Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/926592
B M & T ••• November/December 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 36 AREA GUIDES the rise, yet off the beaten path. Known as the arts mecca of the West, Oakland offers everything from indus- trial arts to world-class museums, pro- viding planners and their attendees and endless array of cultural activities to explore when the meeting day is over. The Oakland Convention Center is conveniently located in downtown only 10 minutes from the Oakland International Airport. Featuring 64,000 sq. ft. of convention, exhibit, social gath- ering and meeting room space and fresh off a $8 million renovation, the Center is the ideal place for your next event. It's within walking distance of Jack London Square, Chinatown, Oakland Museum of California, Preservation Park and Oakland City Center. The venue is also surrounded by beautifully restored Victorian buildings and the finest shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums that this exciting city has to offer. Connected to the Oakland Convention Center, the Oakland Marriott City Center features an addi- tional 25,000 sq. ft. of event space and 489 guest rooms. It's also hosting the National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners' 2017 conference, taking place there November 29-Decemeber 2. In addition to the Marriott City Center, there are a number of other properties with impressive meeting facilities, including the Claremont Hotel Club & Spa (24,800 sq. ft. of confer- ence space and 22 meeting rooms), the Hilton Oakland Airport (16,000 sq. ft. and 14 meeting rooms), and the Waterfront Hotel (8,000 sq. ft. and 15 meeting rooms), to name a few. In true Oakland fashion, shopping in The Town is always original. Ambitious entrepreneurs are creating pop-up shopping neighborhoods and artisan alleys full of locally made products. Looking for something a little more classic? Rockridge and Piedmont Avenue are home to some of the best vintage digs in the area. Along Temescal Alley, Bohemian boutiques ranging from horticulture havens to Southwestern jewelry designers are creating a national buzz. Oakland even has a few national retailers in the mix to round things out. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland AAMLO is a must- see attraction while in town. The museum is dedicated to discover, pre- serve, interpret and share the histori- cal and cultural experiences of African- Americans in California and the West for present and future generations. The Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the second largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights. ••SACRAMENTO•• Sacramento is the star on the map of California - where you will find cultur- al attractions to inspire you, cutting- edge cuisine to impress you, history to enrich you and surprises to put a smile on your face. Venture out in any direc- tion and you'll see why we're so fond of saying, "California begins here." The city's facilities, venues, hotels and restaurants, and unsurpassed con- venience all mingle side by side to deliv- er a truly unique meeting experience. Flexible, affordable meeting and event space at the 384,000-sq. ft. Sacramento Convention Center, the 350-acre indoor/outdoor facilities of Cal Expo, historic Memorial Auditorium, newly opened McClellan Conference Center, Sleep Train Arena (home of the NBA's Sacramento Kings), and many full-service hotels make Sacramento meeting planning a cinch with so many great facilities to choose from. Sacramento International Airport, located just 15 minutes from down- town, offers direct or convenient con- necting flights to more than 50 cities. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Sacramento (800) 292-2334 http//:www.visitsacramento.com Sacramento Panoramic • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Oakland Marriott City Center 481 Hilton Oakland Airport 363 Waterfront Hotel 145 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Oakland Convention Center total exhibit space 64,000 sq. ft. meeting rooms 11 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Oakland 510-839-9000 www.visitoakland.org Oakland African American Chamber (510) 268-1600 Photo Credit: Ronald Johnson