Only-in-California Meeting Experiences

Los Angeles County

Fairmont Century Plaza: Los Angeles’ famed Century Plaza hotel has returned to center stage, following a $2.5-billion renovation featuring reimagined spaces including a new spa, restaurants and 24,000 square feet of private event space, touting one of the largest ballrooms in Los Angeles. Born on the former site of a 20th Century Studios backlot in 1966, the legendary Century Plaza has always been at the center of where business meets Hollywood – from the Beatles winning big at the 10th Annual Grammy Awards to the first Presidential State Dinner ever held outside the White House.

The West Hollywood EDITION: Making its debut in November 2019, The West Hollywood EDITION sits perched on Sunset Boulevard. This luxury hotel offers a wealth of indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces, including a 91-seat, state-of-the-art screening room, which converts into a grand ballroom. Additionally, the dedicated floor of meeting and event space also features airy studios that convert into media rooms, lounges and reception venues filled with natural light and an expansive outdoor terrace. Catering menus by Michelin-starred Chef John Fraser, a 200-capacity basement music venue, Ardor restaurant and a sprawling rooftop with views over the entire city round out the property's stunning facilities.

Terranea Resort: Set atop the coastal bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the 102-acre luxury resort features more than 135,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space. Terranea offers the capacity to host receptions with up to 1,500 guests and more than 75,000 square feet of outdoor space. Some of the top event spaces at the resort include four ocean-view swimming pool areas, coastal terraces, lush gardens and manicured lawns overlooking the scenic Pacific coastline. For more intimate business gatherings, Terranea offers breakout rooms in a multitude of configurations, many of which feature a seamless flow to ocean view terraces.

Torrance Cultural Arts Center: Considered by many to be the city’s crown jewel, Torrance Cultural Arts Center offers a vibrant mix of modern architecture and natural beauty. The center includes a Japanese garden, art museum, multiple meeting spaces, banquet facilities, two indoor theaters and two open-air plazas. This one-of-a-kind complex can be booked for part or all of a meeting and for special events.

Hilton Santa Monica: Located in the heart of Santa Monica, this newly renovated coastal property is within walking distance to some of the city’s major sites like the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade. The property’s over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event spaces have a subtle yet impactful design showcasing textures, patterns and color palettes that hint back to the surrounding natural elements. Hilton Santa Monica offers seven meeting rooms with the largest space being 3,198 square feet.


San Diego County

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: Inspire and captivate guests while hosting an unforgettable meeting or event at the West Coast's tallest waterfront hotel on the majestic San Diego Bay. Manchester Grand Hyatt features 316,000 square feet of flexible event venues, including 136,000 square feet of dedicated indoor meeting space with multiple ballrooms, breakout rooms and outdoor terraces with picturesque waterfront views. After business hours, guests can enjoy the tennis courts, rooftop pool, seasonal activities and more, designed to create a relaxing escape after a productive day of meetings. Located conveniently near the San Diego Convention Center, Manchester Grand Hyatt is also within walking distance of many San Diego hot spots such as neighboring Seaport Village or nearby Balboa Park.

The Seabird Resort and Mission Pacific Hotel: Opened this past spring in Oceanside, these adjacent beach resorts offer a combined 44,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor flexible meeting space, many with breathtaking ocean views including the 6,473 square foot Grand Coastal Ballroom. The new resorts are situated on the pristine oceanfront near the historic pier, downtown Oceanside’s Cultural District and the Oceanside train station. The Seabird Resort exudes the barefoot luxury of an estate-by-the-sea and includes 226 guest rooms (many with water views), two on-site restaurants, a third-story pool overlooking the beach and a full-service spa. Mission Pacific offers a modern, beach-chic coastal experience with 161 guest rooms, an exclusive rooftop pool and bar, a lush event lawn and the historic Top Gun house relaunching as a dessert venue.

Maritime Museum of San Diego: The Maritime Museum of San Diego offers its historic ships for hosting events in a truly iconic and unique setting. Group experiences are available both dockside or out on the Bay for an unforgettable tall ship charter. The Museum's collection of vessels provide an event planner's dream for creating and designing an exceptional event, with offerings for outdoor gatherings aboard the world's oldest active sailing ship, Star of India, or the navy frigate replica H.M.S. Surprise, featured in Disney’s Pirates of Caribbean. For indoor options, opt to dine on the Victorian-era steam ferryboat, Berkeley. Meeting planners can choose one vessel or combine to meet the needs and size of any group.


San Francisco Bay Area

El Prado Hotel: El Prado Hotel in Palo Alto, which debuted in early October 2021 following an extensive rebrand and renovation, offers 6,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Meeting space at the hotel encompasses four distinctive venues. Each space includes modern A/V equipment, tech support, oversized windows offering natural light and access to outdoor areas. Expert planners and caterers are available to custom tailor venues and menus to meet guests requirements.

MOHI Social: MOHI Social is a hip new farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Morgan Hill, which opened during the pandemic with the new era of meetings and events in mind. Owner Frank Leal transformed the open structural frame of his future boutique hotel into an outdoor space with all the comforts of the indoors. The venue can accommodate large gatherings with room for a presentation or dancefloor focal point and mounted flat screens for guests who may be streaming in. A patio extension features beautiful decor including large potted olive trees, sparkling neon signs, a mural, and chic heaters, fire-tables and more.

