MEETING FACILITIES.

In L.A. County, ranked by square footage

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

THE Top 25 facilities on this year's list offer 635 rooms for meetings, conventions and social gatherings -- a combined total of 2.7 million square feet.

Amenities and services offered range from performing arts theaters to heliports, the ultimate convenience for conventioneers and out-of-town visitors.

The list contains facilities from downtown Los Angeles to Long Beach and out to the City of Industry, Pomona and Pasadena to the east, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills to the west, and Universal City and Northridge to the north.

L.A. hosted two premier events in 2000, a world education conference that took place in July at the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the Democratic National Convention, held at the Staples Center in August.

According to George Raids, general manager of the L.A. Convention Center, that venue is pursuing more events that would simultaneously utilize both the Convention Center and Staples Center.

One event already scheduled for the 2002 calendar is the National Hockey League All Star game.

THE PACESETTER

LOS ANGELES CONVENTION CENTER

THE soaring glass and white steel towers of the 29-year-old Los Angeles Convention Center sit on 54 acres, close to the downtown hotel community and the Central Business District.

Its strategic location at a hub of the freeway system is one reason why the center welcomed more than 2.3 million visitors last year. That represents a 10.3 percent increase over the previous year and is an attendance record. Exhibit hall occupancy catapulted to 79.5 percent, toppling last year's record of 71.5 percent. Gross revenues also increased 18 percent over the 1997-98 fiscal year, reaching $32.8 million.

While the center currently has 200 events booked for 2001, and another 42 about to sign on the dotted line, that would represent an 11.4 percent decrease from this year's 273 events, if no more bookings are inked.

However unlikely that might be, even if no more 2001 events are booked, next year's revenues will likely top this year's gross because the 2001 events are expected to be much larger and are electronically more sophisticated.

At least six of next year's events will utilize the entire facility: the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show, WesTec 2000, NATSO (National Association of Truck Stop Operators), California Gift Show, Spring Internet World, and the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May.

"We need more space," said George Raids, center general manager, "and plans released in April are in the works to add an additional 300,000 square feet of exhibit space."

That addition would represent a 41.6 percent increase over the current 720,000 square feet.

The ultimate goal is to have 1 million square feet of exhibit space, he said.