Why here?
Along with a countywide total of 97,800 hotel rooms, this vibrant metropolis offers a distinguished array of venues -- from intimate meeting rooms to expansive event spaces, not to mention myriad "only in L.A." experiences -- all customizable to host any size gathering.
NEWS FLASH
• The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza will close this month to undergo a two-year, $2.5 billion transformation. When it reopens in early 2018 with an as-yet unannounced flag, the development will feature two new 46-story towers with 290 luxury residences. The original crescent-shaped Minoru Yamasaki-designed hotel, regarded as a city icon, will be restored with 394 guest rooms and 63 residences, as well as a 26,250-square-foot ballroom.
SPACED-OUT SPACE
The California Science Center is the new permanent home of the Space Shuttle Endeavor and its group-friendly Endeavor Pavilion, well suited for receptions of up to 800 guests.
LOS ANGELES
Local Update
• The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has redesigned its website, which offers information and tools to effectively navigate and target the city's meeting and event amenities. Accessible by mobile devices, the website presents constantly updated content such as details on new and refreshed hotels, group dining, green meetings, airport options and interactive mapping. From the site, planners can contact L.A. Tourism sales staff directly.
• The stylish and intimate Hotel Covell opened in February 2015 in Central L.A.'s hilly Los Feliz neighborhood. Located above Bar Covell, the independent "sip and stay" boutique property has five suites themed after the life of worldly sophisticate George Covell, the hotel's own fictional creation, plus a 1,500-square-foot rooftop reception venue that can host up to 75 guests.
• August will mark the debut of the 25,000-square-foot UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center on the UCLA campus. The facility will offer three main conference wings with space to accommodate 750, 750 and 600 attendees, respectively, plus an outdoor patio and 25 meeting rooms.
• The Aloft El Segundo is scheduled to open two miles south of Los Angeles International Airport with 246 rooms, a snack bar, a cocktail bar, a pool, a fitness center and approximately 1,000 square feet of indoor meeting space. The dog-friendly hotel is L.A.'s first under Starwood Hotels & Resorts' boutique lifestyle brand.
• A new 94-room Hampton Inn & Suites is set to debut on Brand Boulevard in Glendale, near the Los Angeles Zoo and Universal Studios. The five-story hotel will offer an outdoor pool and a fitness room.
BIG GUNS
The
USSIowa is now available for group gatherings of any size, including business meetings, luncheons, formal dinners and special events. The venerable vessel saw combat in World War II. (877) 446-9261.
DREAM DEBUT
A Dream Hotels lifestyle property is scheduled to open this summer along Hollywood's Cahuenga Corridor. The Dream Hollywood will have 179 guest rooms and suites; five restaurants; and an 11,000-square-foot rooftop venue with dining, dancing, cocktails and an intimate pool area.
Meeting Hotels: Among the many area properties with meeting space are the 1,358-room Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, 1,234-room Hilton Los Angeles Airport, 1,004-room Los Angeles Airport Marriott, 878-room JW Marriott Hotel Los Angeles L.A. Live, 802-room Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, 740-room Westin Los Angeles Airport, 496-room Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel, 495-room Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, 469-room L.A. Hotel Downtown and 295-room Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills.
To find and compare more area hotels, as well as send RFPs, go to mcvenues.com.
Convention Center: Los Angeles Convention Center; exhibit space, approximately 770,000 square feet; number of meeting rooms, 64. (213) 741-1151.
Airport Transit: Los Angeles International Airport, 17 miles from the downtown district. Transfer cost to downtown by taxi, about $47; by FlyAway Shuttle to Union Station and Van Nuys, $7-$8. Uber ride service from LAX to the L.A. Convention Center starts at $17.
Taxes: Sales tax, 9%; room tax, 14%; total tax on hotel rooms, 14%
Group Venues: The six-theater Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in Westlake Village doubles as an upscale venue for events and business meetings. With a 617-seat capacity, the complex's many amenities include cutting-edge sound and projection technology; oversized leather seating; a well-appointed lobby; in-theater waiter service; gourmet appetizers and entrées; and a full bar serving premium spirits, private-label wines and craft beers. Mexico-based Cinépolis is the fourth-largest chain of movie theaters in the world, with 214 locations in Mexico, seven in California and one in Florida.
Autophiles will be over the moon at an event or meeting held at the Petersen Automotive Museum, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary fresh from a $90 million makeover. Renowned for its collection of "the world's coolest cars," the four-story facility also entices planners with multiple venues that can accommodate up to 700 guests. (323) 964-6348.
Contact: Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, (888) 733-6952.