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AREA GUIDES Long Beach is where the action begins and the fun never ends. From the regal Queen Mary and spectacular Aquarium Of The Pacific to stirring Broadway shows, live music venues and hundreds of exclusive dining destina- tions — all centrally located. Airport- close, a brief and pleasant cruise away from Catalina Island and a short distance from Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and everything Southern California has to offer — Long Beach is the perfect destination! With all these exciting and entertaining things to get into preparing for your group attendees leisure activities won’t be a problem. Long Beach Convention Center, with Queen Mary in the background truly has it all — the best of Southern California dining,entertainment and cul- ture all within an easily accessible area. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center offers more than 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space,with newwiring for the latest tech- nology as well as wireless capability. There are twoVIP lounges, a full-service concierge/restaurant reservation desk, hospitality catering and an on-site audio/visual supplier. With 34MeetingRooms and aGrand Ballroom, three dynamic Exhibition Halls, Long Beach Arena and the Terrace Theater, the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is ideal for all types of special events, con- ventions and tradeshows, and is within walking distance to everything. Courtyard by Marriott is located in the heart of downtown and is within walking distance to the Convention Center, Pine Avenue, Shoreline Village, and Pike attractions. Each of the 216 newly renovated guestrooms feature a comfortable sitting area, large work desk, in-roomcoffee,and complimentary high speed Internet access.Hotel ameni- ties include restaurant;TheMarket, out- door pool, fitness center,business center, and 7,000 sq. ft. of banquet/meeting space capable of hosting a banquet for 250 guestswith full catering and audiovi- 66 sual services. The Hilton Long Beach hotel, locat- ed in downtown Long Beach, CA, is conveniently located adjacent to the WorldTrade Center and just a few short blocks to the Long Beach Convention Center. Hotel guestrooms offer all the comforts and conveniences expected froma luxuriousHilton hotel with com- fortably appointed accommodations, two-line telephones, high-speed wireless internet access, and an in-room refresh- ment center. The hotel features 40,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and banquet facilities with a total of 26 break-out rooms. Adjacent to the hotel is the self-con- tained Executive Meeting Center. The dedicated facility offers the ultimate in audio/visual needs, high speed and wire- less internet connections and cutting edgemeeting technology. Long Beaches’ famousAquarium Of The Pacific offers meeting planners a more unique approach of holding an event, boasting a total banquet capacity of 1,800 with indoor and outdoor areas that accommodate from as few as 50 to the max capacity.The theater accommo- dates up to 170. Because of the facility’s interesting design it can be classified as an outdoor meeting facility. Aquarium OfThe Pacific also comes equippedwith its own on site catering. WHOYOUGONNACALL? Long Beach CVB (800) 452-7829 www.visitlongbeach.com PASADENA A dynamic city centered in beautiful SouthernCalifornia,Pasadena is a city of discovery — from dining and shopping to theater and art galleries. Pasadena offers the business and recreational trav- eler a surprising combination of sophisti- cated charm, culture, history, and fun.A state-of-the-art expanded Convention Center, chic boutiques, resort hotels, priceless art and more can be found in Pasadena, just 11 miles northeast of downtown LosAngeles. The Pasadena Convention Center creates the perfect atmosphere for every occasion, including large corporate events, conventions, private banquets, receptions,and trade or consumer shows. Making business a pleasure, the first- class facilitywill elevate your event expe- rience. The new state-of-the-art 55,000-sq. ft. Exhibit Hall is divisible in two sec- tions. It can be combined with the adja- cent 25,000-sq. ft. Grand Ballroom to create a flexible space of up to 80,000 sq. ft. The Ballroom is divisible in 10 sections of varying combinations, mak- ing it perfect for banquets, fundraisers, weddings and more. The 28,000-sq. ft.Conference Center Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com Photo Credit: Long Beach CVB