Lake Chalet: Once a historic pump house, the Lake Chalet in Oakland is now a multi-level restaurant offering dining directly over the water out on the dock, stunning views of Lake Merritt and an 80-foot marble bar complete with floor to ceiling windows. Lake Chalet's interior reflects the hip sensibilities of the surrounding area, while also paying tribute to Oakland's storied past.

The Clancy San Francisco: The Clancy, An Autograph Hotel in SoMa, boasts an assortment of flexible venue spaces, as well as expert planning services in a location flanked by museums and tech titans. The hotel offers more than 10,000 square feet of event space, 15 event rooms and 12 breakout rooms, as well as a variety of outdoor spaces with on-site catering options available. The property is located within close proximity to Union Square, Moscone Center, SFMOMA and more.


Wine Country

MacArthur Place Hotel & Spa: MacArthur Place has developed an extensive “mindful meetings” program with wellness at the forefront for executive retreats and off-site gatherings. Activities include Kombucha workshops, UppercaseTea tasting and ceremonies, yoga and mindful seminar coaching. MacArthur Place also offers “fireside meetings” throughout its six-acre pastoral property, where groups can collaborate and brainstorm around one of the property’s private firepits with a dedicated menu and a “blanket butler.”

Safari West: For a unique meetings venue, experience the Sonoma Serengeti at Safari West where meetings and events go wild. Meeting venue options include an open-air patio next to flamingo lagoons, an outdoor gazebo or the spacious indoor Elephant Room. 

Flamingo Resort: The newly renovated Flamingo Resort is an iconic mid-century marvel in Sonoma’s Wine Country, set across a lush, 10-acre campus. Property features include a stunning, new porte-cochere arrival experience, a renovated lobby, 170 sanctuary guest rooms including 14 spacious poolside suites, a new restaurant and poolside dining, spa and fitness offerings and more. The legendary destination boasts 20,000 square feet of versatile and modern indoor and outdoor gathering spaces for weddings, special occasions, corporate meetings and other events.

Napa Event Spaces: Napa Valley Wine Train is the perfect unique venue for team incentives and unforgettable excursions. Soak in the lush vineyard views of Wine Country and treat the team to world-class wines and extraordinary gourmet cuisine. The CIA at Copia is a culinary adventure for food lovers and the ideal place for everything from an intimate gathering in renowned culinary gardens to a grand celebration in an outdoor amphitheater overlooking the Napa River. River Terrace Inn offers a beautiful banquet room for meetings and an outdoor meeting breakout space, perfect for al fresco lunches and group activities right on the Napa River. The Westin Verasa Napa has three courtyards that allow for an abundance of outdoor meetings and events. The property also offers dual fire tables and a bocce ball courtyard, ideal for reconnecting and sharing jovial moments with friends.


Deserts

BMW Performance Center: Take team-building activities to a whole new level with high-speed laps at the BMW Performance Center West in Greater Palm Springs. Taught by BMW professional driving instructors on a private course, programs provide the opportunity for groups to get behind the wheel and add a dose of adrenaline to their next meeting.

The Sonoran Palm Springs: The Sonoran Palm Springs boasts 38,000 square feet of outdoor event space, offering breathtaking views of the San Jacinto Mountains. From corporate events to brand launches, opportunity exists for planners to take advantage of an expansive lawn, pool, cabana and more.


Central Coast

Scarlett Belle: The Scarlett Belle Paddlewheel Riverboat offers southern charm meets California scenery, launching out of the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. The boat hosts a slew of events, including special holiday cruises inside the harbor like the Sunset Food and Wine Tasting cruise in the fall or the holiday lights tour in December.

Santa Barbara Event Spaces: Event venues pay tribute to Santa Barbara’s rich cultural heritage with options ranging from boutique vineyards that offer private tastings and dinners in their barrel rooms or overlooking the vines, to chartered catamarans and yachts, to exclusive experiences at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club or Monty Roberts’ Flag is Up Farms. Planners can also host a special event in many of the area’s historic buildings, including the Santa Barbara Historical Museum, the architecturally significant Santa Barbara County Courthouse or El Presidio de Santa Barbara State Historic Park.

Catalina Event Spaces: Catherine's Terrace at Descanso Beach offers flexible indoor and outdoor event space with spectacular ocean views. Located adjacent to Descanso Beach, the facility features a spacious canopied balcony, ideal for cocktail receptions. The inside ballroom can accommodate up to 200 people. South Pacific ambiance meets the quaint village of Two Harbors at the new beachfront Harbor Sands, which features rustic-style furnished palapas, lounge chairs, beachfront dining deck and a group picnic area with full catering available and seating for up to 250 guests.

