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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFERS TOP LEVEL HOSPITALITY & WORLD CLASS ATTRACTIONS! BY CLETUS RAMSEY Whether you are a meeting planner looking for the next great place to book a conference for a client or if you are a trav- el agent planning a fun filled family vaca- tion, the Southern California region holds some of the country's largest meeting venues as well as some of the most excit- ing attractions and activities. Conference attendees have a plethora of options when it comes to attractions – everything from Anaheim's Disneyland to LA's Hollywood. With airports like Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San Diego International Airport, trans- portation throughout the Southern California Area is easy. For those leisure travelers wanting to explore SOCAL and visit the most promi- nent landmarks, a beautiful scenic drive is suggested. Follow one of the world's most celebrated routes on this coast- hugging drive. You can start this trip at either end. You can begin in San Diego, at the southern end of the state, then travel north to beach towns, the bustle and excitement of Los Angeles, through ele- gant Santa Barbara and surrounding wine country. • • LOS ANGELES • • When planning meetings and events in the City of Angels, discover L.A.'s vibrant regions, incredible diversity of cultures, attractions, hotels, restaurants, muse- ums, and activities, not to mention the area's stunning beaches, picturesque mountains and year-round warm weather. A collection of distinct neighborhoods filled with unique experiences, Los Angeles has everything you need to host your next perfect event while keeping attendees entertained and inspired. Located in the heart of Downtown, the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is the premier venue for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions. The LACC is one of the most technologically advanced convention and exhibition cen- ters in the world. The venue is equipped with 720,000 sq. ft. of exhibit hall space, 147,000 sq. ft. of meeting room space, and 64 column-free meeting rooms. There is a newly renovated 299-seat presentation theatre and the venue is LEED® Gold level certified. The glitz and glamour of LA resonates throughout the streets of Hollywood and Downtown. There is no way one can come to Los Angeles and not indulge in a little bit of the nightlife. L.A. LIVE is an entertainment complex in the South Park District of Downtown Los Angeles, California. Here you can eat at some of the finest restaurants, go to a nightclub AND check out a Laker or Kings game all with in walking distance. Be sure to take in the Leimert Park area, the African-American cultural heart of Los Angeles, with its many boutiques, bookstores, craft vendors, restaurants and annual festivals. Another must see attraction is the California African A m e r i c a n Museum, which is a wonderful place to see and also a fabulous place to meet. Need more reasons to meet in LA? Reach out to SVP of Sales Darren Green and his team at the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board. They will provide you with all of the information and support you need to make your event in Los Angeles a truly memorable and suc- cessful experience. Ranked seventh in the world for number of passengers and tonnage of air cargo handled, the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) provides conference attendees and leisure trav- elers alike easy and stress free access into the city. • • SAN DIEGO • • San Diego offers every imaginable attribute that will make your meeting a huge success: first class meeting ven- ues, a wide variety of professional servic- es, and a Tourism Authority ranked as one of the best in the world. Known for incredible panoramic views of San Diego Bay and five-star service, the San Diego Convention Center is a meeting planner's dream. The venue is fully equipped with 615,701 sq. ft. of exhibit space and 72 meeting rooms. Called the Smithsonian of the West, Balboa Park hosts an incredible concen- tration of arts and culture offerings includ- Los Angeles Convention Center • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites 1,358 Hilton Los Angeles Airport 1,234 Millennium Biltmore Hotel 740 JW Marriott at L.A. LIVE 878 InterContinental Los Angeles 889 Ritz Carlton LA Live 123 Sheraton Gateway LAX 802 EXHIBITION FACILITIES The Los Angeles Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 720,000 sq. ft. Meeting Rooms 64 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Discover Los Angeles – (888) 733-6952 www.discoverlosangeles.com Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce – (323) 292-1297 Regional CAL Black Chamber of Commerce SFV – (818) 464-3484 rcbcc.chamber@yahoo.com A m e r i c a n Museum, which is a wonderful place to see and also a fabulous place to meet. reasons to meet in LA? Reach out to SVP of Sales Darren Green and his team at the Los Angeles Darren Green Los Angeles Convention Center Photo Credit: Los Angeles C,C, B M & T ••• May/June 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 57 AREA GUIDES S O U T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A