Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/12999
AREA GUIDES LONG BEACH Long Beach, rich in diversity, is one of the busiest seaports in the world, as well as a world-class seaside resort destination, with numerous shopping districts and attractions. There is the Queen’s Market Place, an open mall designed to look like an English Village; Down-town’s Pine Avenue, home of Long Beach’s nightlife; the Aquarium of the Pacific, a world- renowned research facility and tourist destination; the mid-April Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach; as well as the R.M.S. Queen Mary, a former ocean liner that has been transformed into a grand hotel. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center facilities include the Long Beach Arena and Exhibition Halls, the Terrace and Center Theaters, Ballroom and Meeting Rooms. The three Exhibition Halls have close to 224,000 sq. ft. of space that can be utilized for conven- tions, tradeshows, consumer shows and special events. The Terrace Theater is STATS HOTEL Marriott Long Beach Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport Renaissance Long Beach Hotel ROOMS 309 222 360 Holiday Inn Long Beach-Downtown 134 Hyatt Regency Long Beach 528 EXHIBITION FACILITIES LONG BEACH CONVENTION & ENTERTAINMENT CENTER total exhibit space largest hall meeting rooms 400,000 sq. ft. 91,000 sq. ft. 34 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Long Beach Area CVB (800) 452-7829 www.visitlongbeach.com Long Beach Black Chamber of Commerce (562) 432-8866 www.GBSmarketing.com Long Beach pier a full production theater that seats 3,051; the Center Theater seats a more intimate 825. Within a walking dis- tance of three blocks from the Convention Center, in the heart of the business district is the recently reno- vated Hilton Long Beach Executive Meeting Center. The property is ideal for both business and pleasure, featur- ing 393 guestrooms and over 30,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. In close proximi- ty to the Hilton Long Beach is the Long Beach Airport, one of the most heavily trafficked general aviation air- ports in the world. SAN DIEGO San Diego is California’s second largest city, but is much closer to the popular laid-back image of West Coast life than most major cities in the state. It has miles of oceanfront, dessert terrain consisting of canyons and valleys, hills and cliffs and is bor- dered by Mexico at its southern end. Photo Credit: Long Beach CVB The ocean attracts leisure and non- leisure business travelers equally; the downtown core is very conveniently laid out and easy to get around in. The San Diego International Airport is located just two miles from the downtown area. There are regular Metropolitan Transit Service buses and express buses serving the airport, as well as a trolley bus which goes all the way to the Mexican border. The Amtrak’s costal train service finally ends in San Diego, having begun its run in Vancouver, BC. Once in the city, many rent bicycles since San Diego’s climate makes this an enjoy- able way to tour the area. The San Diego Convention Center is located on the harbor, downtown, and is the premier meeting and con- ference facility for the region. It is currently planning a $753 million expansion which will provide an additional 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a third ballroom, 100,000 sq. ft. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 79