Monterey County Event Spaces: Camp at Carmel Valley offers everything from small, intimate group settings up to a total camp buyout with nine meeting spaces and 23,000 square feet of space. Folktale Winery is a beautiful, old-world French Chateau on 16 acres surrounded by vineyards and oak-studded mountains in beautiful Carmel Valley, offering four meeting spaces totaling 2,500 square feet. The iconic Monterey Bay Aquarium offers a range of engaging programs and unique educational opportunities led by expert guides. The venue backdrop options include the mesmerizing Open Sea exhibit, where a variety of ocean wildlife zoom by and the unique Kelp Forest exhibit for a diver's-eye-view of leopard sharks and wolf eels. Lastly, the Monterey Zoo offers a 10,000-square-foot special event venue with space available for up to 400 guests and the unique ability to project imagery across its 35-foot-tall ceiling.


North Coast

Skunk Train: The Skunk Train’s signature destination of “The Glen” has undergone a complete re-imagining, making it a one-of-a-kind venue for meetings and events. This secluded location, nestled deep within the redwoods along Pudding Creek outside of Fort Bragg, is accessible only by historic train or railbike and has long delighted visitors aboard the Skunk Train with its towering redwood trees, ancient ferns and open meadow. The addition of a new, fully-electric, 3,375-square-foot indoor/outdoor pavilion opens the door for groups and meetings of up to 200 people. Transported by train to the meeting location, when attendees step on to the platform beneath the redwoods, they will be stepping out of their everyday world entirely.


Central Valley

Seven Sycamores: Set in the beautiful countryside of Ivanhoe, Seven Sycamores Ranch is a tranquil venue for couples to celebrate their wedding. A citrus farm dating back to 1927, the ranch first transformed into a wedding venue in 2007 when its owners celebrated their marriage at the family home. That sense of family has remained a central focal point, welcoming couples and guests for the big day. 

Bradley Ranch Winery: Located in Elk Grove, Bradley Ranch Winery was renovated In 2017 to become a scenic getaway for private events, weddings, picnics, community gatherings, holiday festivals and more. The wine-tasting room is the perfect place to sip, relax and enjoy the rustic farmhouse vibes that emanate across the ranch with views of the vineyards and Sierra Nevada Mountain Ranges.


Gold Country

SAFE Credit Union Convention Center: The new SAFE Credit Union Convention Center in Sacramento provides the perfect setting to make any size convention a little less conventional. There, cutting edge design, advanced technology and impressive scalability deliver 160,000 square feet of exhibit space and 80,000 square feet of meeting room space.

Tuolumne County Venues: Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, one of the last remaining working roundhouses in America, features one of the most photographed locomotives in the world—Sierra #3—which has been featured in almost every film depicting steam engine locomotives. Guests can utilize the location’s various train and wedding charters, picnic area and Roundhouse Lawn or Carriage Room for their next meeting. Additionally, Inner Sanctum Cellars Basecamp is a boutique winery offering beautiful indoor and outdoor space in Tuolumne County, while Lazy Z Resort is surrounded by the Sierra Mountains as well as 40 acres of pines, cedars and oaks. Lastly, Hurst Ranch provides a beautiful outdoor setting for parties and special events. Enjoy the rural ambience of the courtyard, gardens and spacious catering kitchen.


High Sierra

The Pines Resort: The Pines Resort, located on the pristine shores of Bass Lake and only 25 minutes from Yosemite National Park, is a dreamy, laidback meeting destination. The resort features 14,000 square feet of flexible, indoor/outdoor spaces overlooking the lake, ideal for mid-size gatherings. The venue is also within walking distance of the chalets, lakeside suites, luxury homes rentals, a marina and more. 

Alibi Ale-Works Truckee: Alibi Ale-Works is a popular brewery and public house located in Historic Downtown Truckee. The brewery features a large indoor space for casual yet professional meetings and events as well as a new outdoor beer garden. Both indoor and outdoor sound systems and projector screens can be booked for private events.


Orange County

The Ranch at Laguna Beach: Nestled in the majestic Aliso and Wood Canyons in the heart of Orange County, The Ranch at Laguna Beach is spread over 87 acres offering 97 guest rooms and suites in an iconic beach community. The resort's Sage Patio provides a private event venue amid nature's beauty; extending from the banquet hall, the 3,000-square-foot patio accommodates up to 200 occupants for meeting spaces, ceremonies, cocktail receptions and more.

Dana Point Meeting Spaces: The pristine beach town of Dana Point’s four signature resorts – DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Doheny Beach, Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel and Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort – welcome travelers to take advantage of their spectacular indoor and outdoor meetings spaces with private beach clubs, lush botanical gardens, oceanview terraces and beachfront lawns. Whether guests gather for a meeting around a table, on paddleboards or over a round of golf, Dana Point is well-positioned to help travelers to get down to business while sparking creativity and collaboration. 

Anaheim Convention Center: Open the door to the extraordinary with 200,000 square feet of outdoor space for meeting, networking and memory-making at the Anaheim Convention Center. The illuminated Grand Plaza comes to life in the evenings with 36,000 square feet of event space. Step outside the mid-century arena and onto the Arena Plaza with sunlit space for 3,500 people, where guests can gather around the central fountain on the palm tree-lined courtyard. The Katella Terrace is an open-air balcony with 10,000 square feet for capping off a fabulous day, complete with awe-inspiring Disneyland® Resort fireworks.