Black Meetings and Tourism

Jan/Feb 2014

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LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER Whether you are planning a tradeshow, convention, corporate meet- ing or special event, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is an ideal location. Located in the heart of downtown Long Beach, the Center is within walking distance to first-class accommodations (more than 5,000 rooms citywide, most within the downtown area), shopping, dining, attractions, sightseeing along picturesque bays and 5 1/2 miles of sandy beach. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is a spectacu- lar multi-purpose complex – one of the few waterfront facilities nation- wide, featuring more than 400,000 sq. ft. of flexible exhibit and meeting space, two theaters, an arena and 34 meeting rooms. The glass con- course and lobby offer expansive views of the scenic harbor and down- town skyline. A pedestrian promenade links hotels, shops, restaurants and attractions with the Pacific Ocean. The beautiful Terrace Theater, a full production theater that seats 3,051, is an integral part of the convention center complex. The orches- tra seating is shaped in a comfortable continental style. There are spaces for wheelchair seating. The Terrace Lobby contains a full glass front with a view of the Terrace fountain. There is an ocean view on the East side of the facility and a downtown cityscape view from the front of the Theater. The facility's Pacific Ballroom special event venue, part of a $10 million renovation, made its grand opening debut in November of last year as Long Beach's newest, largest and most innovative meeting and special event space. Industry insiders expect the new ballroom to be one of the most desirable venues in the country, as it expands the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center's capability to handle larger groups. The recently completed installation creates a "loft-style" ball- room, which multiplies the utilization of the Arena's floor space. One of the largest-ever "flying" steel truss grid systems is now sus- pended above the 45,000-sq. ft. Arena floor. This ingenious grid sys- tem can be raised or lowered in minutes to provide the perfect ceil- ing height for any event, transforming the Arena from a hockey venue filled with 13,000 raucous fans into an ideal meeting space for up to 5,000 reception guests. The grid contains state-of-the art sound and theatrical lighting that can be customized by the event planner. Electronically operated curtain walls drop down to cover the Arena's upper deck seating, completing the creation of the Pacific Ballroom. Long Beach is one giant playground located right in the heart of Southern California. Conference attendees have many options for entertainment and leisure in this sunny destination. Here you can experience it all from a deep sea adventure at the Aquarium of the Pacific right on the bay and a voyage in time aboard the historic Queen Mary to lively guided tours through downtown and the colorful East Village. Within an hour's d rive, you can explore the fabulous worlds of Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure and every major Southern California attraction. Visitors are also encouraged to catch a musical masterpiece at the waterside Long Beach Performing Arts Center, home to the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Long Beach Opera and International City Theater. For booking contact Allison Lesser and the Sales dept. at (562) 495-8359. B M & T ••• January/February 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 22 1 1 12:03 PM CENTER OF ATTENTION •pg_22-32__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/14 4:14 PM Page 22

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