Across California, new hotels and venues are taking center stage to offer meeting planners fresh options when arranging events. In the north, the Lodge at Marconi in Marconi State Historic Park reopened in September. It’s located an hour north of San Francisco and features on-site event venues including an outdoor amphitheater, a large activity field, and four meeting rooms. Overnight lodging is available for 100 attendees alongside farm-to-table dining experiences. lodgeatmarconi.com
If you want proximity to Yosemite National Park, consider two properties opening this year: Wildhaven Yosemite and Chicken Ranch Casino Resort. Opened mid-March, Wildhaven Yosemite is a “glamping” (luxury camping) resort featuring 36 acres of land, multiple hiking trails, seasonal activities like yoga and wine tasting, and capacity for groups of up to 120. Chicken Ranch Casino Resort is located at the entrance to Yosemite and owned by the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians. It features a 9,600-square-foot event hall, a variety of table games and slots, and 190 guest rooms.
chickenranchcasino.com | wildhavenyosemite.com
South of Yosemite, AutoCamp Sequoia is slated to open this fall, and attendees will have just a short drive to both Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. It is expected to have on-site space for events and gatherings. AutoCamp also has a Yosemite National Park location. autocamp.com
Located just northeast of downtown Los Angeles in San Gabriel, The Jordan San Gabriel, Curio Collection by Hilton, is slated to open in July. Attendees will be able to enjoy the third-floor heated pool, hot tub, and fitness center. Planners can choose from the ballroom or rooftop banquet space overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains. hilton.com
Out in the desert, the Thompson Palm Springs is scheduled to open in May in the heart of Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District. Experience Middle Eastern cuisine at its on-site restaurant, relax at two outdoor pools, enjoy a selection of wines at its Hall Napa Valley Tasting Room, and gather in its 8,000 square feet of meeting and event space. hyatt.com
While not new, both the Fairmont Breakers Long Beach and the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara will be reopening this year after major renovations. The Fairmont Breakers first opened in 1916 and has undergone several iterations over the years. It is slated to reopen mid-summer and features a rooftop pool, a spa, live jazz club, and an entire floor dedicated to meeting and event space. The Four Seasons in Santa Barbara will be reopening this fall since it first closed in 2020. It features 15,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space for meetings of all kinds. fourseasons.com
