Guide to Meeting & Event Planning in

California

Why California for Your Next Meeting or Event?

The Golden State offers limitless possibilities to planners, from San Diego and Long Beach north to San Francisco, the Peninsula, and beyond. Every pocket of the state boasts appealing offerings for groups. 

Read on for updates in these cities and more.

Orange County

New & Coming Soon

Following a propertywide $55 million redesign, the Hyatt Regency Irvine has debuted upgraded rooms; an artisanal market; a Regency Club with fire pits, lounge chairs and a bar; and a reimagined pool with waterslides and fire features. The property has reduced its total room count so the 516 redesigned guest rooms offer more spacious layouts. And the hotel's 50,000 square feet of meeting space includes a handfull of thoughtfully redesigned and upgraded options, among them the 14,600-square-foot Regency Ballroom, the largest in South Orange County; the spacious, 6,000-square-foot Pavilion, which accommodates as many as 480 people; the 10,264-square-foot open-air Lawn; and the stylish Theater, which offers tiered seating for 110.

The 332-room Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach joined Marriott International’s luxury portfolio this summer. The hotel giant now manages the 504-acre resort, including the Pelican Hill Golf Course, and eventually will operate the property under the St. Regis brand. The Irvine Co. retains ownership of the resort, and no date has been provided for when the name will change.

The 159-room Balboa Bay Resort in Newport Beach renovated its 30,000 square feet of event space last year. Some of the venues offer views of the bay and Balboa Bay Club, the oldest yacht club in Newport Beach.

The former Fashion Island Hotel was renovated and rebranded as the Pendry Newport Beach last fall. The 295-room luxury property, part of the Preferred Hotels and Resorts portfolio, offers harbor and bay views from the guest rooms, along with three dining outlets, a spa, a pool with a sundeck and 14,000 square feet of event space.

The chic 400-room VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa, has 70,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, a spa, an 85-foot pool, a new indoor-outdoor evening lounge called Reveal, and memorable views of the Pacific from several on-site venues. Reveal serves up an extensive list of classic cocktails and elevated takes on bar bites, accompanied by a soundtrack of vintage ’90s and early 2000s favorites. Reveal normally is open to the public Thursday-Sunday and is available Sunday-Wednesday for private events and buyouts for up to 50 people.

In Huntington Beach, the HB Collection is a collaboration among four oceanfront resorts that work in concert with Visit Huntington Beach to offer a total of nearly 1,400 guest rooms and 185,000 square feet of meeting space for large groups. The participating resorts include the 517-room Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach; 437-room Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton hotel; 250-room Pasea; and 157-room Kimpton Shorebreak.

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: The larger group-friendly options in Newport Beach include the 444-room Renaissance, 410-room Hyatt Regency and 400-room VEA; in Huntington Beach, there are the 517-room Hyatt Regency and 437-room Waterfront Beach Resort.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Convention Center: Anaheim Convention Center; exhibit space, more than 1 million square feet; number of meeting rooms, 99

Airport Transit: John Wayne Airport, approximately 7 miles north of Newport Beach; transfer cost by taxi, about $35; Long Beach Airport, 26 miles northwest of Newport Beach; transfer cost by taxi, around $80. Los Angeles International Airport, 45 miles northwest of Newport Beach; transfer cost by taxi, runs from $180 to $220

Taxes: Newport Beach, Room tax, 10%; sales tax, 7.75%; total tax on hotel rooms, 10%. Huntington Beach adds a 6% tourism business improvement district tax; total tax on hotel rooms in Huntington Beach, 16%

Group Venues: Ocean 48, an acclaimed fine-dining steak-and-seafood establishment that opened this year, has a variety of group options, with private suites or several semi-private dining rooms available. A large glass-enclosed open kitchen lends drama to the main dining room. Business meetings and catered events are accommodated, and private dining menus are available online.

Crystal Cove State Park offers 18 miles of hiking trails through 2,400 acres of wilderness — and has flexible picnic facilities that can be dressed more formally. Eventis is one DMC that can assist with such setups.

The industrial-chic Marconi Automotive Museum, about 10 miles north of Newport Beach in Tustin, offers a $60 million collection of some 100 cars as a meetings backdrop. Corporate events or galas for as many as 350 people are hosted here, and they benefit a good cause: The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that donates a portion of net proceeds to local at-risk children’s charities. 

