The Best of Long Beach—

LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER MAKES IT EASY

Imagine your meeting at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, a one-of-a-kind facility for your one-of-a-kind event.

Its turnkey, flexible, state-of-the-art meeting and event spaces include three adjoining exhibit halls, two theaters, an arena, four ballrooms, two VIP lounges and 34 meeting rooms, giving you the freedom to choose the ideal space and vibe for you and others to be at your best. Here’s some of what you can choose from; just remember, in Long Beach, it doesn’t come cheap, it comes free. Imagine that!

SPACE THAT WORKS FOR YOUR EVENT

The Long Beach Convention Center (300 E Ocean Blvd) offers 224,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space for conventions, trade and consumer shows, special events and more. Add 34 flexible meeting rooms, and planners can create everything from expansive show floors and large-scale gatherings to focused breakout sessions and intimate get-togethers. The result is a versatile event environment with plenty of room to bring big ideas, ambitious programs and unforgettable experiences to life.

MEET, CONNECT AND RECHARGE

The Convention Center’s 34 meeting rooms offer a variety of spaces and configurations, including 20 Promenade rooms and 14 Seaside rooms. The Promenade Lobby features the 20,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom and a glass dome that fills the space with natural light, while the Seaside rooms offer easy access to The Cove, Terrace Theater and Plaza. Following a $50 million redesign, the center also features free meeting-room Wi-Fi and pod-inspired seating designed to encourage connection and collaboration.

GO BIG … OR INTIMATE

Another unique facet to the convention center is access to the Long Beach Arena, the iconic venue that has hosted Olympic events as well as performances by Elvis and the Rolling Stones. With state-of-the-art sound design, the arena can be customized to meet your event's size and style. With its capacity of 13,500, the Pacific Ballroom changes shape, size and atmosphere on command thanks to a moveable truss system that allows you to raise or lower the space’s entire ceiling to achieve the exact specifications you desire.

GREAT OUTDOORS

Take advantage of Long Beach’s temperate climate with an outdoor event at one—or both—of the Convention Center’s open-air spaces. The Cove combines crystal chandeliers, LED lighting and marine-inspired decor for an urban-elegance-meets-seaside-fantasy vibe. Terrace Plaza offers an outdoor lounge with glowing installations, comfortable seating, fire pits and a dramatic fountain centerpiece. Both spaces feature customizable sound and lighting, plus options for dining, DJs, aerial acts and interactive games. Neon ping pong, anyone?

MEETINGS COME WITH A WATERFRONT

Why settle for a meeting room when you can add the Pacific Ocean to the experience? Long Beach offers planners a range of waterfront possibilities, from receptions and dinners overlooking the harbor to outdoor gatherings, cruises and events along the shoreline. The city’s waterfront setting can transform an ordinary networking event into something attendees remember. And with the Convention Center, hotels, attractions and waterfront venues clustered together, planners can create a distinctly coastal meeting experience without sacrificing convenience.

YOUR ATTENDEES CAN WALK TO THE GOOD STUFF

Interestingly enough, one of the convention center’s greatest strengths is what happens when attendees step outside it. The center is literally steps away from a host of restaurants, shops, nightlife and major attractions, including the Aquarium of the Pacific and Queen Mary. That means fewer shuttles, fewer logistics and more opportunities for people to explore on their own. Between sessions, they can grab lunch, take a waterfront stroll or discover something new, all without getting behind the wheel.

EASY TO GET HERE—AND EASY TO GET AROUND

Long Beach makes the journey to a convention exceptionally simple. Long Beach Airport (4100 Donald Douglas Dr) is just minutes from Downtown, while Los Angeles International Airport and other regional airports provide additional access for travelers. Once attendees arrive, the Convention District is compact and walkable, with hotels, restaurants, attractions and meeting venues close together. Public transportation provides another option for getting around. For planners, that can mean simpler transportation logistics; for attendees, it means more freedom to explore the city.

Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.