Planners can find in Coronado the best of two worlds—a small-town ambiance that's also a bridge away from the bright lights of the big city. Often referred to as an island, technically Coronado is an isthmus (nearly surrounded by San Diego Bay and the Pacific Ocean), since the slender Silver Strand—a secondary driving thoroughfare—is connected to the South Bay coastline. Coronado is visible across San Diego Bay from downtown San Diego. Iconic Coronado meeting venues include the red-domed Hotel del Coronado and the Silver Strand luxury getaway Loews Coronado Bay Resort.
Coronado is just a 10- to 15-minute cab ride from San Diego International Airport (a major hub for Southwest Airlines). There is an ample supply of taxis for the trip from the airport, and the public transportation system includes several bus lines. Coronado is not served by the red trolley fleet or the train lines, but it is close to downtown's Santa Fe Depot, a train station that serves Amtrak (it's about three hours to Los Angeles) and the Coaster, which travels up and down the San Diego County coast. Water taxis will take passengers from Coronado to downtown.
The Hotel Del (as most locals refer to the Hotel del Coronado) and the Loews get most of the group business, also shared with the Coronado Island Marriott Resort. Across the bay, the San Diego Convention Center is regularly voted among the best by national industry publications. The facility is noted for being among the greenest, and can host small meetings and large conventions.
The 120-year-old Hotel Del recently added Beach Village at the Del—sizable oceanfront cottages and villas right on the sand. The waterfront, 439-room Loews Coronado has 65,000 square feet of meeting space and is adjacent to a private 80-slip marina.
The Del and the Loews Coronado have outstanding on-property dining. In addition, Coronado's quaint Orange Avenue main drag offers several options (Coronado Brewing Company, The Brigantine, Bistro d'Asia), as does the bayfront Coronado Ferry Landing (Peohe's, Il Fornaio, Candelas on the Bay).
Groups can take bike tours of Coronado, or rent four-person jitneys at the Hotel Del. For couples looking for a romantic excursion, The Gondola Company offers one-hour cruises through the canals of the Coronado Cays.
For more of San Diego, view all event venues in San Diego and also view info on San Diego meeting planning.