Contact: Visit Newport Beach; Visit Huntington Beach; Visit Anaheim; Destination Irvine

San Francisco and the Peninsula

New & Coming Soon

A $2.6 billion modernization project is underway at San Francisco International Airport. New security checkpoints and an updated check-in area are among the updates being made to the 650,000-square-foot western half of Terminal 3. The project also will add 200,000 square feet for new food and retail outlets. The expanded area is expected to open in 2027, while other sections, such as the renovated lobby, are scheduled for a 2029 completion.

The 236-room Timbri Hotel San Francisco debuted earlier this year. A rebrand of the former Line SF, the hotel marks Hilton’s first Curio Collection property in the city. The 12-story Theater District property is within walking distance of Union Square and the Moscone Center. More than 6,000 square feet of meeting space is available. The hotel also offers a rooftop bar, a lobby bar and a coffee shop. 

Levi’s Stadium, the Santa Clara home of the San Francisco 49ers, just wrapped up a $200 million renovation that included two new 4K video boards — the largest 4K display in the NFL — new LED field lights and a new game-day production room. The stadium is preparing for a historic 2026, in which Santa Clara will become the only city to host both the Super Bowl and the FIFA World Cup in the same year.

L4, a flexible event venue for as many as 250 people, has opened in the Mid-Market district. The 3,877-square-foot venue is in a six-story building on Market Street; a two-story food hall, Saluhall, is on the two floors below and will provide catering packages for the space. The new venue, adjacent to IKEA and the HejWorkshop coworking space, also has an underground parking garage on-site. It also is in easy walking distance of the Moscone Center, Union Square and dozens of nearby hotels.

Hotel Spero, a 259-room historic boutique property near Union Square, has joined IHG’s Vignette Collection. Built in 1924 and once owned by legendary San Francisco philanthropist Elizabeth Glide, the building has preserved elements of its original Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places in San Francisco. A signature restaurant/bar and 3,000 square feet of meeting space are on-site.

San Francisco’s meeting scene is coming back strong, according to the latest forecast from San Francisco Travel: The Moscone Center will host 34 events this year, producing nearly 657,000 room nights — an impressive 64 percent increase over 2024. Large-scale events are adding to the momentum, with sports and music fueling positive hotel-performance gains. Domestic visitor numbers also are rising.

The Phoenix, a 44-room San Francisco hotel with a central pool garden, is closing at the end of 2025 after decades of rock ‘n’ roll livin’.

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: Among the largest properties in the vicinity of Moscone Center are the 1,921-room Hilton Union Square, 1,500-room San Francisco Marriott Marquis and 1,195-room Westin St. Francis.

Source:Chicken Ranch

Free Range in the Foothills

The newest venue in Tuolumne County, the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort, is now readying for groups to flock to its 12,000 square feet of freshly opened meeting space. The 197-room hotel and gaming resort in the Sierra Foothills offers three meeting rooms and two ballrooms, the largest of which holds up to 1,253 peeps.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Convention/Event Centers: Moscone Center; exhibit space, 888,300 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 186
Cow Palace; exhibit space, approx. 250,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 9
San Mateo County Event Center; exhibit space, 195,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 7
South San Francisco Conference Center; exhibit space, about 20,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 13

Airport Transit: San Francisco International Airport, South San Francisco, about 15 miles from downtown San Francisco. Transfer cost by taxi, from $45 to $65

Taxes: San Francisco: room tax, 14%; Tourism Improvement District assessment,  up to 1.25%; sales tax, 8.625%;
total tax on hotel rooms, 15.25%
San Francisco Peninsula: room tax, 10%-15%; sales tax, 9.375%-9.875%; total tax on hotel rooms, 10%-15%

Group Venues: The Julia Morgan Ballroom is a Beaux Arts architectural wonder in downtown San Francisco. The entire venue offers 15,000 square feet for gatherings.

Feeling lucky? Head to the Chicken Ranch Casino Resort in the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills. The 197-room property debuted last fall with 12,000 square feet of meeting space. After a day of learning and networking, attendees can enjoy the 34,000-square-foot casino floor with more than 900 gaming machines, as well as seven dining outlets. 

For groups on the go, the South San Francisco Conference Center is a hard-to-beat option and is just a 5-minute drive from San Francisco International Airport. The venue features 20,500 square feet of event space and prioritizes sustainability throughout the facility. To sweeten the deal for planners, the conference center offers complimentary Wi-Fi and shuttle services to major transportation stations. 

