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B M & T ••• November/December 2023 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 56 FROM WINE VINEYARDS AND OUTDOOR TRAILS TO THE BUSTLING ENERGY OF THE BIG CITY, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE YOUR NEXT EVENT A SUCCESS B Y B U C K S A M U E L S Northern California offers Meeting Planners a special experience as far as planning events with the unique geo- graphical location of this region's destina- tions. California's northeast corner—some- times referred to as "Upstate California"—is an outdoor-lover's para- dise, with scenic volcanoes, hushed forests, and trout-filled rivers. With its iconic bridge, historic cable cars, and beautiful Victorian architecture, San Francisco is undeniably one of the world's great cities. The entire region, in fact, demands to be explored. The vibrant and diverse East Bay, with cities like Oakland and Berkeley, is a cultural and culinary hotbed. This region is suitable for larger scale events like conferences and trade shows. • • OAKLAND • • With a great location near three major airports, Oakland is an ideal choice for your next meeting and event. You'll find beautiful traditional venues, industrial warehouse space, live music and enter- tainment venues, lush park-like settings, outdoor options, and attractions. Offering an award-winning culinary scene, artistic vibe, and numerous places for creative, interactive off-site events – Oakland has it all. To welcome visitors, Oakland has over 30 hotels with 5,500+ guest rooms from first-class hotels and boutique properties to the top names in lodging. Centrally based in downtown Oakland, the Oakland Convention Center is a world-class exhibition hall within walking distance of iconic Oakland land- marks such as Jack London Square, Chinatown, and Oakland City Center. Positioned between the revitalized Old Oakland and walking distance to Uptown, the convention center is close to Oakland's finest shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums. The Convention Center is located in the heart of Oakland, CA featuring 100,000 sq. ft. of total meeting space, 37 meeting rooms, 500 hotel rooms and 64,000 square feet of convention, exhibit, social gathering and meeting room space; the ideal place for your next event. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Oakland – 510-839-9000 www.visitoakland.com • • SAN FRANCISCO • • Flexible venues in vibrant neighbor- hoods. Luxury hotels surrounded by fine dining and gorgeous public art. Green spaces and an innovative spirit. It's for all these reasons and more that there has never been a better time to meet in San Francisco. San Francisco is a powerful magnet for meetings of all sizes, from self-contained meetings based at one hotel to citywide conventions utilizing multiple properties and The Moscone Center. San Francisco boasts 35,000 hotel rooms, with 19,000+ rooms within walking distance of The Moscone Center and 70+ hotels, with 1,100+ new hotel rooms coming by 2024. San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area offer more than 360 special event facilities and venues—nearly one for every day of the year. The Moscone Center is a San Francisco conven- tion complex that consumes 20 acres on three adjacent blocks in the heart of San Francisco (includes Moscone West) with- in close proximity to hotels, parks, major museums, restaurants and other attractions. The venue is equipped with more than 500,000 sq. ft. of contiguous space, a 50,000-sq. ft. new, column-free ballroom, 2,300 10' x 10' booths that can be accommodated in largest exhibition space, 20 loading docks with drive-on access to exhibit halls and 82 meeting rooms. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? San Francisco Travel – 415 227-2691 www.sftravel.com • • SACRAMENTO • • There's a California destination just waiting for you that offers a new, state- of-the-art convention center, diverse and comfortable hotel options, excellent weather, walkable tree-lined streets and an abundance of award-winning food and wine. Plus, the city is as approachable as your own backyard and much more affordable than its neighbors to the north or south. Where is this West Coast won- der? Welcome to Sacramento. Sacramento's downtown SAFE Credit Union Convention Center reopened in the spring of 2021 after a stunning reno- vation and expansion. The new Convention Center offers 240,000 square feet of meetings and event space, along with a new outdoor activities plaza to take full advantage of Sacramento's ideal climate. You'll find more than 2,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of the Convention Center, and 2,000 more with- in just 3 miles. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Sacramento – 800-292-2334 www.visitsacramento.com Oakland Convention Center photo credit: Oakland CC AREA GUIDES N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A