar- ent from the moment you land at Long Beach Airport, which is undergoing a $136-million reno- vation and modernization project. Once you’re in downtown Long Beach — a quick 10-minute drive from the airport — you’ll find a city
that continually reinvents itself, making an ideal meetings destina- tion in the process. You could say that Long Beach has long been going places. The introduction of the Pacific Electric Trolley at the turn of the last century led to Long Beach’s growth as both a resort and a commercial center, making it America’s fastest-growing city. Now California’s seventh- largest city, Long Beach — just 20 miles south of Los Angeles — still embraces its resort and commercial roots. It’s a mix of charming sea- side ambiance and sophisticated urban vibe. You’ll find diverse and trendy neighborhoods, a lively shopping and dining scene —100- plus restaurants in eight blocks — and cultural and recreational attractions that capitalize on the city’s oceanfront location and the fact that it owes its name to its five-and-a-half-mile sandy coastline. Here’s a look at what Long Beach offers for meetings, with a focus on what’s new.
Getting There and Getting Around Long Beach Airport (www.lgb.org) — serviced by JetBlue, Delta, US Airways, Alaska/Horizon Air, and Frontier— offers direct flights to major cities, including New York City; Washington, D.C.; Dallas; Seat- tle; Boston; and Chicago. The airport’s extensive modernization proj- ect — on course to be completed in 2013 — includes a new parking structure (completed early and under budget), ramp improvements, gates, and a concourse with a central garden. A rooftop solar array in the new passenger concourse and energy-efficient lighting and water- conservation measures throughout the facility are among the initia- tives that will put the airport in a LEED-qualifying position. Upgrades to its 1941 terminal building, a registered historic landmark, will pay hom- age to its Streamline Moderne architecture and ensure that the airport will lose none of its character — or any of its appeal as a manageable, convenient, and low-stress place to arrive at and depart from. And you can add reasonable to that list: According to cheapflights.com, Long Beach Airport is the most affordable U.S. airport. With Los Angeles and Orange County airports a short 25-minute drive from downtown, Long Beach is just plain easy to get to.
pcma convene November 2011 As far as getting around town, attendees need look no farther
than their own two feet. Not only will they want to walk around out- side to enjoy Long Beach’s 345 days of sunshine a year, but the city is compact and pedestrian-friendly, confirmed by its high ranking on WalkScore.com’s list of the nation’s most walkable large cities. Friendly downtown guides dressed in blue “Long Beach” shirts, blue caps, and khaki pants are stationed in a 40-block area to help visitors find restaurants, shops, and attractions. Long Beach has also become one of the most bicycle-friendly U.S.
cities, with more than 150 miles of bike paths now crisscrossing the city’s 50 square miles. A new bike-share program will make bikes avail- able for rent at solar-paneled locations (including most downtown hotels and attractions) at a nominal fee. The Bikestation at the First Street Transit Mall is the U.S.’s first full-service bike-transit facility. For wheels of a different kind, the Passport local shuttle ser-
vice offers complimentary transportation to all of downtown Long Beach’s most popular attractions — including the Aquarium, the Queen Mary, Shoreline Village, and Pine Avenue. The Long Beach Transit Gallery, which serves 20,000 commut-
ers daily, recently underwent a $5-million renovation, which included extensive soft lighting along the street and upgrades to bus shelters, landscaping, and kiosks.
Meeting Venues The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center (www.long beachcc.com) offers more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, two VIP lounges, a full-service concierge/restaurant res- ervation desk, hospitality catering, and an on-site AV supplier. The cen- ter has 34 meeting rooms, a Grand Ballroom, and three exhibition halls. Its facilities include the Long Beach Arena, Center Theater, and the Ter- race Theater. Combined, that opens up a lot of opportunities for groups. More than $8 million has been poured into sprucing up the cen-