One of the most iconic structures in San Francisco, the Ferry Building has a central waterfront location and a lot of historic charm. The soaring ceilings, skylights and original mosaic tile floors highlight the 6,500-square-foot Grand Hall, which accommodates up to 650 people, while the 2,000-square-foot Port Hearing Room provides floor-to-ceiling views of the Bay Bridge for up to 120 people. The venue’s front and back outdoor plazas cover 50,000 square feet of space and can be configured in a variety of ways. What’s more, the venue houses an incredibly diverse culinary marketplace on-site.

Need some comic relief after a long day of education sessions and networking? Head to Punch Line, the city’s longest-running comedy club. Stars such as Robin Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Wonda Sykes and more have performed at this iconic venue, which can host private events for groups ranging from 25 to 240.

For memorable meetings, look no further than the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Host up to 450 guests in the atrium, or the rooftop terrace has space for 200.

Conveniently located just 3.5 miles from the San Francisco International Airport, the South San Francisco Conference Center offers more than 20,000 square feet of flexible space — including the 13,500-square-foot Grand Ballroom — along with full-service on-site catering and complete in-house audiovisual services. A LEED Gold-certified facility since 2015, the center encourages the use of public transportation by providing free shuttle service from South San Francisco Bart, Ferry and CalTrain stations.

Source:Renato Films

Meet in Wine Country

Following $15 million in upgrades, the newly rebranded Vinarosa Resort & Spa in Santa Rosa can host up to 200 for events on a working vineyard.

For a wide variety of settings to choose from in one venue, consider the California Academy of Sciences, a renowned institution in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The academy, which is dedicated to the study of the natural world and to addressing the challenges of sustainability, ticks a lot of boxes: Here you’ll find an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum, a four-story rainforest habitat, and a slew of educational programs and temporary exhibits in one 40,000-square-foot building. Private-event capacity is capped at 3,000 people, with backdrop options ranging from the aquarium to garden areas to the alligator habitat.

Among the dramatic interiors and soaring ceilings of the beautifully designed Contemporary Jewish Museum are half a dozen spaces perfect for private groups of up to 350.

Contact: San Francisco Travel Association; San Francisco Peninsula

Long Beach

New & Coming Soon

The city is moving forward with plans to construct the Long Beach Bowl, a temporary amphitheater that will offer 12,000 seats along the waterfront for concerts, community gatherings and private events. The venue will feature grandstands, floor and box seats, a pit area, VIP sections, and food-and-beverage concessions. In April, the city council approved $14 million to fund the design and development of the open-air venue. A construction contract was approved in June, and the amphitheater currently is scheduled to open in 2026. Plans call for the venue to operate for five years; if it does well, the council will consider the possibility of developing it into a permanent venue.

Hard Rock Hotels is planning the first new-build, full-service property to open in Long Beach in 30 years. The 31-story, 429-room property would be adjacent to the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, offering 50,000 square feet of its own dining and meeting space. Officials claim the rooftop bar on the top floor would be the highest on the West Coast. Originally scheduled for a 2027 opening date, the property still is in the financing phase and construction has not begun yet.

In late 2024, the Fairmont Breakers Hotel reopened its doors following a multiyear, $150 million transformation. The historic property offers 185 guest rooms and 22 suites. Meeting planners have more than 10,000 square feet of gathering space at their disposal, along with six food-and-beverage outlets, and a two-story spa and fitness center.

The city of Long Beach will host a whopping 18 events for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the most of any city other than Los Angeles. The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center and Marine Stadium are among seven venues that will welcome athletes and spectators from around the world.

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: Among local hotels with meeting space are the 531-room Hyatt Regency Long Beach, 469-room Westin Long Beach, 399-room Hilton Long Beach, 376-room Marriott Long Beach Downtown, 347-room Queen Mary, 309-room Long Beach Marriott, 216-room Courtyard Long Beach Downtown, 199-room Hotel Maya and 185-room Fairmont Breakers Long Beach.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Convention Center: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center; meeting and exhibit space, 400,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 34

Airport Transit: Long Beach Airport, 3 miles northeast of downtown Long Beach and 7 miles from the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Transfer cost by taxi, approximately $25

Taxes: Room tax, 13%; sales tax, 10.5%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13%

Group Venues: 

The Queen Mary, a luxury ocean liner that made more than 1,000 crossings between New York and England in the mid 1900s, now is stationed in Long Beach Harbor and operates as an art deco hotel and event venue. Gathering spaces include the Grand Salon for 700 people and the Tea Room for more intimate gatherings of up to 100.

