SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
VisitLongBeach.com; @VisitLB— “Long Beach, along with San Diego and San Francisco, is one of three major cities on California’s coast, with all the amenities and attractions of a culturally diverse beach city,” says Samantha Mehlinger, vice president of communications and marketing for Visit Long Beach.
Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center features more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and event space. Its three special events venues include the 46,000-square-foot Pacific Ballroom, for up to 5,000 people; outdoor Terrace Theater Plaza, with illuminated fountains, 12 built-in trusses rigged with stage lighting, and an event capacity of 3,000 guests; and The Cove, with its striking aquatic-themed accents and “street party” vibe, for up to 2,200 guests.
“Each space is loaded with turnkey solutions,” says Mehlinger. “Decorate using the facility’s collection of furnishings and decor, and utilize built-in production lighting and sound systems, saving significantly on rental and labor costs.”
Options among the city’s 5,000-plus hotel rooms—most within walking distance of conference facilities, entertainment, and dining—include Marriott Long Beach Downtown, which completed an extensive renovation earlier this year. It offers 347 guest rooms, 24,505 square feet of event space, and 13 event rooms. The hotel’s largest meeting space, the 7,480-square-foot Bixby Ballroom, accommodates up to 800 guests.
Other recently renovated properties include Long Beach Marriott, which offers proximity to the airport, 309 guest rooms, 17,063 square feet of event space, and 15 event rooms ranging from a 323-square-foot boardroom for 10 to a 6,000-square-foot ballroom with a capacity of 600 guests for receptions or 400 for banquets.
The boutique Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach offers 138 guest rooms and 5,800 square feet of flexible event space, including the 727-square-foot Maritime Room for up to 30 guests and the 1,131-square-foot Ballast Room, which can accommodate 140 and overlooks the 1,400-square-foot open-air courtyard. The hotel’s 2,618-square-foot Topsail Rooftop Pool and Bar offers views of Long Beach Harbor and can host 70 guests.
The 216-room Courtyard Long Beach Downtown offers 8,910 square feet of newly renovated event space and a Topgolf Swing Suite. Its 2,700-square-foot Pacific Ballroom can accommodate 200 guests for receptions or banquets, while the 2,436-square-foot Atlantic Ballroom can host banquets and receptions for up to 120. Three boardrooms can accommodate up to 10 guests each. Staybridge Suites Long Beach Airport, which opened in 2021, features 125 guest rooms and a meeting room with a capacity of 300 guests.
The historic Queen Mary, which has called Long Beach home since 1967, reopened to guests in 2023. It offers 347 staterooms and 80,000 square feet of meeting and event space, including the 9,000-square-foot Grand Salon for up to 700 guests; 1,900-square-foot Verandah Grill and Deck, with a sunken dance floor, striking “Entertainment” mural, and sun deck access where guests can take in the view; 720-square-foot Boardroom for up to 70 guests; intimate 522-square-foot Regent Room for groups up to 40; and a Tea Room with a capacity of 60 guests. The Queen Mary’s popular Sunday Brunch was also relaunched in 2023.
Other popular event spaces include Long Beach Museum of Art, whose grounds include a two-story gallery and the 1911 Elizabeth Milbank Anderson House, a historic Craftsman home. Both overlook the Pacific Ocean. The museum’s outdoor patios can accommodate up to 1,500 guests standing or 300 seated. Anderson House is available for events of up to 60 guests. Museum of Latin American Art, in the East Village Arts District, hosts private events for up to 400 guests or 250 for seated events in its 5,400-square-foot Viva Event Center and 500 standing or 320 seated in its 5,700 square-foot outdoor Robert Gumbiner Sculpture Garden. Intimate weddings with up to 75 guests can also be accommodated.
Sitting on 1.3 acres on the campus of California State University Long Beach, the tranquil Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden can host seated events for up to 100 people. In Long Beach’s Alamitos Beach neighborhood, the 1924 Spanish Revival-style Ebell, once a philanthropic women’s club, features 17,200 square feet of event space for sit-down receptions of up to 180 guests and cocktail parties of up to 300. In 2023, Aquarium of the Pacific celebrated its 25th anniversary and unveiled its newly reimagined Southern California Gallery, featuring more than three dozen species, including the California spiny lobster, California two-spot octopus, and leopard sharks, and exploring the habitats of Catalina Island 22 miles away. In addition to animal encounters and boat adventures, the aquarium hosts a variety of private events, from meetings to weddings.
“Food culture is huge in Long Beach, thanks to its diverse population and locals’ appreciation of authentic dining experiences,” says Mehlinger. “Here, you can try Peruvian sushi, Thai pizza, and handmade Italian pasta. Coffee roasters and breweries are abundant, and waterfront dining, especially for brunch, is popular. In 2023, Heritage was the first Long Beach restaurant to earn a Michelin star.” Located in a Craftsman home in the Rose Park neighborhood and serving six-course tasting menus of Californian cuisine, Heritage also earned a green star for its sustainable practices.
Additional activities to add to a Long Beach itinerary might include vintage shopping on Fourth Street’s Retro Row; exploring the picturesque canals of Naples; shopping and dining on Second Street in Belmont Shore; enjoying a pint in Bixby Knowles, nicknamed “Brewery Knowles” for its local breweries; hiking the trails at El Dorado Nature Center; seeing Broadway Corridor’s iconic rainbow crosswalks; riding along the oceanfront bike path; paddleboarding Long Beach’s 11 miles of protected waterways; or taking the ferry to Catalina Island.
Annual events include Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, featuring Indy 500 racing, top sports cars, Formula Drift and SUPER trucks; Long Beach Pride in May; Long Beach Marathon in October; and Belmont Shore Christmas Parade in December.
Long Beach will play a starring role in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, as it is scheduled to host triathlon, open-water swimming, water polo, BMX racing, handball, and sailing competitions.
