Monterey County Showcases Renewed Meeting Venues
June 12, 2015
Rendering of the updated Monterey Conference Center.
Multimillion-dollar renovations throughout Monterey County, California — located 120 miles south of San Francisco — will offer new possibilities for the meetings scene. Here are some highlights, from Monterey to Salinas:
The grand opening of the newly renovated Monterey Conference Center will take place in early 2017. The first floor of the rejuvenated center is planned to open by late summer 2016. This modernization will infuse up to $45 million in physical and technological improvements where you can now imagine your inspired attendees strolling by the all-glass, limestone accented exterior, into 41,000 sf of flexible meeting space. The Silver LEED-certified building will be able to host multiple meetings simultaneously, all in the heart of downtown Monterey, just steps away from Custom House Plaza and historic Fisherman’s Wharf.
This spring marked the much anticipated debut of the new Bernardus Lodge & Spa following a four-month, multimillion-dollar transformation. Set on 28 sweeping acres of lavender and vineyards, this Forbes Four Star 57-guest room property has seen a dramatic shift in architecture and design. The Meritage Ballroom, adjacent to two acres of meticulously landscaped gardens, is a 2,160-sf space that seats up to 150 people. The Harvest Room can seat up to 50 people and now includes a demonstration kitchen, ideal for culinary and viticulture education or an exhibition dinner and wine tasting. The Magnum Room is a 288-sf meeting venue with a walnut table and plush chairs, ideal for a formal meeting or dinner for up to 12 people, and the 300-sf Estate Room is located next to the lobby and affords croquet lawn views making this space an ideal retreat for high-level board meetings.
With a new name and the unveiling of an updated contemporary interior, Unscripted Monterey Bay is poised to become the most sought-after beachfront hotel on the Monterey Peninsula. Signature additions include color therapy, advanced lighting, aromatherapy, therapeutic hybrid coil and memory foam mattresses and sleep-to-wake systems that use light to simulate dawn. With more than 10,000 sf of event space, including a large ballroom for up to 450 guests, each space features spectacular bay views and adjacent outdoor spaces and terraces. The Début Hotel Group has opened the property as its first location for the new Unscripted Hotel brand. The revamped property will feature 196 new guest rooms, with uninterrupted views of the ocean, in vogue Pacific decor and signature design elements that focus on creating a better live/work environment for guests.
The historic Tarpy’s Roadhouse, just off of Highway 68 and home to Chef Todd Fisher has recently added and updated several cozy spaces for meetings and events. The upstairs Library is a great choice for sit-down parties of up to 80 people and cocktail parties or stand-up receptions for up to 120 people, and features a fireplace, stocked bookshelves, great art and a private garden patio. The Shell Room looks out on the outdoor patio and can accommodate up to 22 people in a semi-private setting. The newest addition is a private room, which seats up to 32 people and has large windows overlooking the gardens and wishing well. The Vintner’s Room includes a display of some of the area’s best wines and can be combined with an adjoining room to accommodate up to 60 people.
201 Main is the most recent addition to historic downtown Salinas, where you will also find the National Steinbeck Center and Fox Theatre. The complex offers a variety of dining options, meeting venues and nightlife and houses seven unique event spaces all under one roof, including an outdoor Tuscan Piazza with TV and projector capabilities alongside fire pits, patio heaters and lush foliage. The entire top floor is reserved for private events and has two separate curved balconies overlooking the Piazza. The old Wells Fargo Bank vault adorned with the original doors and security deposit boxes is a historic place for a memorable meeting.
Just over the hill in downtown Carmel by-the-Sea lies Seventh & Dolores, a flexible, fresh, neutral, voluminous venue with all white walls,. The space features two different venues to play host: the main space has 2,300 total sf, 190-person capacity, and 25-foot-high ceilings with a full opening for vehicles, and the secondary space features 600 sf., 40-person capacity, and 20-foot-high ceilings. Each space has access to a premier 700-sf commercial kitchen, enclosed outdoor seating area and a terraced outdoor area.
The Hart Mansion in Pacific Grove is where old-world elegance meets modern technology. Just a short walk from the beach at Lovers Point and adjoining with the equally historic Gosby House Inn, the White Hart historic residence has room for up to 40 guests where attendees can enjoy champagne, beer, a variety of Monterey County wines, and original “mocktails.”
The Monterey Beach House is a unique beachside location that offers an array of activities such as Beach Olympics, Sand Castle Building, Wacky Relays and Scavenger Hunts. These activities, can be customized for groups of 2 to 2,000 participants.
Opening in July, the all new Wine Experience is located on historic Cannery Row, just steps from the Monterey Plaza Hotel, and will feature wine tasting, a diverse collection of interactive wine classes, wine blending and even wine making where groups can create small batches (2+ cases) all the way to a full barrel (25 cases), with a custom label. The main tasting room is 514 sf and will hold 24 seated guests and up to 50 standing. The private party area, separated by a glass wall and door from the tasting room, is around 400 sf, and small plate food like cured meat, charcuterie and cheeses are available.
Expert guides lead groups through the facilities of the Monterey Bay Aquarium to explore one-of-a-kind exhibits of octopi jetting in a whoosh of water, glowing jellies, leopard sharks curling around the kelp, and sea otters performing lively acrobatics. Tours are available for groups up to 45 people as is a dinner “in” the sea — a private dining experience alongside the new Tentacles exhibit.
Monterey County is located 120 miles south of San Francisco and 345-miles/north of Los Angeles along the California corridor. The region boasts 99 miles of prime Pacific Coastline, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, three historic missions, 45,000 acres of premium vineyards, 26 golf courses and more than 250 lodging properties.