Locali Seasoned Food Experiences offers hands-on cooking workshops and private events tailored to your group’s interests and event theme. 

Olive & Rose, a new restaurant from the sibling duo behind the Michelin Star–winning Heritage, is a 32-seat culinary destination at the recently opened City Center hotel and is available for buyouts. For groups as large as 65 for a seated meal or 80 for a mixer, the owners also run Heritage Farm, an urban farm/event venue just a few miles away from downtown Long Beach.

A brewery, a restaurant, a café and an events venue, the Altar Society Brewing Co. opened last year in a former Masonic Temple. The 1903 building is the oldest in the area, and the second-floor event space features the original wood floors, exposed-brick walls and soaring arched ceilings. Already having hosted a number of weddings, the venue now is available for corporate and social events, as well. Altar accommodates as many as 200 people seated or 600 for a reception. 

After a long day of educational sessions, treat your group to a trip to Long Beach Beer Lab for a lesson in creative craft brews. The name was chosen by cofounder and brewmaster Dr. Levi Fried, who previously ran a medical research lab before turning to ales. On-tap brews range from barrel-aged beers to Mexican-style lagers, which can be paired with charcuterie boards, pizzas, pastries and more. The brewery opened a second location in Long Beach earlier this year. Both venues include a taproom and kitchen, as well as event space for groups of 20 to 150 people.

Contact: Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau

Monterey County

New & Coming Soon

Coming soon to town is the 101-room Kimpton Mirador Pacific Grove. The property now is accepting reservations for Feb. 4, 2026, and beyond. The newly built, Mission-style boutique hotel will offer an on-site restaurant and a 3,650-square-foot outdoor courtyard for events. Wellness perks include in-room yoga mats, a fitness center and complimentary bicycles. 

The 192-room Monterey Beach Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio property, reopened last summer after a top-to-bottom renovation. The hotel features 32,500 square feet of private beach access and is the only beachfront hotel along the Monterey Peninsula. Other offerings include 7,500 square feet of event space, three dining outlets, a heated outdoor pool, Scandinavian-style saunas and ice baths, and complimentary e-bikes.

Monterey Regional Airport has broken ground on a new $98 million terminal, which is set to open in 2027 with five new gates and boarding bridges.

The 330-room Grand Hyatt Seaside Hotel & Resort is scheduled to debut in the spring of 2027. The property, which will sit on the grounds of the Bayonet Blackhorse Golf Course, will have three restaurants and 38,000 square feet of meeting space.

The LEED-certified Portola Hotel & Spa has launched a reduced-waste conference program in partnership with Blue Strike Environmental. The property is now eliminating single-use plastics when possible, using reusable serviceware, sourcing seasonal and organic ingredients from local farms, implementing energy- and water-efficient practices, reducing paper waste, and partnering with environmentally conscious vendors and suppliers. Qualified groups of 30 or more attendees will receive a custom sustainability report following their events; the report will detail key metrics, including carbon emissions avoided, water and food saved, waste diverted from landfills, and insights on plant-based sourcing and sustainable seafood. The seafood reporting will align with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guidelines. 

See Monterey’s new AI-powered website by tourism tech firm Mindtrip can assist planners in creating itineraries, as well as offering venue recommendations, team-building ideas, personalized trip-planning suggestions and more.

The Village, a mixed-use Big Sur venue that combines event space with a restaurant, a yoga studio and a market, debuted in 2024. The 1.25-acre venue accommodates outdoor events, and the 1,800-square-foot barn with roll-up doors can host indoor and outdoor events of up to 150 guests.

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: Group-friendly properties include the 560-room Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa, 379-room Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, 341-room Monterey Marriott, 290-room Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, and 208-room InterContinental the Clement Monterey.

Photo Credit:See Monterey

Where the Wild Things Are

Monterey Bay is repeatedly named one of the best places in the United States for whale watching, with year-round sightings. Humpback whales are most likely to be seen from March to November, while gray whales can be spotted between December and May. Orcas and blue whales also frequent the area. Monterey Bay Whale Watch offers private charter trips of eight or 12 hours, led by a marine biologist.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Convention Center: Monterey Conference Center; exhibit space, 19,150 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 12.

