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convention connections
San Jose Convention Center & Nearby Hotels
A revitalized convention center redefines Silicon Valley’s innovative capital
Complimentary connectivity Since it wouldn’t be Silicon Valley without plugging into the latest technology, the City of San Jose has launched free Wi-Fi for downtown residents and visitors, including those attending an event at the convention center.
It’s no secret that things are done differently in San Jose. California’s third-largest city is also the capital of Silicon Valley — and home to some of the world’s most forward-think- ing companies, from eBay to Cisco Systems and IBM. Team San Jose (TSJ), the San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau, is no differ- ent. Instead of handing off a meeting once it's booked, as most cities do, TSJ handles it all, from housing and event services to cus- tomized food-and-beverage menus. So it’s no wonder 98 percent of meeting planners say they’d return to San Jose for future meetings and events. From the familiarization trip to the meet-
ing’s finale, TSJ offers a streamlined solu- tion to booking the destination. Because of San Jose’s tightknit hotel, arts, and labor
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partnerships, booking the city is as easy as booking a big-box hotel property. This saves meeting planners valuable time, energy, and resources so they can focus on what’s really important — the success of their meeting. Plus, with San Jose’s newly revamped, walk- able downtown, planners don’t have to worry about group transportation — a big plus for their bottom line. Unlike other CVBs, TSJ manages the desti-
nation’s main meeting venues, ensuring qual- ity control from beginning to end. In addition to the San Jose Convention Center, TSJ man- ages the San Jose Civic (home to everything from concerts to special events), Center for the Performing Arts (home to Broadway San Jose and Ballet San Jose), and California The- atre (home to Opera San Jose and Symphony
Silicon Valley), as well as Montgomery The- ater, Parkside Hall, and South Hall. The San Jose Convention Center is under-
going a major revitalization this year that reflects the destination’s innovative spirit. In the fall of 2013, the center —which will remain open and 100-percent operational through- out the project — will complete a $120-million expansion and renovation, adding 125,000 square feet of flexible ballroom and meeting space to the center’s existing 425,000 square feet. After the project concludes, the center will offer 550,000 total square feet of flexible space for meetings, conventions, and events. Downtown San Jose is also undergoing a
transformation. The city recently launched complimentary Wi-Fi for downtown visitors and residents, and Mineta San Jose Interna-