Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/70980
AREA GUIDES Museum of Art. This area treasure is located on a magnificent bluff-top site overlooking the Long Beach Harbor, Catalina Island, the (i)Queen Mary(ei) and the Pacific Ocean. Long Beach Airport is the most con- venient center for air travel into the Los Angeles/ Orange County area. Offering several daily flights on Alaska Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Delta and US Airways, this airport serves as a valuable tool for a smooth, stress free business trip. •SAN DIEGO• Meeting in SanDiego can be inspiring, uplifting, and provide you with an endor- phin boost so big, it'll stay with you long after themeeting is over. It's all about atti- tude, and San Diego corners the market on the "can do" variety. The contagious- ly upbeat vibe leads to positivity, produc- tivity, and strong partnerships. Idyllic cli- mate and scenic beauty boost the ambiance free of charge. Framed by 70 miles of Pacific coastline and scenic mountain ranges,San Diego, the nation's eighth-largest city, features an impressive array of meeting and event venues and a centrally located downtown airport. The San Diego Convention Center is located on sparklingSanDiegoBay in the heart of a vibrant downtown. Abundant, flexible space and five-star service make the San Diego Convention Center the meeting planner's choice for hosting major conventions, trade shows, meet- ings and special events. The facility is equipped with 525,701 gross sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space on Ground Level, 90,000 sq. ft. of col- umn-free exhibit space in the Sails Pavilion on the Upper Level, along with 72 adjustable meeting/banquet rooms. A lifetime resident of San Diego and nationally recog- nized meeting planner, Clara Carter founded theMulti-Cultural Convention Ser- vices Network Inc. (MCCSN) in 2004. MCCSN specializes in promoting desti- CLARA CARTER 72 San Diego Downtown Marina nation management - linking ethnically diverse meeting/convention planners to the hospitality and tourismindustry inSan Diego. San Diego also boasts the likes of Carroll Wallace, president & CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporat ion, whose efforts have placed this West Coast hotspot at the top of every meeting plan- ners wish list. San Diego Carroll Wallace hotels are more accommodating than ever with over 55,000 hotel rooms throughout the region. Choices are plen- tiful, and range from properties like the 511-room Omni San Diego, to the 1,625 room Manchester Grand Hyatt, and everything in between. San Diego's vibrant arts & culture scene teems with lively performances, thought-provoking exhibitions, and engaging historic sites and monu- ments. From the 16 museums located just within Balboa Park, two Tony® Award-winning theatres, historic sites, public art, music, dance, film, galleries, missions and a multitude of other cul- tural offerings, there's always some- thing in San Diego to engage your con- ference attendees senses and enrich their minds. Photo Credit: San Diego CVB Known as the birthplace of California, Old Town San Diego teems with a lively, authentic atmosphere, not to mention great Mexican food and souvenirs. Old Town State Park boasts 17 museums and historical sites, many of which are free to explore. Conveniently located just ten minutes from downtown San Diego and serviced by 22 major and commuter airlines, San Diego International Airport receivesmore than 16 million passengers a year. HOTEL • • • STATS • • • Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter 282 Omni San Diego Manchester Grand Hyatt Hard Rock Hotel San Diego Hilton San Diego Bayfront Embassy Suites San Diego Bay - Downtown EXHIBITION FACILITIES Largest Ballroom: Meeting Rooms The San Diego Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 615,701 sq. ft. Largest Hall 525,701 sq. ft. 40.955 sq. ft. 72 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? San Diego CVB – (619) 236-1212 www.sandiego.org Central San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce (858) 939-1849 Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ROOMS 337 1,625 420 1,190 511