Groups keen on active outdoor pursuits, and especially ones that trade on the iconic lure of an affluent Southern California beach destination, will indulge in Newport Beach.
Located about an hour south of Los Angeles and an hour north of San Diego in coastal Orange County, Newport Beach is perhaps best known for Newport Harbor, with its tony yachts and colorful sailboats. The fact that the harbor is dedicated entirely to recreational use, and not commercial, further ingrains the visual of a laid-back life on display.
“Newport Beach really epitomizes the aspirational lifestyle of Southern California, yet it’s really authentic, friendly and easy to wrap your arms around,” says Michelle Donahue, senior vice president of sales for Visit Newport Beach. “And it’s affordable. In fact, we have really comparable and competitive rates to most, if not all, Southern California destinations.”
One extravagant option is to rent a yacht, and for smaller groups, electric Duffy Boats accommodating up to 12 passengers and can be piloted by anyone in the group.
Other lures in the Newport area include Corona del Mar, which boasts unique rock formations and tide pools; miles of beaches; and Balboa Island, offering a number of “mom-and-pop” boutique shops and encircled by a three-mile-long walking path.
Shoppers in the group will also want to visit Fashion Island, where major high-end department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom mingle with upscale eateries and more than 60 “only in Orange County” shops.
Since there is no convention center, meetings typically utilize hotels such as Balboa Bay Resort, Fairmont Newport Beach, Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, Island Hotel Newport Beach, Newport Beach Marriott Bayview, Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa (location of Meetings Focus Live! Newport Beach) and Radisson Newport Beach.
Visit Newport is also offering a Live the Dream promotion in which planners receive an entry for a “dream vacation” in Newport Beach for each RFP they send.
See it LIVE! in Newport Beach
Learn more and apply for the Meetings Focus Live! Newport Beach educational hosted-buyer event, held Sept. 7-10 at the Marriott Hotel & Spa.
