Walkscore.com as one of the most “Walkable Cities in America,” downtown contains most of the city’s 4,500 hotel rooms, and in Febru- ary 2013, the city will launch one of the largest bike-share programs in the state. Accommodations in Long Beach are
Easy access The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center shares a prime location on Long Beach’s waterfront with popular attractions like the Queen Mary hotel and the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Versatile venue With 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space, two theaters, 34 meeting rooms, and a 13,500- seat arena, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is equipped to handle meetings, conventions, and special events of any kind.
being freshened up, too. The 469-room Westin Long Beach will finish a $12-million revamp by the end of 2012, while renovations of its guest rooms have already been com- pleted. Earlier this year, the 528-room Hyatt Regency Long Beach debuted a $30-million renovation of all of its guest rooms and public spaces, and the 310-room Long Beach Mar- riott has invested $10 million in renovating its meeting and public spaces. The property also added a new, 1,700-square-foot outdoor event space, and revamped Corrigan’s Sports Bar into the Tex-Mex Kitchen & Sports Bar. Long Beach’s list of things to see and do
is constantly growing with new exhibits, attractions, and activities. The Aquarium of the Pacific, Southern California’s largest aquarium and the fourth-largest in the coun- try, just opened the new June Keyes Penguin Habitat, which lets visitors get up close with Magellanic Penguins. The Queen Mary, the famous Cunard cruise liner that now operates as a permanently docked hotel, museum, and event venue, recently opened The Princess Diana exhibit, with more than 2,000 items relating to the Windsor family. Nearby, the shops, restaurants, and entertainment of The Pike At Rainbow Harbor, aquatic activities at the Shoreline Village, plus four museums, two historic ranchos, and 5.5 miles of sandy beach offer plenty of options for group events and leisure diversions. Getting to Long Beach has never been
For more information: Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau — Steve Goodling, President & CEO; (562) 495- 8350; steveg@ longbeachcvb.org; visitlongbeach.com
easier, with service at three major nearby airports. Both Los Angeles International Air- port (LAX) and Orange County Airport are less than 30 minutes away, and Long Beach Airport is just seven minutes from downtown. Currently undergoing a $140-million modern- ization set for completion next month, Long Beach Airport will include a new parking structure, ramp improvements, gates, and concourse with a central garden.