Prevue March/April 2016 - (Page 44)

Previous page: Courtyard at The Firehouse, Sacramento; Below: La Quinta Resort & Club, Palm Springs A Across California, the choices to wow attendees are almost limitless, whether that means an elegant event at a historic mission in San Juan Capistrano or a local menu served in the barn at Sacramento's Del Rio Botanical. This is a state that has paved the way in so many areas, so why not offer a chance to visit the San Jose observatory that has launched the biggest-ever search for signs of intelligent life, the Lick Observatory. Or a trek through the leading-edge wineries along Oakland's Urban Wine Trail. With such diverse settings, from seaside Monterey to the historic streets of Pasadena, just dream it up and California delivers. In Long Beach, groups can tour the last of the great pre-war TransAtlantic ocean liners, the Queen Mary, which is permanently docked in Long Beach's Queensway Bay. NORTHERN CALIFORNIA outdoor event space for 200 people. A variety of DMCs, such as Local Roots Food Tours, also offer foodie walking tours, or bike tours exploring some of the city's 30 breweries. The new Sacramento arena, the Golden 1 Center, will open in October with 17,500 seats and 34 suites for entertaining. The 331-room room Hilton Arden West is about to complete a major renovation of all guest rooms, meeting rooms and the lobby area. SACRAMENTO Sacramento is earning a well-deserved reputation for its farmto-fork offerings; even the Sacramento Convention Center offers this option. Several restaurants with private function space known for their locally sourced cuisine include Mulvaney's, Ella, Grange, The Firehouse and Lucca. Or better yet, take attendees to the farm for a reception. Vierra Farms, a produce farm in West Sacramento that supplies many of the farmer's markets, can accommodate up to 30 people for indoor events and up to 1,000 for outdoor events from April to Labor Day. Del Rio Botanical offers a menu of farm tours paired with food and wine tastings, and can accommodate 20 for a banquet or 100 for a reception right in its barn. Beer connoisseurs will enjoy Ruhstaller Farm & Yard, a 7-acre hop yard just a short drive from Sacramento that offers hop demonstrations and has an OAKLAND Oakland has a character all its own, as do its wineries. They're the cutting-edge urban version, many family-owned, located in renovated warehouses. An initiative created by Visit Oakland, the Oakland Urban Wine Trail includes 10 wineries located near each other in industrial buildings (6 of them within easy walking distance of each another). Groups can take tours, sip samples and learn how they make wine from grapes grown and sourced from all over California. Continued on p45 44 | prevue magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2016

Planner’s Pick: Seattle
Fresh Meets: Caribbean Cool
Bureau Buzz: Kansas City
Good Business: Raising the Green Bar
Sea Shores: Celebrity Cruises
A look at inspiring incentive experiences.
MEETING TAKEAWAYS On-site corporate gift experiences gain momentum
GAMING DESTINATIONS Gaming resort incentives are becoming as exciting as their settings
CALIFORNIA DREAMING Delivering creative group experiences
3 US CITIES REIMAGINE MEDICAL MEETINGS Immersive wellness programs make their way into the mix
On Location: SBM Monte Carlo
WELLNESS, SOUTHERN STYLE Southern backdrops rejuvenate groups
SECRETS AKUMAL [ON LOCATION] Luxury & immersive experiences make for a successful 2016 Leadership Summit
On Location: Australia
On Location: Bermuda
Checkout: Azamara Club Cruises
On Location: Puerto Rico
Club Med

Prevue March/April 2016