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64 B M & T ••• May/June 2025 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com AREA GUIDES and Marriott Downtown San Jose offer integrated lodging and breakout capabili- ty for seamless day-to-night transitions. The Hayes Mansion San Jose, a Curio Collection hotel, offers over 33,000 square feet of indoor-outdoor meeting space, blending historic architecture with full-service planning capabilities ideal for executive retreats and reunions. Planning in San Jose means access to more than tech—it means access to lega- cy. Black-led initiatives like the African American Community Service Agency and Black Leadership Kitchen Cabinet provide cultural partnerships and authen- tic local engagement for events that aim to leave more than impressions—they leave structure. The Tech Interactive provides a venue where STEM-based forums meet immer- sive exhibits and innovation challenges, while the Mexican Heritage Plaza and School of Arts & Culture bring cross-cul- tural meetings into focus—ideal for cre- ative summits and socially driven forums. San Jose's compact downtown makes mobility intuitive. Attendees can walk between museums, hotels, and event venues without logistical friction. San José Mineta International Airport provides direct connections to key U.S. hubs, while Cal-train and VTA light rail systems ensure intra-regional ease. Whether convening for venture talks, diversity think tanks, or policy-based retreats, planners will find San Jose both efficient and intentional. The city isn't concerned with theatrics—it's designed for decisions. San Jose doesn't try to impress. It moves with quiet confidence, built for planners who measure value not in vol- ume, but in vision, delivery, and what comes next. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit San Jose – (88) SAN-JOSE www.sanjose.org • • ANAHEIM • • Anaheim runs on access and adapt- ability. With its close proximity to three major airports—LAX, John Wayne, and Long Beach—it delivers smooth arrivals and rapid transitions from terminal to meeting agenda. For planners seeking scale without complexity, the city delivers. The Anaheim Convention Center is the largest on the West Coast, with 1.8 mil- lion square feet of meeting space, a 7,500-seat arena, and over 200 breakout rooms. Directly connected to major hotels like the Hilton Anaheim and the Anaheim Marriott, it gives planners logistical effi- ciency and event-day fluidity. The Radisson Blu Anaheim delivers rooftop elegance and 12,000 square feet of meeting space designed for vision, not repetition. Beyond convention space, venues like the House of Blues Anaheim and the Muzeo Museum and Cultural Center offer distinctive environments for recep- tions, panels, or live tapings. Each space supports hybrid event formats and cre- ative staging for planners looking to break formula while maintaining flow. Anaheim's hotel ecosystem is diverse and highly responsive. Properties like the Westin Anaheim Resort and JW Marriott Anaheim Resort offer executive-level accommodations and rooftop spaces for invite-only sessions, awards dinners, or wellness-forward scheduling. Local tourism teams provide cus- San Jose Cityscape at Dawn Anaheim Convention Center photo credit: Anaheim CC