Anaheim, CA Event Planning

Key Highlights

Hotels	148
Total Sleeping Rooms	71,645
Largest Exhibit Space	815,000 Sq. Ft.
Average Hotel Room Rate	USD $125
Average Daily Meal Cost	USD $71
Average Weekly Car Rental	USD $235

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Anaheim, CA Meeting Planning Overview

Welcome to the Anaheim meeting and event planning guide – a city guide written with meeting planners in mind. This Orange County city is often styled as "The Anaheim Resort" for its family-friendly attractions. It's also home to some of the nation’s leading industrial and technology companies, which essentially makes the city a hub for business – disguised as a vacation destination. Either way, planners can take full advantage of Anaheim event venues that are purpose-built for group capacities.

Anaheim is centrally located just 30 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego. Four area airports serve the destination, the closest being the John Wayne/Orange County Airport (SNA), which is located just 20 minutes outside of Anaheim. The city is also located within an hour’s drive from LA/Ontario International Airport (ONT), Long Beach Airport (LBG) and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Once in Anaheim, visitors can choose from several public transportation options, including the Anaheim Resort Transit buses, which are available to all area visitors.

The city’s largest and most architecturally impressive venue is the Anaheim Convention Center (ACC). As the largest convention center on the West Coast, the ACC features more than 1.6 million square feet of space, including over 800,000 square feet of exhibit space, 51 meeting rooms, 38,000-square-foot main ballroom and 7,500-seat arena. The center has recently become the first convention center on the West Coast to offer free Wi-Fi throughout the entire building. In January 2013, the ACC is slated to debut the Grand Plaza, an impressive outdoor event venue featuring 100,000 square feet of open-air meeting and event space.

There are numerous hotel venues in Anaheim, ranging from world-renowned resorts to family-friendly accommodations. Among the largest properties with meeting space is the 1,572-room Hilton Anaheim, which offers a variety of meeting rooms totaling 100,000 square feet. The 1,030-room Anaheim Marriott offers 82,000 square feet of meeting space. Both the Hilton Anaheim and Anaheim Marriott are located immediately adjacent to the Anaheim Convention Center.

While Disneyland is chief among Anaheim event venues for leisure and family activities, it also provides strong team building and leadership programs at the Disney Institute. The park can also host groups in its many dining venues or organize an after-hours buyout of the original park or California Adventure Park.

Anaheim is home to many premier entertainment and sports venues: the Honda Center is home to the NHL Anaheim Ducks and a perfect venue for group events and rentals, and the Angels Stadium is home to MLB’s Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The City National Grove of Anaheim, which is a versatile, flexible space for up to 5,000 guests, hosts more than 250 concerts, shows and private events each year.

Anaheim, CA Area Destinations

Orange County, CA	Dana Point, CA	Huntington Beach, CA	Irvine, CA
Newport Beach, CA	Riverside, CA	Santa Ana, CA

About Anaheim, CA / Additional Info

After the work is done, meeting travelers can enjoy swinging away on one of Anaheim’s beautiful golf courses or allow the sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets of the Orange County coast to ease away the stress of a long day indoors.

Orange County’s inviting beaches, lively art districts, historic landmarks and ultimate family attractions all contribute to the region’s wealth of leisure options and spirit of hospitality. What’s more, the county has a sterling reputation for safety; Anaheim is the safest city of its size according U.S. Justice Department statistics and one of four U.S. cities to have a specialized Tourist Oriented Policing team.

Orange County and Anaheim’s rich culture and diverse population dates back to its first Native-American inhabitants and 1776 founding of Mission San Juan Capistrano, the area’s first permanent European settlement. After silver was discovered in the Santa Ana Mountains in 1887, scores of settlers arrived via the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads, while the 1904 completion of the Pacific electric railway, connecting Los Angeles with Santa Ana and Newport Beach, made Orange County an accessible retreat for Hollywood’s elite. The county’s population skyrocketed in the 1950s after World War II servicemen came to the area after the war, while it really made its mark on the family entertainment map in 1955 with the opening of Disneyland.

Today, Anaheim is home to a number of group and family-friendly attractions. Groups can tour Angel Stadium of Anaheim to get a glimpse at many ballpark areas normally restricted to the public, such as the press box, press conference room, clubhouse and dugout. Anaheim’s K1 Speed indoor go kart racing arena is the perfect place to enjoy tight, challenging hairpin turns and speeds of up to 40 miles per hour, as well as team-building activities and corporate events. In addition, Downtown Disney’s House of Blues hosts concerts and features a contemporary Southern menu created by celebrity chef Aaron Sanchez. At the kid-friendly Adventure City, enjoy exciting rides, including a mini roller coaster and Ferris wheel, as well as a vintage 1946 carousel.

