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Weekly UpdatesIs the West a better region for meetings than ever? See for yourself. From new resorts and hotels in Las Vegas, Tucson, Seattle, and Albuquerque to convention center expansions in Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Santa Clara, and Palm Springs, the West is buzzing with activity. No matter where you travel in the West, you are sure to discover a fresh appeal to an amazing region that has been a long-time favorite of associations of all sizes.
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ARIZONA
MESA
Arizona's third-largest city offers association groups small-town charm, convenience, and affordability in the heart of one of the West's largest metropolitan areas. Mesa is located only 12 miles from the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport; yet it offers more than 60 hotels including top meetings properties such as the 273-room Sheraton Phoenix East (more than 52,000 square feet of meeting space), 263-room Hilton Phoenix East (more than 22,000 square feet of meeting space), and the 130-room Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Conference Center which features a new, 15,000-square-foot meeting facility.
With an enticing outdoor environment, the Mesa Amphitheater is a popular venue for a variety of events. It offers outdoor seating for 4,200 and catering for group functions. Near the amphitheater downtown is the Mesa Centennial Center. It offers a 15,000-square-foot, open-floor exhibit hall and 25,000 square feet of additional function space. A theater with 100 tiered seats and videoconferencing capability is part of the center.
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All the splendor of the magnificent desert Southwest is at Mesa's doorstep. The city offers 25 golf courses as well as other outdoor options such as boating and hiking the surrounding mountains. Five museums, including the Mesa Southwest Museum and Mesa Historical Museum, offer lots of cultural treasures as well.
PHOENIX
Phoenix residents continue to express confidence in their downtown's exciting future. In November, voters approved funding for additional segments to a light rail system under development. In addition to the initial 20-mile route that will open in late 2008, the new light rail system will now be complemented by 27.7 miles of suburban track within the next 20 years.
The initial route will connect Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport with downtown hotels and attractions including the Phoenix Convention Center, which will open the first phase of its $600 million expansion in early 2006. The first phase of the project involves construction of the West Building, with 165,000 square feet of space including a 65,000-square-foot exhibit hall on the first floor.
The existing South Building also will be connected to the new West Building, providing an additional 143,000 square feet of space for exhibits or meetings. The phased expansion will increase total rentable space from 302,000 to more than 900,000 square feet by total completion in 2009.
Also scheduled to debut in late 2008 is a 1,000-room Sheraton that will be located just one block from the center. The 712-room Hyatt Regency Phoenix, with 45,000 square feet of meeting space, is located across the street from the center. Just one block away is the 532-room Wyndham Phoenix with 57,000 square feet of meeting space.
TUCSON
January marked the opening of the long-awaited Starr Pass Marriott Resort and Spa adjacent to the Tucson Mountain Park. The city's first new resort in almost 20 years, the 575-room Marriott offers more than 88,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Among the event space are ball-rooms of 20,000 and 15,000 square feet. In addition, the luxurious resort also offers a 20,000-square-foot spa, 27 holes of championship golf, three pools, and underground parking.
Other area resorts are upgrading, as evidenced by recent renovations completed by the 428-room Hilton Tucson El Conquistador, which offers more than 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor function space. Hilton has spent more than $7 million upgrading the plush resort since taking it over two years ago. The Rio Rico Golf Resort also wrapped up renovations recently and renamed the property the Esplendor at Rio Rico.
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The Downtown Radisson Hotel City Center also unveiled plans in February to more than double its guest room inventory and build condominiums in two new towers. Under the plan, the 300-room Radisson would expand to 700 guest rooms, as well as update the existing property. The project is tied to a proposal to build a new downtown arena that is now under consideration.
The Radisson is near the Tucson Convention Center, a facility that features more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit space that separates into three halls, a 20,000-square-foot grand ballroom, a 511-seat theater, 2,289-seat performance hall, and an 8,750-seat arena.
