SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
SanDiego.org; @VisitSanDiego—“San Diego’s landscape is among the most beautiful in the world and is filled with happy surprises,” says Kavin Schieferdecker, chief sales officer for San Diego Tourism Authority. “Urban and trendy neighborhoods, posh villages, classic beach towns, and rural enclaves all hold opportunities for unique, enjoyable meetings and events.”
San Diego Convention Center, with its distinctive glass-enclosed Sails Pavilion, offers 525,701 square feet of contiguous exhibit space on the ground floor, divisible into seven halls; 72 meeting/multipurpose rooms totaling 204,114 square feet; two column-free, 40,000 square-foot ballrooms; and seven outdoor terraces totaling 184,514 square feet and offering bay views.
Known as “America’s Finest City,” San Diego offers 562 accommodations with more than 64,000 rooms and hosts approximately 28.8 million visitors per year.
AC Hotel San Diego Downtown Gaslamp Quarter opened in February 2023 and features 147 guest rooms, one 197-square-foot event room for eight people, and a rooftop pool and lounge. Also opened in 2023, Margaritaville Hotel San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, formerly Hotel Salomar, offers 235 guest rooms and eight meeting rooms with multiple layout options. Its Compass Rose Ballroom can accommodate 350 guests for receptions or 220 for banquets, while the rooftop 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar can accommodate 150 for seated events or 300 for receptions.
Located directly across from the convention center, Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter recently completed a $22.5 million renovation. It offers 286 guest rooms, eight meeting rooms, and 8,978 square feet of event space, including its 3,500-square-foot Gaslamp Room, which can accommodate 290 guests banquet style or 350 for receptions. Kimpton Alma San Diego, formerly Kimpton Hotel Palomar, offers 211 guest rooms, 20,000 square feet of meeting and event space, 14 meeting and event rooms, and a pool deck and lounge. The bayfront Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina features 1,366 guest rooms, 270,836 square feet of event space, 46 breakout rooms, and three Topgolf Swing Suites overlooking San Diego Bay. Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego offers 1,628 guest rooms, 320,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting space, and 140,000 square feet of dedicated meeting space.
The Top of the Hyatt offers food, drink, and spectacular city and ocean views from its floor-to-ceiling windows on the 40th floor. The LaFayette Hotel and Club, in the vibrant North Park neighborhood, reopened in 2023 following a maximalist makeover. Private events for 20 or more guests can be accommodated. Inside is a grand lobby bar, a 24-hour diner, an Oaxacan-style restaurant and mezcalaría, a two-lane bowling alley, and a central pool. Lou Lou’s Jungle Room—a supper club-style space where live musicians play on a clamshell stage—opened earlier this year. The Hotel Del Coronado recently opened its new Southpointe Event Center, offering 29,000 square feet of event space and a 14,040-square-foot lawn. Its 15,130-square-foot clear-span ballroom can accommodate up to 1,620 guests and offers 10,000 square feet of pre-function and breakout meeting space. Although the iconic original Victorian hotel is closed for renovations through spring 2025, accommodations in the property’s four other “neighborhoods” remain open.
The Town and Country Hotel & Convention Center Mission Valley underwent a complete renovation in 2021 and now sports a mid-century modern vibe in addition to 671 guest rooms and 295,050 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Its 40,027-square-foot Golden State Ballroom is the largest ballroom in the city outside of the convention center and can accommodate receptions for up to 5,814 guests and banquets for 3,140. Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina on Shelter Island offers 1,053 guest rooms and features 132,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space and 53 meeting rooms. Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa, sitting on 10 acres across from the University of California San Diego campus, features 210 guest rooms and 47,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, including the 6,864-square-foot La Jolla and 3,920 Pacifica ballrooms. The 3,136 square-foot Garden Courtyard is the hotel’s largest of four outdoor event spaces and can accommodate 250 guests for receptions or 140 for banquets. The AAA Five Diamond Lodge at Torrey Pines, a Craftsman-style stunner in La Jolla, features 170 guest rooms, 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, a spa and the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course. The Fairmont Grand Del Mar, a 249-room Mediterranean-style property on 400 acres, offers 20,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space, as well as an 18-hole golf course.
Other popular event venues include San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park, celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Its El Mirador Rooftop Terrace offers grand views of the park and can host 150 guests for receptions or 100 for seated events. There are a variety of other options for groups of all sizes, including a total museum takeover for receptions for up to 1,800 guests or a seated event for up to 300 guests in the Charmaine and Maurice Kaplan Theater.
In 2022, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (MCASD) reopened its La Jolla location following a four-year, $105 million renovation doubling its square footage. A variety of rental options are available, most offering stunning coastal views. Davis Family Oceanview Terrace can accommodate 152 guests for seated dinners or 251 for receptions while offering what MCASD calls one of the best views in La Jolla. The museum’s largest event space is Axline Court. The gallery has Robert Venturi’s neon works as its backdrop and can host 258 guests for seated dinners or 430 for receptions.
Snapdragon Stadium opened in 2022 on the grounds of San Diego State University (SDSU) Mission Valley; the 35,000-seat venue is home to SDSU Aztec Football, San Diego Wave FC (of the National Women’s Soccer League), and San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby.
Breeze Airways now offers nonstop flights between San Diego International Airport (SAN) and Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG); Jacksonville (Fla.) International Airport (JAX); Norfolk (Va.) International Airport (ORF); Raleigh-Durham (N.C.) International Airport (RDU); and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).
In November 2022, San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) debuted its UC San Diego Blue Trolley Line Extension, allowing riders to travel from San Ysidro at the US/Mexico border to the college campus and all points in between.
San Diego has long been known for its craft beer scene—more than 150 breweries call it come—but it has plenty to offer foodies, too. At Addison, the city’s first and only Michelin 3-star restaurant, Chef William Bradley serves a 10-course tasting menu at the Fairmont Grand Del Mar. At Sushi Tadokoro in Old Town, chef/owner Takeaki Tadokoro earned a Michelin 1-star award in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
Comic-Con, San Diego’s biggest event, takes place each July at San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park is a worthwhile excursion while in town. Other notable annual events include PGA Farmers Insurance Open in January; San Diego Museum Month in February; San Diego County Fair in June and July; 4th of July’s Big Bay Boom; Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing mid-July through early September; Miramar Air Show in September; and the free December Nights holiday celebration in Balboa Park to round out the year.
“San Diego has so many family-friendly activities, from theme parks and attractions to cultural offerings to outdoor activities,” says Schieferdecker. “We are home to the San Diego Zoo, SeaWorld San Diego, LEGOLAND, Sesame Place San Diego, and Belmont Park. Petco Park, where the San Diego Padres play, is consistently rated the best MLB stadium in the nation. Balboa Park is home to museums, playgrounds, and gardens. And, of course, we have miles of coastline, perfect for a family day at the beach.”
Schieferdecker adds, “Barrio Logan is home to Chicano Park, the world’s largest collection of Chicano murals. Kearny Mesa’s Convoy District is among the largest Pan-Asian business districts in the country.”
