Long Beach New sights in California’s most charming convention destination
SoCal cool Long Beach is in the heart of Southern California, with the attractions of Los Angeles and Orange County just minutes away from its downtown waterfront.
In the heart of Southern California, Long Beach is the laid-back neighbor of Los Ange- les and Orange County, famous for its spar- kling waterfront and seemingly endless list of attractions. Long Beach is also the ultimate year-round destination, with 345 days of sun- shine and temperatures averaging in the 70s for most of the year. Combine these assets with a compact convention campus, plenty of airport connectivity, and an evolving col- lection of attractions and hotels, and meeting planners have a convention destination that checks off all of their must-have boxes. Overlooking the waterfront with sweep-
ing harbor views, the Long Beach Conven- tion & Entertainment Center has more than 400,000 square feet of flexible meeting and exhibit space, all in the center of downtown. The facility recently underwent a $35-mil- lion renovation and modernization with the
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goal of giving meeting planners and their attendees a stylish yet welcoming experi- ence. Designed with their needs in mind, the center’s lobbies, hallways, and public spaces now feature new furniture, carpeting, plants, and artwork, as well as new social hubs where guests can relax, network, and socialize. Even the restrooms have been transformed into sophisticated lounges, with warm woods and contemporary fixtures. The venue’s Terrace Theatre Plaza also received new landscap- ing, turning the outdoor space into a palm- tree–studded tropical garden, and the Green and VIP rooms have been updated with new carpeting, lighting, and marble countertops. Next door, the Long Beach Arena is set to
debut a new look in 2013 as well. The revamp will give the facility the ability to transform its arena floor into a loft-style, 45,000-square- foot ballroom space. The ballroom, formed
using the arena floor space and curtains dropped from the ceiling to block views of the upper-deck seating, will feature a grid of truss systems complete with sound systems and LED and stage lighting. This intimate environ- ment will be able to accommodate dinners and concerts for up to 5,500 people, doubling the arena’s current capacity for such events. One of the best parts about meeting in
Long Beach is that the destination’s water- front entertainment district — including hotels, shopping, nightlife, and 100-plus res- taurants — is just steps away from the conven- tion center. This walkable, compact campus encourages after-hours networking and group activities that help keep the ideas and conversations flowing long after the meet- ings of the day have concluded. Attendees will also find that downtown Long Beach sets the standard for walkability. Recognized by