Many of Anaheim’s fine-dining restaurants also serve as fantastic group gathering spaces. Located within walking distance of the Anaheim Convention Center, Morton’s Steakhouse specializes in USDA prime-aged steaks served in a stately, sleek atmosphere. Also near the convention center, Mr. Stox serves innovative American cuisine, while Anaheim White House is known for its Northern Italian and seafood fare, as well as its variety of banquet and private dining spaces. Nearby, THE RANCH Restaurant and saloon features true American regional cuisine, the rustic style of wine country, the freshest flavors of the farm and of course country music and dancing. Across the street from Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the City Grove of Anaheim, The Catch has served fresh hand-cut fish, chops and 28-day aged steaks for more than 30 years. Finally, Clancy’s Clubhouse is a sports-themed eatery known for its American comfort food and perfect setting for catching the big game.

Anaheim, CA Key Stats for Meeting Planners

Time Zone: Pacific Time (PT)
Convention Center(s):

Anaheim Convention Center

Hotel at Convention Center? Yes

Airport(s):

John Wayne Airport

Destination Type(s):

Golf Destination
Historic Destination

Special Event Venues
32
Population
336,265
Restaurants
30
Country Code
1
Sales Tax
7.75%
Currency
U.S. Dollar
Standard Tipping Practice
15-20%
Electricity
120V / 60Hz
Official Languages
English

Credit Cards and Travelers Cheques widely accepted? Yes

All average costs based on U.S. Government Per Diem rates as published by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Cities Near Anaheim, CA

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Santa Barbara	122 mi	2 hr 13 min	7 hr 24 min	USD $572+
Bakersfield, CA	134 mi	2 hr 27 min	4 hr 08 min	USD $503+
Santa Maria, CA	184 mi	3 hr 25 min	7 hr 17 min	USD $662+
San Luis Obispo, CA	214 mi	3 hr 52 min	3 hr 46 min	USD $371+

Anaheim, CA Climate Information

Anaheim features a wonderfully pleasant Mediterranean climate and 325 days of sunshine. Warm temperatures are felt year-round with an average annual temperature of 70 degrees. Anaheim's warmest month is August, with an average high of 86°F and average low of 63°F. Winters are mild, with January's average high of 69°F and average low of 45°F. Anaheim experiences the majority of its rainfall in January, February and March, with about 2.5 inches of rain falling each month, while the late spring and summer months typically see little or no rainfall.

Anaheim, CA Area Destinations

Orange County, CA	Dana Point, CA	Huntington Beach, CA	Irvine, CA
Newport Beach, CA	Riverside, CA	Santa Ana, CA

Meeting Planning in Anaheim, CA

Anaheim Convention Center

More than one million convention attendees walk the palm tree-lined path to enter the beautiful, glass-paneled Anaheim Convention Center each year. The Anaheim Convention Center (ACC) is the largest convention center on the West Coast, and has recently become the first convention center on the West Coast to offer free Wi-Fi throughout the entire center. The center is the cornerstone of the Anaheim Resort District, a, 1,100-acre walkable campus-like area home to a variety of hotels, attractions, restaurants – as well as the world-famous Disneyland Resort. The Anaheim Convention Center totals 1.6 million square feet, offering 813,000 square feet of exhibit space, 130,000 square feet of meeting space, 51 meeting rooms, a 38,000-square-foot main ballroom and 200,000 square feet of pre-function and lobby space. The center's modern interior is filled with light, thanks to the sweeping wave-shaped wall of glass that spans the entire length of the building; the wall also enables perfect views of the Anaheim Resort District.

The center's all-new Grand Plaza is set for a January 2013 opening and will feature 100,000 square feet of open-air meeting and event space, perfect for large outdoor gatherings and events. This $20-million landscape renovation project will result in a one-of-a-kind outdoor event venue making the Anaheim Convention Center Campus a top choice for warm weather destinations.

The ACC is within walking distance of nearly 4,000 hotel rooms. Among the largest properties with meeting space in the convention center area is the 1,572-room Hilton Anaheim, which is adjacent to the convention center and offers several meeting rooms totaling 100,000 square feet. The 1,030-room Anaheim Marriott, also adjacent to the convention center, offers 82,000 square feet of meeting space.

Amenities at the Anaheim Convention Center are plentiful, as the center offers wall-to-wall Wi-Fi capabilities, catering by ARAMARK and a full suite of sustainable and green practices, including recycling and water and energy conservation efforts. In fact, the center’s lighting is supported by solar panels on the roof. The on-site World Trade Business Center offers Internet access, copying, printing, binding, poster and sign creation, shipping and workstation rental services. Plenty of lot parking surrounds the center, as well as the Anaheim Resort District as a whole. The center’s 28,410-square-foot Arena, which seats 7,500 people, completed an extensive renovation, which included the addition of a new ceiling and roof, new outdoor space and interior updates.