Transportation: Monterey Regional Airport, 3 miles southeast of downtown; transfer by taxi, $17-$21

Taxes: Room tax, 12%; Convention Center Facilities District tax, 4.15% for hotels adjacent to the conference center, 1.6% for others; $5.25 fee for Monterey and California; sales tax, 9.25%; total tax on hotel rooms adjacent to the conference center, 16.15% plus $5.25

Group Venues: Sip wine by the seaside at A Taste of Monterey. This 4,000-square-foot-facility on Cannery Row operates as a wine market and bistro during the day and an events venue at night. Planners can host dinners for 150 guests or receptions of up to 200. Team-building packages also are available, ranging from taste-testing competitions to challenges that involve designing your own Bordeaux blend.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium works with seafood producers, scientists and governments to improve the sustainability of fishing. Its mission of ocean conservation is also represented in its event menus. Executive chef Matthew Beaudin creates innovative, plant-based plates and other dishes that are locally and sustainably sourced in accordance with the Seafood Watch program.

Intrepid alpinists, first-timers and everyone in between will find a  course to match their rock-climbing skills on the 23-million-year-old peaks of Pinnacles National Park. The park, 60 miles from downtown Monterey,  also has numerous hiking trails and is home to the California condor release program, which sets these endangered, captivity-bred birds free, and monitors their long-term survival.

View these delightful animals  while kayaking around Elkhorn Slough National Estuary Reserve. Monterey Bay Kayaks organizes group adventures on the water. 

One of Monterey’s outstanding features is its stunning coastline. To help keep the famed region safe and  pristine, organize a group activity with Save Our Shores, a marine-conservation nonprofit in the Monterey Bay area, which organizes educational and fun beach cleanups. Creatures on land and sea will thank you.

Contact: See Monterey

Napa Valley

New & Coming Soon

Bardessono Hotel and Spa has completed a $1.8 million upgrade of all of its guest suites, emphasizing wellness and a sense of refuge, with new furnishings, a soothing color palette and floor-to-ceiling windows. The property also recently introduced Vintages in the Villa packages, offering guests and groups in-villa, sommelier-led tastings and more.

The landmark Silverado Resort has wrapped up a $1.5 million renovation of 17,000 square feet of meeting and event space. This includes a reimagining of the 5,160-square-foot Silverado Ballroom, including new wallpaper, carpeting and lighting. Set on 1,200 acres of vineyards and rolling hills, the 345-room property includes two PGA championship golf courses, nine tennis courts as well as three pickleball courts and three swimming pools. 

Greater Ontario

New & Coming Soon

An expansion to the Ontario Convention Center will add 247,000 square feet of meeting space, more than doubling the facility’s current 222,560 square feet. The project also includes plans to improve pedestrian access around the grounds and add more parking facilities. A headquarters hotel is expected to begin welcoming groups in the summer of 2027, offering more than 600 rooms, a spa, a fitness center and three signature restaurants.

A project proposed by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority would connect the Ontario International Airport and Rancho Cucamonga Metrolink Station through a 4.2-mile-long underground tunnel. The ONT Connector would use autonomous electric vehicles to shuttle passengers on an “on demand” basis. The project received SBCTA Board of Directors approval and certification in March and completed an environmental clearance in April. Contract procurement for the venture is scheduled to wrap up by the end of this year. Per the current timeline, construction would begin in 2027 and the tunnel would begin welcoming passenger service sometime in 2031. 

The Ontario International Airport completed a $90 million runway rehabilitation project in late 2024. Approximately $67 million of the funds were provided by grants from the Federal Aviation Administration. The two-year project involved a handful of improvements, including repaving the runway, constructing a new taxiway and installing LED lighting to improve sustainability and safety.

Construction is underway on the Ontario Sports Empire, a 200-acre sports and entertainment complex. Plans call for a 6,500-capacity minor league baseball stadium with 75,000 square feet of food-and-beverage offerings and a community sports stadium with several baseball, soccer and multiuse fields. Also in the works is a stadium village, which will feature a 227-room hotel, event spaces and dining outlets. Scheduled to open in April 2026, officials say it will be the largest sports complex of its kind in Southern California. 

