LOS ANGELES — By all accounts, the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) exudes the Southern California image in both form and function. Soaring atriums allow warm California sunshine to flood into its lobbies and concourse. Majestic palm trees dot the expansive outdoor plaza. Public art celebrates LA’s rich cultural heritage. In short, the Los Angeles Convention Center is one of the finest, most efficiently designed, technologically advanced and user-friendly facilities in the nation; attracting more than three million attendees to conventions, conferences, trade shows, exhibits and events each year.
The Los Angeles Convention Center offers 1,000,000 square feet of expansive exhibit and meeting space that enables different groups to meet simultaneously, while allowing each to feel as if it owns the place. Yet, the rooms are close enough for one group as large as 65,000 delegates to occupy the entire center, and move seamlessly among the halls, which include the 346,890-square-foot South Hall; the 210,685-square-foot West Hall; and the 162,000-square-foot Kentia Hall. Kentia Hall can also be converted into additional parking to maximize the center’s 5,600 on-site parking spaces. Two special event/meeting spaces — the 21,557-square-foot Petree Hall and the 26,342-square-foot Concourse Hall — can be used for added exhibits if need be. All the convention center’s halls, except Kentia, are divisible into two or more spaces. The same is true for the convention center’s 64 flexible meeting rooms, which total 150,000 square feet of additional space. The Convention Center also has a 299-seat theater.
Meeting professionals will find the help they need at the Los Angeles Convention Center’s full-service business center, complete with shipping, photocopying, computer use and an on-site notary among the many amenities, and two Los Angeles Visitor Information Centers (staffed by LA INC. during show hours). In addition to in-house banquet catering, food service at the convention center goes far beyond snack bar fare. Cafes and concession stands serve everything from cappuccinos and fresh salads to hot and cold sandwiches and homemade desserts. Trade show exhibitors can even order in-booth service.
The Los Angeles Convention Center is also one of the greenest in the nation. Its advanced conservation programs include beverage container recycling, a material recovery facility, food waste recycling (a giant, high tech “doggie-bag” system that converts leftovers into animal feed) and a photovoltaic (solar panels) system — that makes the LA Convention Center the largest solar energy generating convention center in North America.
Conveniently located in Downtown, with DASH buses, Metro Rail trains and Metro buses stopping right outside its doors, the LA Convention Center puts attendees within easy reach of LA’s world-class attractions and Downtown hotels. Many hotels are within walking distance.
Live entertainment is just a block away at the new NOKIA Theatre, which opened Oct. 18, 2007. NOKIA Theatre is the initial development of L.A. LIVE – Los Angeles’ exciting new 24-hour entertainment/lifestyle district – which will encompass six blocks of restaurants, sidewalk cafes, shops, television studios, cinemas, two hotels: the 123-room Ritz-Carlton and the 878-room JW Marriott, and high rise residences and offices. Full completion is slated for 2010. Now, delegates can enjoy A-list concerts, award shows, short-run Broadway productions and other live entertainment while staying in Downtown.
The two new hotels will be LA’s first major hotels adjacent to the convention center, and will boost Downtown’s committable room count when they open.