CALIFORNIA
ANAHEIM/DISNEYLAND
Always fresh and fun, it's hard to imagine that Disney turns 50 in 2005. As an organization that knows how to throw a birthday party, Disney is certain to make 2005 a great year to meet in Anaheim with numerous community events and charity fundraisers planned.
Disney's presence has brought meetings magic to Anaheim, which had a record year in 2004 when more than 1.175 million convention-related visitors spent $1.6 billion. The city's resort area now offers 20,000 hotel rooms and all the great attractions created by Disney's two theme parks and the Downtown Disney entertainment district, where lively restaurants, shops, multiscreen cinema, and live entertainment provide delegates with many options.
Opening this fall is the new Doubletree Guest Suites Anaheim Resort/Convention Center, a 252-room hotel with 7,200 square feet of meeting space in the heart of the city's convention district. In addition, another Doubletree property, the Doubletree Hotel Anaheim/Orange County, completed a $6 million renovation in March.
Fresh from a $180 million expansion completed in 2001, the Anaheim Convention Center offers 1.6 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space. The impressive center includes 815,000 square feet of exhibit space, 52 meeting rooms, 130,000 square feet of meeting space, and a 38,000-square-foot ball-room. Due to the continued growth of the city's convention business, Anaheim city officials are considering yet another expansion that would create 100,000 additional square feet of exhibit space and result in new meeting space.
Disney operates several large hotels with meeting space in the area, including the 751-room Grand Californian, 990-room Disneyland Hotel, and 502-room Paradise Pier Resort.
LOS ANGELES/UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
The buzz around the City of Angels is the proposed $1.2 billion hotel, retail, entertainment, and 1,000-unit housing complex called the Grand Avenue Project. The multiyear development would be a boon to the nearby Los Angeles Convention Center, which is within walking distance of the city's downtown business district and more than 4,700 hotel rooms. The center offers 887,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space and a theater with 300 tiered seats.
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Of course, nothing says Los Angeles like the movies, so group events at Universal Studios Hollywood are a natural choice. The massive complex offers groups 28 back-lot movie sets, a dedicated sound stage, set lighting, elaborate movie props, and the Globe Theater, a 9,600-square-foot special events venue. The Universal CityWalk entertainment district also offers a variety of private event options such as Tango Alley, where a 10,000-square-foot events center is surrounded by 33 places to eat and play. Universal's multiscreen cinemas and IMAX theater complex offer 425 stadium seats and a six-story screen. Universal's theme park debuts its "Fear Factor" attraction this spring, where contestants compete in a variety of activities that make for a perfect team-building experience.
Elsewhere, the Westlake Village Hotel and Spa will open late this year in the San Fernando Valley. The 20-acre well-being complex will have physicians on site, a full-service spa, a conference center, and 267 guest rooms.
MONTEREY
Monterey is sporting a unique new group event venue with this month's opening of the newly renovated Golden State Theatre. Originally opened in 1926, the opulent theater can accommodate groups of up to 1,100. It has a large lobby and mezzanine level for receptions.
The Golden State Theatre is located in the heart of the city, only two blocks from the Monterey Conference Center, which was recently refurbished as well. The center's 19,600-square-foot Sierra Ballroom received new carpeting earlier this year, and the entire facility received upgraded broadband services. The center offers 61,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the largest coastal facility of its kind between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
From bayside boutique hotels to large meetings properties, Monterey offers groups a world of choice in accommodations. The 380-room Portola Plaza Hotel recently completed a $7 million renovation that transformed it from a Doubletree property. It offers 20,000 square feet of meeting space. In February, the 575-room Hyatt Regency Monterey unveiled new wireless broadband Internet access in its 30,000 square feet of meeting space (and other public spaces) as well as select guest rooms. The 341-room Monterey Marriott recently finished guest room renovations. It offers 16,000 square feet of meeting space.
For private events with a culinary emphasis, the Culinary Center of Monterey offers beautiful classroom kitchens and a restaurant that seats 150 for plated meals and 225 for strolling dinner and receptions. Events at the teaching facility can be fully catered or can include hands-on demonstrations where groups do some of the cooking themselves.
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