Anaheim Shows Off New Grand Plaza, Upgraded Hotels, Amusement Offerings
February 1, 2013
It’s hard to keep from taking photos of ripe oranges in the middle of the winter along Anaheim’s newest gem – the Grand Plaza that opened in January in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. This is, after all, Orange County.
With fountains and palm trees, the 100,000-square-foot pedestrian esplanade is the place to dig into a gourmet burger from a food truck, soak in the Cali sun between sessions and dance the night away at an outdoor concert.
Soon the Anaheim Convention Center campus also will welcome a $160 million expansion that will feature 250,000 sq. ft. of additional flexible meeting space. In the RFQ process at the moment, it is tentatively scheduled to open in 2015.
“Association and medical meetings need more classroom space,” said David Meek, Anaheim Convention Center manager. “The new addition will bring us at over 1 million square feet of exhibit space or over 400,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. It will enable us to better serve growing shows and attract large medical meetings, as well as allow us to run two mid-size shows at the same time.”
Meek noted that the market is improving, and hotel occupancy rates were up 16 percent last year. This gives hope for the development of two boutique hotels with a total of 900 rooms along the Garden Walk, an entertainment and dining area within walking distance of the convention center.
In the meantime, the flagship hotels by the Grand Plaza have undergone serious renovations. Hilton Anaheim welcomes guests with a classy luxury vibe and offers 1, 572 rooms with triple-sheeted bedding and flat-panel TVs.
Meeting planners can count on 140,000 sq. ft. of meeting space with two 28,500 square-foot ballrooms and two outdoor sundecks. During the recent NAMM Show, music pros held concurrent jam sessions and product demos here with zero noise interference. Across the Plaza, Anaheim Marriott has 997 rooms and 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, with the largest ballroom at 25,620 square feet.
Less than a mile away at Disney California Adventure Park, kids and adult alike can scream their hearts out on the Radiator Springs Racers ride based on the Disney-Pixar film “Cars.”
The new 12-acre Cars Land is full of landmarks from the movie and also features the 1960’s- style Luigi’s Flying Tires, perfect for competitive spirits.
Vintage theme spills over to the Carthay Circle Restaurant modeled after the theater where Walk Disney premiered Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The magic of Disney lights up the night at the new World of Color where familiar characters come to life at a water, music and light extravaganza.
Sports fans will appreciate the upgrades at the Honda Center, home of Anaheim Ducks hockey team. In May 2013, the venue is getting ready to open the Grand Terrace, 12,000 sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor entertainment space, as well as a new full service restaurant that seats 250.
For a historic California vibe, the Packing District makes it easy to entertain in style. The Anaheim Brewery is decked out with vintage license plates and brews a Chocolate Porter, along with other flavors, on site.
The nearby Packing house, a restored citrus warehouse, and will soon offer communal space with organic food vendors, a stage and private event space. The orange scent still is in the air.
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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