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Anaheim, CA Airport Information

John Wayne Airport (SNA)

Approximate taxi fare: $45 USD

Located just 20 minutes outside of Anaheim, the John Wayne Airport serves nearly 9 million passengers per year. Known as the gateway to Orange County, the airport offers nonstop service to over 15 destinations in the United States, including Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Houston and Minneapolis.

The airport has several fast food and full-service eateries as well as a wine bar, and a number of gift shops and newsstands. Parking is available in a valet lot, terminal lot and the 2,000-space Parking Lot C, which offers shuttle service to the terminal.

Airline carriers serving John Wayne/Orange County Airport:

Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Continental Airlines
Delta

Frontier Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
United

US Airways
Westjet

Anaheim, CA Public Transportation

Metrolink

Metrolink, Southern California’s rail system, operates 11 stations throughout Orange County – including two Anaheim stations – and runs 44 round trips every weekday along three lines. The rail service even offers free transit connections to many Los Angeles destinations and tourist sites. The Orange County Line provides weekday and weekend service from Los Angeles Union Station to Oceanside, while the Inland Empire-Orange County Line provides weekday and weekend service from San Bernardino to Oceanside. Finally, the 91 Line provides weekday service from Riverside to Los Angeles Union Station via Fullerton and Buena Park.

Metrolink fares vary by distance traveled, while one-way, round-trip, 10-trip, monthly and weekend passes are available. Children ages 5 and under ride free.

Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) Bus System

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)’s countywide bus and paratransit service, named among the best public transportation systems by the American Public Transportation Association, operates daily among nearly 80 routes. OCTA offers local, express, and OC Express buses; all OC Express bus seats offer an element of personal luxury with a lap tray, power connection and reading light. OCTA provides direct access to the Anaheim Convention Center along Routes 50, 205 and 430, as well as access to the John Wayne/Orange County Airport along Routes 472 and 473.

Anaheim Resort Transit

The extremely convenient Anaheim Resort Transit serves the Anaheim Resort District, which encompasses the Disneyland parks and the Anaheim Convention Center, as well as hotels, retail, dining and entertainment venues. The bus transit system operates on 16 interchangeable routes allowing for easy access to all Anaheim Resort District destinations, with a fleet of clean fuel electric and propane buses. The Anaheim Convention Center can be accessed along Routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 12, 14 and 16.

Anaheim Amtrak Station

The Anaheim Amtrak station, located at 2150 East Katella Avenue, is open daily from 6:15 AM to 10:30 PM and operates the Pacific Sunliner route. The Pacific Sunliner travels multiple times daily between San Luis Obispo and San Diego, with stops in Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.

Anaheim Greyhound Station

The Anaheim Greyhound station is located at 100 West Winston Road and operates daily from 6:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 2:40 to 8 PM.

Rental Cars

Anaheim area airports have several on-site and off-site rental car companies. Popular on-site companies include Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

About 40 rental car companies operate out of Los Angeles International, 10 of which can pick up and drop off customers directly from the terminals using courtesy shuttles. These 10 companies include Advantage, Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and Thrifty.

At LA/Ontario International Airport, passengers can reach on-airport rental car agencies Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty by shuttle to the Consolidated Rental Car Facility. Rental counters can be found at the arrivals level between Terminals A and B at Orange County/John Wayne Airport. Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National service Long Beach Airport’s Rental Car Center, accessible by shuttle.

Local offices are also available within the city of Anaheim including Avis, Enterprise and Alamo.

Taxis

Travelers can use taxi service from each of the Orange County area airports to downtown Anaheim. Expect fares of about $40 from Orange County/John Wayne Airport, $45 from Long Beach Airport, $90 from LA/Ontario International Airport and $90 from Los Angeles International Airport to the Anaheim Resort District and convention center area. Taxi rates in Anaheim are $2.95 for the first quarter mile and $0.65 for each additional quarter mile. Taxis can be hailed on the streets or found at hotel taxi stands.

Distance To...

	Distance	Estimated Driving Time	Estimated Min. Flying Time	Estimated Flight Cost
Santa Barbara	122 mi	2 hr 13 min	7 hr 24 min	USD $572+
Bakersfield, CA	134 mi	2 hr 27 min	4 hr 08 min	USD $503+
Santa Maria, CA	184 mi	3 hr 25 min	7 hr 17 min	USD $662+
San Luis Obispo, CA	214 mi	3 hr 52 min	3 hr 46 min	USD $371+