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: Properties with event space include the 482-room DoubleTree Hotel Ontario Airport, 309-room Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center, 299-room Ontario Gateway Hotel, 299-room Delta Hotel by Marriott Ontario Airport and 180-room Holiday Inn Ontario Airport.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Ready to Race

Ontario’s K1 Speed features two tracks where groups of 30 people can compete in classic go-karting races, pit-crew challenges and more.

Convention Center: Ontario Convention Center; 76,525 square feet of exhibit space; number of meeting rooms, 31.

Airport Transit: Ontario International Airport, 2 miles east of the convention center; transfer by taxi, $6-$15

Taxes: Room tax, 11.75%; tourism district tax, 2%; total tax on hotel rooms, 13.75%

Group Venues: For an unconventional backdrop, head to the Planes of Fame Air Museum in nearby Chino. The museum is home to more than 100 aircraft, dating from the 1920s to the Vietnam War. Many of the planes have been restored to flying condition; when the Bell YP-59A “Airacomet” is complete, it will be the only one in the world that can fly. The venue hosts up to 300 people for a seated dinner.

Topgolf Ontario offers the opportunity to mix work and sports entertainment, with five dedicated event spaces. Buy out the whole facility for groups of up to 1,000 people.

Contact: Greater Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau

Greater Palm Springs

New & Coming Soon

The 168-room Thompson Palm Springs, scheduled for a late-summer opening, will have 8,000 square feet of meeting space and two outdoor pool venues.

San Diego

New & Coming Soon

The 1,628-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, one of the largest hotels in Southern California, debuted the first phase of its propertywide renovation in the form of updated guest rooms in the Seaport Tower. The full project will finish by the end of 2026, at which point all guest rooms, the property’s 320,000 square feet of meeting space and multiple dining venues will have been updated.

The Bower Coronado, a 39-room luxury boutique hotel retreat, opened this spring. Built on the site of the former Villa Capri by the Sea hotel, the residential-style property pays homage to its predecessor by way of two preserved neon signs. The hotel is home to Dive, Coronado’s first rooftop bar and restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the bay. The hotel and rooftop bar are available for full and partial buyouts.

The Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, the brand’s first on the West Coast, opened in May. The massive 1,600-room resort has 477,000 square feet of meeting space. A dozen food-and-beverage options are on site, as is a 4.25-acre water park with multiple pools and waterslides. The property is in Chula Vista, about 10 miles south of San Diego International Airport.

Travel Essentials

Meeting Hotels: The largest meetings-friendly properties include the 1,628-room Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego, 1,360-room Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina, 1,190-room Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel, 1,053-room Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 679-room Hotel del Coronado and 671-room Town and Country Resort.

To find and compare hotels, and send RFPs, visit Northstar Meetings Group’s venue finder.

Convention Center: San Diego Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 615,701 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 72

Art Works

The stunning Orange County Museum of Art in Costa Mesa can host groups of 10 to 400 in a variety of venues, among them a rooftop terrace with panoramic views.

Airport Transit: San Diego International Airport, about 4 miles from the convention center. Transfer cost by taxi, from $17

Taxes: Room tax, 12.5%; sales tax, 7.75%; total tax on hotel rooms, 12.5%

Group Venues: The Aolani Catamaran is a luxury 58-foot vessel with full bar service made for meeting on the bay. As many as 48 passengers can come aboard, with ample space above deck for sun-soaked conversations and two tables in the cabin below with additional seating and space for serving charcuterie.

It's hard to find four words more alluring than Secret Garden Spa Party. That's one of many experiences available for groups at Carlsbad's recently reinvigorated Omni La Costa, this an after-hours meetup at the iconic spa and courtyard.  The resort has 170,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the new Costa Events Center and the spruced-up Costa La Luna.

Step back in time at Prohibition, a 1920s-inspired speakeasy serving craft cocktails and stylized live music. Cocktail-making classes are available, and planners can rent out the full venue for up to 100 guests.

The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, which first opened in the summer of 2021, is a unique, eye-catching outdoor concert venue on the water's edge between the marina and the bay. Now the summer home of the San Diego Symphony, the venue offers a covered 13,000-square-foot performance area with state-of-the-art technology and flexible seating setups for as many as 10,000 people. Private event rentals are coordinated by the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Padres Special Events team.

