CALIFORNIA SPECIAL REPORT

California Delivers

When it comes to meetings that reflect today’s top priorities,
there’s no destination quite like the Golden State.

CALIFORNIA SPECIAL REPORT

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lanners looking for inclusivity, sustainable practices, event-friendly technology and inspiring outdoor settings forhealthful activities will find that all ofthese attributes abound in California.
While California, like everywhere else, was
not unscathed by the pandemic, its downtown
districts and resort meccas are back on track andmore welcoming than ever. Whether it’s a citywide
convention for 10,000 or a board retreat for 10,
California provides an array of options for making
any meeting shine.
“California is the perfect location for any businessevent and budget,” says Caroline Beteta, president
and CEO of Visit California, the state’s tourism
marketing arm.
Inclusive California
What makes California an inclusive destination andwhy does this matter to visitors, including meeting
attendees? Beteta emphasizes that California, which
has the most diverse population of any state in theU.S., embraces and celebrates the multi-facetedrange of its heritage and regions. The state is wellknown as a welcoming haven for people of various
faiths, ethnicities and sexual orientation.
“This blending of cultures and lifestyles cultivatesthe ‘you-do-you’ attitude that California has long

BY MARIA LENHART
been known for and unifies all Californians—andvisitors—with the message that this is a place where
you can be yourself,” Beteta says.
Beteta also maintains that California’s inclusive
nature is an important driver of meeting attendance,
one that ties in with the important “bleisure” trend of
combining business and vacation travel.
“Attendees are taking more factors into
consideration when deciding on business travel
as many look to extend their stay to enjoy thedestination,” she says. “A welcoming host city createsa sense of inclusion, driving a deeper and morepositive connection with the destination and overallexperience.”
When planners are looking for immersive
experiences that encourage attendee engagement
and make for memorable events, California’s diverse
cultural heritage and adventurous nature provides
an endless array of opportunities.
“California’s destinations are eager to showcase
their distinct identity, encouraging attendees
to understand and experience what makes
them special, and support meeting planners inincorporating these elements into their event,”
Beteta says. “A few ideas could include partneringwith local chefs and vendors to create unforgettableculinary experiences, touring historic or significant
landmarks as team-building activities or tappingCALIFORNIA SPECIAL REPORT

into the local arts and culture scene tobuild attendee excitement.”
Visit California has also taken steps
to better connect visitors with thestate’s Native heritage through a new
initiative called Visit Native California.
As home to more than 100 federally
recognized tribes, Beteta notes that
California has a myriad of ways forplanners to incorporate Native cultures
into a meetings program. These can
include everything from viewing the“Before the Other People Came” exhibit
at the Oakland Museum of California
to exploring the new Agua Caliente
Cultural Plaza in Palm Springs, which
opened The Spa at Séc-he on April 4
and has restored access to underground

When it comes tomeetings incorporating
sustainability,
planners will findthat destinations allover California havetaken a leadershiprole in developing andadopting eco-friendly
practices.

ancient healing mineral waters.
Sustainable California
When it comes to meetings
incorporating sustainability, planners
will find that destinations all over
California have taken a leadership role indeveloping and adopting eco-friendly
practices. Some 13 of the top 20 mostsustainable large cities in the U.S. arelocated in California.
“With the increasing demand forgreen meetings and attendees’ risingawareness of their environmental
impact, cities across California aresupporting the green call to action withnew standards in meetings that include
lower carbon emissions, reduction

in waste, energy conservation andutilizing locally sourced products, notto mention our many LEED-certified
convention centers,” Beteta says.
California cities are approachingsustainability in a variety of distinctiveways. Here are a few examples:• San Diego is home to the world’s first
LEED platinum-certified commercial
airport terminal and to San Diego
Zoo Global, one of the world’s largest
animal conservation organizations.
• Los Angeles not only ranks as thetop solar-powered city in the nation,but abounds with LEED-certified
venues, including the Los Angeles
Convention Center, The Broad art
museum, J. Paul Getty Museum andThe Academy Museum of Motion
Pictures, as well as many of its
leading meetings hotels.
• Greater Palm Springs is a leader
in wind power production andwastewater recycling and is home toTwo Bunch Palms, the first carbonneutral spa resort in North America.
• Irvine has over 300 miles of on-roadbike lanes, over 50 miles of off-road
trails and 16,500 acres of parks anddedicated open spaces. It’s also
among the California cities to pledgecarbon neutrality by 2035.
• Sacramento, known as “America’sFarm to Fork Capital,” offers morethan 25 farmers’ markets and serves
locally sourced meat and produce at
the SAFE Credit Union Convention
Center and local restaurants. It also
has the country’s greenest cityvehicle fleet, with more than 2,300
vehicles running on low-carbon
energy.
• San Francisco operates the largest
fleet of zero-emission electric trolleybusses of any U.S. city and is ranked
as the second-best large city in thecountry for biking. The city was also
the first in the nation to ban singleuse plastic grocery bags and has acomposting program that collects
more than 500 tons of food scraps
per day for fertilizer.
• In Monterey, the Monterey Bay
Aquarium is not only a popular venue,
but its Seafood Watch program has
been educating restaurants anddiners about sustainable seafood
choices since 1999.
Technology leader
As headquarters to the likes of Google,
Apple,Oracle,
Hewlett-Packard,
Facebook and scores of other top techcompanies, California has long been theincubator of developments that haveprofoundly changed the way we live.

