Long Beach: sea the difference.

OPENING FALL, 1994

With the grand opening months away, construction crews are putting the finishing touches on an $111 million expansion project that will nearly triple the existing exhibit space at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Located on the waterfront in downtown Long Beach, the center's expansion is scheduled for completion this fall.

The two-year project, which broke ground in June, 1992, was designed to meet the needs of repeat trade shows and conventions which out grew the existing facilities and to accommodate new, larger groups. The expansion will increase the present 88,000-square-foot exhibit hall to a total of 224,000 square-feet, accommodating up to 1,136 10-by-10-foot exhibit booths or 1,360 8-by-10-foot booths. Meeting room space will increase from 21,001 to 82,383 square-feet; a 20,456-square-foot ballroom -- the largest in the city -- will be added; and a new parking structure, completed in late 1993, brings the center's total parking spaces to nearly 5,000. Total exhibit space upon completion will be 334,000 square-feet, compared to the current 198,000, that includes the sports arena, concourse and lobby area.

ALL SYSTEMS GO!

To gear up for the convention center expansion, the city, convention center management, hospitality industry and Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Council (LBACVC) have joined in positioning Long Beach in a new light. The LBACVC, for example, has adopted more strategic sales and marketing efforts creating one-on-one relationships with prospective clients and bringing the city's and hospitality industry's resources to the negotiating table. Long Beach has an extremely attractive package to offer potential clients, including the free Runabout shuttle service connecting downtown hotels with the center; convention support services, materials and equipment; and aggressive partnerships with our members.

In addition to Long Beach's already existing package, the LBACVC has other incentives in store to entice meeting planners to take a new look at Long Beach. "Operation Green Light," which debuted in January, was designed for those organizations still in a position to consider Long Beach as a meeting venue in the next two years. A cooperative effort between the City of Long Beach, Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, the local hotel community and the council, this program identifies and highlights the opportunities where maximum convention center space and hotel rooms are available between November, 1994 and December, 1996. Those planners with open dates should call LBACVC sales staff, 800/4LB-STAY, for the specifics on "Operation Green Light" and actual dates available.

FROM BUSINESS TO PLEASURE...AT THE BEACH

California's fifth largest city, Long Beach now has nearly 5,000 hotel and motel accommodations citywide and over 2,000 first-class hotel rooms within walking distance of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. Just steps from the center, smart new shops, eateries, nightclubs and a 16-screen cineplex line historic Pine Avenue, the city's main street, while handsome new high-rises, distinctive hotels, and fine restaurants -- from five-star cuisine to classic American cooking -- grace palm-lined Ocean Boulevard.

Before, after or in between meetings, there's always something exciting to explore in Long Beach -- on land, air or sea. Romantic horse-and-carriage rides along the coast, thrilling rides in an open-cockpit antique biplane, and cruises aboard Italian-style gondolas are some of the many options. Other seaside diversions include one-hour boat rides to nearby Catalina Island or cruises on a historic tall ship, as well as a host of citywide special events such as the Long Beach Jazz Festival, Blues Festival, International Sea Festival and the city's largest annual event, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 15-17. For those looking for big city cultural entertainment, Long Beach is home to over 80 visual and performing arts groups including the Long Beach Civic Light Opera, Symphony, Opera and Classical Ballet, plus contemporary museums and galleries.

Named for its 5-1/2 mile expanse of beach, Long Beach is blessed with cool ocean breezes in the summer and a naturally mild winter. With an average daytime temperature of 78 degrees and 345 days of sunshine each year, outdoor activities from windsurfing and sea kayaking to seaside cycling and sailing are year-round favorites.

THE QUEEN OF LONG BEACH

No visit to Long Beach would be complete without a stop at the majestic Queen Mary, the largest ocean liner afloat. Drawing record-breaking crowds, Queen Mary Seaport celebrated its grand opening in June, 1993, under new management, the RMS Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation headed by Joseph Prevratil. The 55-acre property features the Queen Mary attraction and behind-the-scenes tours, numerous shops and restaurants, as well as a 365-room hotel, meeting and banquet space.

GETTING AROUND IS A BREEZE

Getting to Long Beach, centrally located between L.A. and Orange Counties, is a breeze. Long Beach is accessible by three major airports: Long Beach, served by American, America West and Alaska Airlines; Los Angeles International; and John Wayne Airport, both less than 20 miles from downtown Long Beach. The city is also linked to Southern California by five major freeways. Once in Long Beach, it's easy to get around -- by foot, car, or quick and convenient free shuttles. Long Beach Transit's free Runabout shuttles accommodate up to 20 passengers and follow two routes around downtown every six minutes -- taking passengers most everywhere they need to go -- to shopping areas, restaurants, various hotels and the Greater Los Angeles World Trade Center -- between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. A newly-added third route runs between 5:30 a.m. and midnight with stops every fifteen minutes at Queen Mary Seaport, Catalina Landing and Shoreline Village.

At the Long Beach Transit Mall on First Street and the Promenade, riders can connect to 36 bus routes serving Long Beach and neighboring cities. Destinations from nearby Belmont Shore and Seal Beach to popular Southland attractions including Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm and Universal Studios Hollywood are all a bus ride away from downtown Long Beach. Steps from the Transit Mall are the Metro Blue Line's Long Beach Boulevard and First Street stations where Long Beach hotel and convention guests can get to downtown Los Angeles hassle-free, in under an hour. The 22-mile Metro Blue Line runs from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and costs $1.10 each way.

Those who need help finding their way around downtown Long Beach need only look for a uniformed Downtown Guide, part of a program introduced late 1992. Clad in easy-to-spot khaki trousers and beige fedoras, 10 guides walk a 40-square block area, answering questions and directing people to local shops and restaurants. From a wide variety of accommodations and dining experiences to its close proximity to attractions and recreation, Long Beach is a city filled with choices. Whether you're checking out the convention center expansion, hot jazz and blues clubs, the sun-drenched decks of the Queen Mary or miles of sandy beaches, find your way to Long Beach and sea the difference!

For a free copy of the Long Beach, California Facilities Guide or more information on the latest happenings in Long Beach, contact the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Council, One World Trade Center, #300, Long Beach, CA 90831-0300. 310/436-3645.

Linda Howell is president & CEO of the Long Beach Area Convention & Visitors Council.