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City Snapshot

Anaheim, CA

Each month we pick one of our favorite #DynamoDestinations that should be on your map for hosting conferences, meetings & events. Plus, we’ll reveal our top venue picks in the same 5 corporate event categories for each destination so that when you’re in a pinch and need to find the very best picks right now in a given city, you’ve got the Dynamo-approved go-to’s.

Not too far away from our July #CitySpotlight (Downtown Los Angeles), Anaheim is another California-favorite of ours for many reasons! Fun fact: it’s located in Orange County, and was actually the first city the region incorporated, back in 1870.

As a meeting destination, we love Anaheim for its consistently beautiful weather, great value, convenient location, easy airport access and state of the art function spaces that we’ll dig into in just a sec.

Other than being completely practical for meetings, it’s also famous for hosting one of the most popular amusement parks in the world, Disneyland Resort. And although there are many Disney-themed parks scattered throughout the globe, this one is very special. The resort opened its doors in 1955 and is the only one designed and built by the infamous Walt Disney himself. It’s worth checking out, if you ask us.

Also found in Anaheim is the Anaheim Convention Center, one of the largest exhibit facilities on the West Coast, recognized for hosting events like VidCon and the Anime Expo. With a total space of 1,600,000 square feet, it can accommodate almost any venue!

We also can’t forget about the Angel Stadium, The Honda Center (go Ducks!), Anaheim GardenWalk (several upscale dining and retail options), Knott’s Berry Farm (California’s 1st amusement park), or the ample shopping and beaches scattered throughout the city. All of which, make Anaheim, Anaheim.

Before digging into our venue picks, we’d like to point out the city is well serviced by 4 major airports and offers the convenience of being located within the vicinity of most major points of interest in Southern California. All of the Anaheim hotels featured in this list are a short drive from three major airports: John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Long Beach Airport (LGB).

Now that we got that out of the way, let’s dig into our top 5 venue picks for 5 different corporate categories in the area!

1. User Conference

Anaheim Marriott

Chain: Marriott International Hotels
Brand: Marriott Hotels
Total meeting space: 169,662+ sq ft total event space
Guest rooms: 1030
Nearest airport: John Wayne Airport, SNA (About a 25 minute drive)

Why we love it:

Located in the heart of Southern California, the Anaheim Marriott is right beside the Anaheim Convention Center and a swift three blocks away from Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and Gardenwalk. Which means, there’s plenty of restaurants, entertainment, and shopping, all within walking distance for your guests.

When it comes to meetings, the Anaheim Marriott is perfect for User Conferences. It offers over 100,000 sq. ft. of flexible function space, including four distinct ballrooms:

Platinum Ballroom – 25,000 sq. ft.
The Platinum Ballroom foyer is set up perfectly for registration, attendee networking, and socializing in between sessions.

Marquis Ballroom – 25,000 sq. ft.
Both their Marquis Ballroom and Platinum Ballroom can fit over 3,000 attendees (theater style) and have beautiful high ceilings.

Grand Ballroom – 15,000 sq. ft.
We just love the speakeasy-esque styling found in the Grand Ballroom, with it’s rustic brick accent walls, wood tables, and leather sofa seating. It can accommodate over 2,000 guests.

Orange County Ballroom – 4,000 sq. ft.
If you have a smaller group and want a more intimate setting, the Orange County Ballroom is a perfect fit, accommodating around 400 attendees.

We think the multiple ballrooms make it easy to set up unique areas for meals, rather than re-using the General Session area – which makes things seamless.

Their meeting spaces also include 44 breakout rooms and over 30,000 sq. ft. of pre-function foyer space for exhibits and networking. We recommend their Newport Beach Boardroom because it can hold up to 133 attendees and is set up with their Lego table to inspire creativity and add a playful twist on brainstorming sessions and team building exercises.

All this to say, there’ll be plenty of space for you, your guests, the entertainment, and then some at the Anaheim Marriott.

2. Sales Kickoff

Hilton Anaheim

Chain: Hilton
Brand: Hilton Hotels
Total meeting space: 150,000+ sq ft total event space
Guest rooms: 1574
Nearest airport: John Wayne Airport, SNA (About a 20-25 minute drive)

Why we love it:

Next on our list is the Hilton Anaheim! It’s another beautiful venue located in the heart of Anaheim, right next to the Anaheim Convention Center and just walking distance from the Disneyland Resort.

