Successful Meetings - January 2010 - (Page 62)

LONG BEACH > A NEW BILLION DOLLAR LOOK A New Billion Dollar Look By Kenneth Hein NEW HOTELS, A CONVENTION CENTER FACELIFT, AND A LITTLE LED MOOD LIGHTING ARE THE CENTERPIECES OF A COMPLETED DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT V isitors to Long Beach, CA, in December might have noticed a different kind of mood lighting. Namely, 9,000 lights around the city that were turned pink in honor of the American Kennel Club’s Eukanuba National Championship which was held December 12 and 13. Dark pink is the show’s signature color. The installation of $1.5 million worth of LED lighting, attached to buildings and landmarks, was just a small part of Long Beach’s $1 billion downtown revitalization project. However, the fact that the color can be changed, to any of 16 million shades, to celebrate visiting groups is an example of the lengths Long Beach will go to in order to work with planners. Once a sleepy Navy town, Long Beach has become a thriving beach community boasting a variety of neighborhoods, cultures, and meeting venues. While Long Beach offers the same ease of arrival as Los Angeles (direct flights as well as a short ride from John Wayne/Orange County Airport or LAX) it is vastly different in that it is a walking destination. In fact, Walkscore.com named it one of the “Top 10 Most Walkable Neighborhoods in America.” “Groups get the feeling that they own this waterfront community,” says Steve Goodling, president and CEO of the Long Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau. While hoofing it, they can check out districts including Belmont Shore, which offers boutique I SM I January 2010 I SuccessfulMeetings.com Surprise attendees by having the lights of Long Beach changed to reflect the colors of your group http://www.Walkscore.com http://www.SuccessfulMeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - January 2010

Successful Meetings - January 2010
Contents
Editor's Letter
Taking the Reins
Incentive Insights
Meetings Law
Path to Success
Innovative Meetings
Convention Centers
Places and Spaces

Successful Meetings - January 2010