Many destinations used the 18 month "pause" on in person events to do much needed improvements or enhancements to their venues or create new resources or attractions for events!  Read on to learn more about what exiting things are happenning around California!

Sonoma

• Who doesn't love NEW tasting rooms!  Sonoma welcomes five new tasting rooms this summer.
• How about having an event over the hairpin turn 11 at the Sonoma Raceway?  Learn more about this update and their Sonoma County Leave No Trace principals for sustainability in their July 2021 Update
• Two new properties - the Montage Healdsburg and the Madrona (being unveiled in fall 2021) are a new attraction for incentive or board meetings.

Sacramento

In addition to their biggest news about the completed expansion of the SAFE Credit Union Convention Center, Sacramento rolled out a few other exciting new updates.

• The former Community Center Theater is now the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center

• SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity (MOSAC)

• Hyatt Centric Downtown Sacramento  - opening soon!

• The Exchange Hotel - a Curio Collection hotel by Hilton is open

• Darling Aviary is an exciting new rooftop restaurant next to the arena

• Farm To Fork is Back

Rancho Cordova

• California Capital Airshow is returning to Rancho Cordova on September 25, 2021! Catch the USAF Thunderbirds and Canadian Snowbirds. Airshow insiders can get their tickets now!

• There’s a new member of the Rancho Cordova Barrel District! Shorebirds hard kombucha is coming to Rancho Cordova! 

• Event services members can now become a Community Partner with Visit Rancho Cordova. Receive leads, update your listings and get the insider scoop on Rancho Cordova.
• A new hotel - The Townplace Suites is under construction on Point East Drive, just off of Sunrise exit. Learn more through our newsletter!

Monterey

• Many recent property renovations, and GBAC certifications, provide more comfort and safety to guests in the destination. View the property updates and details in this release.
• As Monterey County is ramping up its meetings/events, the Monterey County CVB is offering a promotion for new groups that book and actualize the event by June 2022, that essentially helps offset the cost of a hybrid setup and/or offsite event.
• Some new experiences for groups to have on your radar include:
  • The reimagined short course at The Hay at Pebble Beach, designed by Tiger Woods
  • Carmel Valley Ranch’s Equine Experience for wellness
  • New golf simulation experience and bar at Links Club Golf in Carmel-by-the-Sea 
  • New vessel with Princess Monterey that offers whale watching and offers private charters
  • Recently added non-stop flights out of Seattle and Portland to Monterey Regional Airport make the destination much easier to access for those in the northwest.
  • With new flights from Burbank and Orange County via JSX, Monterey is more convenient for travelers from Southern California.

San Francisco

• San Francisco Welcome Back Meetings video
• Our Gate is Open digital brochure for self-contained meetings
• What you need to know for planning a meeting in San Francisco
• San Francisco hotels no attrition promotion

Los Angeles

Some exciting new developments can be found in this recent article, "The Future of Meetings in Los Angeles

• A people mover at LAX
• New attractions like the Academy Museum opening this September join an already full roster of one-of-a-kind event spaces throughout the city and a refreshed Brand/Logo on discoverlosangeles.com

Santa Barbara

Many hotels took advantage of the pause in business during COVID-19 to upgrade.  These properties are worth a fresh look

• Palihouse – The 24-room Spanish Garden Inn rebranded and refreshed with an eclectic design described as “a mixture of vintage preppy and American Riviera®.”
• Mar Monte Hotel, Unbound Collection by Hyatt – formerly known as Hyatt Centric, the refresh is a reincarnation of the historic 1930’s Vista Mar Monte into a style reflecting contemporary Santa Barbara.
• The Waterman – Previously the Wayfarer Hotel, has been rebranded and is now part of Marriott as a Moxy Hotel - a hip and modern boutique option in the heart of the Funk Zone.
• Southwest Airlines® – We’re thrilled to announce that travelers can now take advantage of five new daily nonstop flights from Las Vegas (3 flights daily), Oakland (1 flight daily), and Denver (1 flight daily).
• Alaska Airlines® – The long-awaited daily service to and from San Diego begins in late June 2021.
• United Airlines® – Beginning June 3, United joins the non-stop Chicago route with 7 day a week service to and from O’Hare.

San Diego

• San Diego properties invested time and money into upgrades during the last 18 months.  Learn about exciting rennovations at key properties across San Diego including the Town & Country, Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego Mission Bay Resort, Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter, Marriot Del Mar, The Bahia Resort and the Hyatt Hotel La Jolla at Aventine.
• New flights were also announced including a daily flight from Santa Barbara, New York (JFK), Cancun, and Norfolk.

Visit Concord

• The Concord Jazz Festival is Back!
• Events are back at the Concord Pavillion
• All 9 properties are Clean & Safe Certified by CA Hotel & Lodging Association

Stockton

• Hilton of Stockton: All room corridors had new vinyl installed earlier this year. Next Year the Hilton will be getting all new bathrooms throughout their property.
• University Plaza Waterfront Hotel: Has revamped their entire outdoor space with new turf grass and updated furniture 
  
  

Fresno

• Southwest Airlines came to Fresno in April 2021. Fresno now has direct flights to Las Vegas and Denver from our Fresno Yosemite International Airport. 
• The Fresno Chaffee Zoo has a new exhibit called the “Kingdoms of Asia”, which broke ground in September 2020 and phased openings will begin in 2022.