CALIFORNIA SPECIAL REPORTAccording to Beteta, this translates intoa variety of enhancements for meetingsand events held in the state.
“California is a state of creativity andforward-thinking, home to the world’s
largest technology companies andbirthplace of the Internet,” she says.
“Innovation is woven into California
culture, influencing our meeting

California’s year-roundideal weather andabundance of outdoor
event venues andmeeting spaces keep
our destinations a head
above the competition.
and event industry to dream bigger.
Meeting planners have access to thenewest technology, state-of-the-artfacilities and endless educational andresearch resources.”
While Silicon Valley is the world’s
best-known tech hub, planners should
also know that destinations throughout
California offer access to top innovatorsand educational institutions that arerich sources for meetings content.
In Greater Los Angeles, for example,
there are over 7,000 tech companies,
including many specializing in green
and health technology, as well as top
research centers such as Cal Tech,
UCLA and the Los Angeles Biomedical
Research Institute. Added to that, theentertainment industry is an importantsource of state-of-the art infrastructure
for staging truly dazzling events.
Even smaller cities such as Monterey
are on the cutting edge of techinnovation. In 2021, the Monterey
Conference Center became the firstmeeting venue in the world to partnerwith Immersive Design Studios, aservice for immersive hybrid events thatcan reach many thousands of remoteparticipants.
Great outdoors
While the shift to remote and hybrid
work has brought more flexibility
to the workplace, it also means that
face-to-face meetings have become
more valuable than ever. As meeting
planners look to make the most of this
precious time for team bonding andcollaboration, outdoor events andactivities are an ideal solution, allowing
attendees both maximum connection
to each other and full immersion in thedestination.
With its varied and spectacular
landscapes, Mediterranean-like climate
and rich cultural heritage, California is
the ultimate meeting destination foroutdoor experiences that motivateand foster lasting bonds. The variety
of stunning settings for this is almost

unlimited, whether it’s a sophisticatedhotel rooftop with skyline views, sunnybeach, terraced vineyard, snow-cappedmountain or desert oasis.
“California’s
year-roundideal
weather and abundance of outdoor
event venues and meeting spaces
keep our destinations a head above
the competition,” Beteta says. “Whencoming to California, meeting
attendees expect to be outside as muchas possible, soaking in the breathtaking
views of the state’s diverse landscapesand bustling cities. And outdoor
activities—including everything frommural tours to surfing lessons or roundsof golf—add an unforgettable element
to any meeting.”
In the post-pandemic era, the ability
to meet in open-air settings and enjoyhealthy outdoor activities has become ahuge selling point, according to Beteta.
“Outdoor events showcase thebeauty of California destinations, while
giving attendees an opportunity to bein fresh air, soak up the sun or stand in
awe under the stars,” she says. “As themeeting and event industry embraces
the need for mental and physical healthand safety protocols, outdoor events
have become a norm in California.”
The trend for incorporating wellness
components into an event is fully insync with the California lifestyle and its
emphasis on health and self-care, Beteta
says, adding that planners will find no
shortage of creative ways to rejuvenate
attendees.
“From offering attendees nourishment with food and beverages fromlocal farms, rebooting attendees’
energy with outdoor yoga or 5K walks
or partnering with a local wellness
coach for breathing exercises during
meeting breaks, meeting planners findthat California’s endless offerings will
recharge and inspire their attendees,”
she says.

Learn more at visitcalifornia.com/meetings.

IN THE BIRTHPLACE OF

THE INTERNETTECH-FORWARD MEETINGS ARE A NO-BRAINER.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Meetings in California are like no others. Around here, LEED Certified hotels combine withleading-edge technology. And next-gen meetings are always next-level. So, it’s no coincidence
that California is the epicenter of groundbreaking ideas. Visit the tech capital — the land ofinnovation, free thinkers, and can-doers to discover the perfect setting for getting the most outof your next meeting or event.
Meet What’s Possible for your next meeting at VisitCalifornia.com/meetings.