Meeting News - January 5, 2009 - (Page 28)

Destination Insider: Los Angeles continued from page 26 Beach is a safe city,” said Goodling, who added, “we recently held [governor Schwarzenegger’s] conference on women, led by [wife] Maria Shriver, with 12,000 attendees.” With some $7 million spent on renovations to the convention center, as well as new and reno- vated hotels, Goodling said Long Beach is offering even more value. For example, the Long Beach Arena lobby and concourse lighting upgrades include metallic paint on lobby pillars and a rippled lighting structure that absorbs sound and adds a contemporary color scheme. The meeting rooms now boast 4,000 cushioned chairs, and restrooms were retrofitted with granite countertops and water-saving no-flush urinals. Room rates for groups run from $140 to $220 a night.“When it comes to rates and concessions, we can be aggressive,” Goodling said. He added that Long Beach is “a waterfront city you can own—the right-size group (5,000 to 12,000 attendees) can be the only group in our city, so your delegates will constantly see acquaintances.” Although Goodling said 2009 will be a challenging year, he noted that Long Beach is now “right on target” with bookings. A recent pet food show brought 2,500 dogs (and their owners), with 6,000 expected next year. Long Beach is a city “you can own—the right-size group can be the only group in our city. —Steve Goodling, president and CEO, Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau ” At the iconic Queen Mary, meeting-space and guest-room refurbishments are under way, and state rooms recently advertised for under $100 a night. At the Aquarium of the Pacific, the new Watershed area, including the first carbon-neutral building in a U.S. aquarium, is now available for evening functions. A free Long Beach Transit shuttle connects the Queen Mary, the aquarium, downtown hotels, and other hot spots—if visitors are not traveling by bike or Segway. This summer, the Avia boutique hotel will add 138 guest rooms and suites to Long Beach’s room mix, with signature McCartan furniture and lighting designs. The Avia will also boast an elegant bistro and bar and a pair of VIP lounges. In these tough times, delegates can unwind at the new Laugh Factory, the largest comedy club in the world. The $10 million facility, featuring performers like Dane Cook, Jon Lovitz, and Paul Rodriguez, seats 505, boasts an upstairs VIP lounge, and has balcony seating for another 170 people. H —Section by Michael Goldstein 28 MeetingNews January 5, 2009 www.meetingnews.com http://www.hiltonuniversal.com http://www.hiltonuniversal.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - January 5, 2009

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