Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and Convention Center Named “Best in the West” in the Meetings Industry
(LONG BEACH, CA – November 3, 2022) The Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (LBCVB) and Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center were once again awarded the gold for “Best in the West” by the prestigious Stella Awards, held annually by Northstar Meetings Group to recognize excellence in the meetings and events industry. The 6th and 5th straight wins for the respective organizations are unmatched – no other CVB or convention center has had so many consecutive wins.
In announcing the honor today, Northstar, the meeting industry’s leading publisher, lauded the Long Beach entities for their focus on client services while providing concierge-style attention to detail. The organizations were also praised for working closely with hotels, venues as well as city staff to create a positive, seamless client experience. The convention center was also recognized for its innovative turnkey special events spaces complete with theatrical lighting, boutique lounge areas, and a full suite of in-house decor and furnishings available to clients.
“The significance of this is that the award is voted on by thousands of meetings and events planners all over the United States,” said David Blansfield, Executive Vice President/Group Publisher, Meetings Group for Northstar. “The votes are evaluated and judged by top officials – and no other city has received the award for six consecutive years like Long Beach has. Congratulations to the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau and convention center for providing excellence to the industry we serve.”
“Our team – the convention center team, the city, the CVB, our hotel partners – we all work together to win business and create the best experience possible for our clients,” said Steve Goodling, President & CEO of the LBCVB. “The Stella Award confirms that we’re doing it the right way – that what we do works for the City of Long Beach.”
Pre-pandemic, the hospitality and tourism industry generated $1.8 billion in economic impact for the City of Long Beach on an annual basis, per a 2018 report by Beacon Economics. The repositioning of the 400,000 square foot Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center – spearheaded by the management team at ASM Global, the LBCVB, and the City of Long Beach – into a boutique conference facility with the addition of turnkey spaces such as the Pacific Ballroom, Pacific Gallery, The Cove and Terrace Theater Lobby & Plaza, are key in driving that economic activity for the city.
####
About the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau:
Established in 1982, the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private non-profit organization funded by city hotel bed tax and membership contributions from over 400 area businesses and community organizations. The mission of the Bureau is to contribute to the economic development of the city of Long Beach by selling, marketing and promoting Long Beach as a destination for conventions, meetings, tradeshows and tourism.
About the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center: The Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center is a modern and stylish facility located in the heart of Long Beach’s downtown waterfront. The center features more than 400,000 square feet of flexible exhibit and meeting space, two theaters, four ballrooms, an arena and 34 multi-purpose meeting rooms. The glass-domed Promenade Atrium, with sweeping views of the scenic waterfront and downtown skyline is available for pre-functions, receptions and special events. Other pre-function and special event areas include the outdoor Promenade Plaza, Terrace Lobby & Plaza, Pacific Gallery & Patio, Pacific Room and the Top of the Lot. The center’s versatile and adaptable meeting spaces can be quickly and easily transformed into the perfect venue for any event, with built in décor, theatrical lighting and rigging to save clients hundreds of thousands of dollars.