With 5 on-site restaurants, a first class health club & spa, and great outdoor pool features like a huge water slide, this place is absolutely perfect for families, those attending conferences, and even those traveling on business alone

You won’t have to worry too much about size here. The Hilton Anaheim offers 100,000 sq. ft. of indoor meeting space which includes two 28,500 sq. ft. ballrooms, 51 breakout meeting rooms, and room for up to 3,000 attendees.

We recommend the Pacific or California Ballroom for your General Sessions. They’re naturally lit and have flexible breakouts all on one level, which is perfect. If you’re looking for a reception option, try either of their two large 19,000 sq. ft. outdoor function decks. They both offer an inviting atmosphere under the warm California sun – what more can you ask for!

3. Executive Summit

The Westin Anaheim Resort

Chain: Marriott International Hotels
Brand: Westin
Total meeting space: 47,542+ sq ft total event space
Guest rooms: 618
Nearest airport: ‎John Wayne Airport, SNA (About a 20-25 minute drive)

Why we love it:

Opening October 2020, the Westin Anaheim Resort is a brand-new building within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center and the Disneyland Resorts. With so many unique features, this venue is sure to win over your guests for your next Executive Summit!

For starters, if you’re looking for entertainment and fine dining, there’s a premium viewing room where guests can enjoy the stunning views of the Disneyland fireworks, without the crowds! There’s also an exclusive rooftop bar, tapas-style dining, world-trained mixologists, and a whole lot more.

When it comes to meeting spaces, the Westin Anaheim Resort hosts over 47,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor flexible space including 2 ballrooms and 23 meeting rooms.

We recommend the outdoor meeting space for smaller meetings and trying out some of their unique spaces for private meetings and events, like their RISE Rooftop Lounge, Pool Area and Cabanas, Tangerine Room Private Dining Rooms and 8th Floor Jewel Deck.

4. Road Show

JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort

Chain: Marriott International Hotels
Brand: JW Marriott
Total meeting space: 26,000+ sq ft total event space
Guest rooms: 466
Nearest airport: John Wayne Airport, SNA (About a 20-25 minute drive)

Why we love it:

Another venue in the works is the JW Marriott, Anaheim Resort! Scheduled to open this month, this resort is just steps away from Disney and offers multiple social spaces and amenities, like a peaceful garden, yoga and zen room, a signature restaurant and rooftop lounge, and terrace with spectacular views of the nightly fireworks show.

When it comes to meetings, you’ll enjoy 26,000 sq. ft. of inspiring indoor and outdoor event spaces, an expansive lobby area for working effectively and catching up with colleagues, and a stylish Garden Retreat for attendees to connect with each other and nature.

We also think the pre-function space is completely flexible and customizable for your event. We love the impressive architectural detail of the hotel for an upscale cocktail party or reception, and the sophisticated design elements and attention to detail on their 2nd floor meeting space. All-in-all, this venue is perfect for your next Roadshow in Anaheim!

5. Incentive

Disneyland's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa

Chain: Disney
Brand: Disney
Total meeting space: 20,000+ sq ft total event space
Guest rooms: 948
Nearest airport: John Wayne Airport, SNA (About a 25 minute drive)

Why we love it:

Lastly, if you’re looking for a unique incentive destination for families (rather than couples), our Anaheim recommendation fits the bill! Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is nothing short of magical. With it’s one-of-a-kind amenities, like special theme park access, themed rooms, and award-winning dining, your incentive winners are sure to have a memorable stay.

Did we mention it’s also perfect for meetings? The world-renowned Disney Institute makes event planning a breeze with access to professional development programming, agenda enhancements, keynotes and workshops. Easily enhance your event with anything from technical and production services, themed decor, transportation, and photography. The Disney team even helps with any marketing needs your event may have. Meeting planners work directly with their Disney Marketing experts to promote your conference, generate excitement, and improve communications among your attendees. Each event (no matter the size) can be uniquely designed and tailored to your group. Talk about magic.


Which city would you like us to cover next? Send us a message to let us know!

 

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