Contact: San Diego Tourism Authority

2025 Stella Award Winners

• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas, Gold winner
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Ontario Convention Center, Gold
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Bronze
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Meet Long Beach, Gold
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Greater Ontario California, Silver
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: (tie) South San Francisco Peninsula and Visit Greater Palm Springs, Bronze
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: Harmon Guest House, Gold
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: Bernardus Lodge & Spa, Silver
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: The Lodge at Bodega Bay, Bronze
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas, Gold
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX, Silver
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West: Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, Bronze
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West: Portola Hotel & Spa, Gold
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West: Hyatt Regency Irvine, Silver
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West: Westin Las Angeles Airport, Finalist
• Best Food and Beverage, Far West: Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas, Gold
• Best Food and Beverage, Far West: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Bronze
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West: Hotel Yountville, Gold
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West: Hyatt Regency Valencia, Bronze
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West: Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Finalist
• Best Golf Resort, Far West: Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa, Gold
• Best Golf Resort, Far West: Omni Las Costa Resort & Spa, Bronze
• Best Conference Center: Monterey Conference Center, Bronze
• Best DMC, Far West: Eventis Destination Services, Gold
• Best DMC, Far West: Access, Silver
• Best DMC, Far West: Destination Concepts Inc., a Global DMC Partner, Bronze

2024 Stella Award Winners

• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: The Ranch Malibu, Finalist
• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills, Finalist
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Gold winner
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Ontario Convention Center, Silver winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Meet Long Beach, Gold winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Visit Santa Barbara, Finalist
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: Alma San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, The Westin Los Angeles Airport, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, Finalist
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Portola Hotel & Spa, Finalist
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Hyatt Regency Westlake, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, W Los Angeles, West Beverly Hills, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Finalist
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, Alma San Diego, Silver winner
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, Town and Country Resort, Bronze winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort & Spa, Silver winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, San Diego Marriott Del Mar, Bronze Winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, Alma San Diego, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Finalist
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort & Spa, Silver winner
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Bronze winner
• Best Golf Resort, Far West, Omni La Costa Resort and Spa, Gold winner
• Best Golf Resort, Far West, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club and Spa, Silver winner

2023 Stella Award Winners

• Best Conference Center: Monterey Conference Center, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Doubletree San Diego Del Mar, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Anaheim Marriott, Finalist
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Gold winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gold winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Travel Santa Ana, Finalist
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: The Ranch Malibu, Gold winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West, Cameo Beverly Hills, Silver winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West, Kimpton Alma San Diego, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, The Clancy, Autograph Collection, Silver winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Cameo Beverly Hills, Silver winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Anaheim Marriott, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Hyatt Regency Westlake, Finalist
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, The Ranch Malibu, Silver winner
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, Cameo Beverly Hills, Bronze winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, Marriott San Diego Del Mar, Silver winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, The Ranch Malibu, Bronze Winner
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, Anaheim Marriott, Finalist
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, The Ranch Malibu, Silver winner
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, Hyatt Regency Westlake, Bronze winner
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, Hyatt Regency Valencia, Finalist
• Best Golf Resort, Far West, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, Silver winner

2022 Stella Award Winners

• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Montage Healdsburg, Silver winner
• Best Hotel/Resort, Far West: Surf & Sand Resort, Finalist
• Best Convention Center, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, Gold winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, Gold winner
• Best CVB/DMO, Far West: Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Silver winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West: The Ranch Malibu, Gold winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West, Bardessono, Silver winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West, Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Bronze winner
• Best Boutique Property, Far West, The Stanford Park Hotel, Finalist
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Portola Hotel & Spa at Monterey Bay, Gold winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Miramonte Resort & Spa, Silver winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Renovation, Far West, Viceroy Santa Monica, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, W Los Angeles - West Beverly Hills, Silver winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Bronze winner
• Best Hotel/Resort Event Space, Far West, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Finalist
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, Montage Healdsburg, Silver winner
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, Bardessono, Bronze winner
• Best Decor/Design, Far West, The Ranch Malibu, Finalist
• Best Food & Beverage, Far West, Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, Bronze winner
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, The Ranch Malibu, Silver winner
• Best On-Site Support Staff, Far West, The Stanford Park Hotel, Bronze winner
• Best Golf Resort, Far West, La Quinta Resort & Club, Silver winner
• Best Golf Resort, Far West, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Bronze winner