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west Sites, Cities, and Services Pasadena
With a state-of-the-art convention center, a vibrant culinary scene, 14 renowned muse- ums, chic retailers, and dazzling entertain- ment, it’s no wonder Pasadena is one of Southern California’s most popular meeting destinations. A dynamic city located just 11 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena is easily accessible from Los Angeles Inter- national, Burbank, Long Beach, and Ontario airports. Shuttles, buses, and light rail take visitors anywhere in the city and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Because of its rigorous environmentally
friendly initiatives, the expanded Pasadena Convention Center has been awarded LEED Gold certification. The facility features a 55,000-square-foot exhibit hall, expandable to 80,000 square feet, a 25,000-square-foot ballroom, 29 meeting rooms, the 3,000-seat Civic Auditorium, and a 22,000-square-foot outdoor plaza. Innovative California cuisine, audiovisual and electrical production servic- es, and convenient on-site parking complete the package. Planners seeking a unique venue will find
a host of spectacular gardens, renowned edu- cational institutions, museums, and theaters. Popular venues include the Rose Bowl Sta-
Easily accessible. Thoroughly enjoyable.
dium, the Pasadena Museum of History, the California Institute of Technology, and Castle Green, a spectacular Moorish-inspired struc- ture built in 1898. With its pedestrian-friendly design, Pasadena offers 2,500 guest rooms, more than 1,200 of which are within walking distance of the Pasadena Convention Center. Favorites include Hilton Pasadena, The Lang- ham Huntington, Old Pasadena Courtyard by Marriott, Sheraton Pasadena, and The Westin Pasadena. These hotels also offer meeting space. Convention delegates can walk from
nearby hotels to the Pasadena Convention Center and Old Pasadena. A bustling 22-block entertainment district, Old Pasadena offers 200 one-of-a-kind boutiques, galleries, top- rated restaurants, and clubs. More retail ther- apy can be found in the historical Playhouse District, on tree-lined South Lake Avenue, and at the massive Rose Bowl Flea Market. As the birthplace of legendary chef Julia Child, it is fitting that Pasadena is home to 500 of the area’s finest restaurants and one of only 16 Le Cordon Bleu culinary schools in the United States. With 14 museums and 11 performing-arts organizations, the city is alive with culture.
Catch a glimpse of masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Picasso, and more at the Norton Simon Museum. An original Guten- berg Bible, 150 acres of gardens, and rare works from Shakespeare are a few of the other treasures found at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gar- dens. And Pasadena dazzles at night. Enjoy live theater at the Pasadena Playhouse and comedy and jazz at established clubs. Live music and dancing can be found throughout the city. The destination experts at the Pasadena
Convention & Visitors Bureau offer a variety of services to meeting planners, most of which are free. These include RFP distribution, cus- tomized Pasadena presentations, hotel and convention center site inspections, and city tours. The CVB’s client services department offers an online housing service, registration and hospitality support, vendor referrals, off- site venue recommendations, promotional materials, discount cards, and more.
For more information: (800) 307-7977 or pasadenameetings.com
Expanded exhibits The exterior of the Pasadena Convention Center’s 55,000-square-foot exhibit hall, which caters to everything from large corporate events to trade and consumer shows.
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PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB PAZ