San Francisco area BBers, would love your advice on where to hold a seminar....

[greek salad]

If you have read some of my recent posts, you know that I am working on organizing some one-day seminars for a client, in a bunch of cities across the US. So this post deals with the San Francisco area. And, since this BB has members from all over the U.S. -- what a fantastic place to get suggestions/comments. Many thanks in advance.

Here's some background:
- it's a one-day business seminar for about 180 people that wil be held on May 17th (does that date raise any red flags, any reason to avoid?) for LOCALS. People won't be flying in to attend.
- I want to hold it at a hotel that is convenient to get to, ideally no matter what area you might be coming from..... San Francisco, Oakland etc...
- So not sure if the locals would prefer a hotel that is outside of the city of San Francisco, perhaps with good access to highways etc (and free parking), vs holding it at a hotel in say Union Square.
- I am looking at Marriott, Emb Suite type level types, don't need as swank as Four Seasons.
- Lunch is not provided so the attendees need places to grab lunch (in hotel, and it would be great if there were options within walking distance, but not sure if I would go as far as making the "walking distance option" as a requirement. Have to think about that.
- I called the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the person mentioned Emeryville. I don't know anything about that area. What do you think?

I've held only one or two events in SF, but that was for out of towners -- but I think that takes a different thought process. In that case I used the Parc 55, and the Monaco (but that was a real small meeting). I held it in the Union Sq area since I think out of towners want to take advantage of being in SF (going to restaurants, perhaps doing some touring etc).

Many thanks. You know when I go to the event, I will be tacking on some vacation time. I am already thinking of sitting in one of those great neighborhoods, grabbing some breakfast, walking around, checking out new restaurants. Oh, but that's off topic. :D

Thanks! Would love any suggestions on hotels to use and/or to avoid. Plus, areas that you would suggest to go to and/or avoid. Towns? Highway access?

[Canice]

I don't know anything about facilities for such events, but I can see why Emeryville was mentioned - loads of Embassy Suites type places all clustered together directly off the highway. No great restaurants, but there's an outdoor mall or two that have perfectly sufficient lunch choices that aren't fast food krapp. It's just east of SF, across the Bay Bridge, so it's fairly central though I myself pretty much refuse to do that drive, short though it is -- getting on the Bay Bridge at commute time is a nightmare and there's no BART service to Emeryville. But assuming most people will be in the East or South Bay that wouldn't be an issue since they wouldn't need to deal with the bridge. And for a one day event, it's certainly manageable for anyone going in from the city.
Maybe Tyra or someone who knows the East Bay better will chime in - I only know SF and North Bay.

[Clover]

If you are looking to attract people from the whole Bay Area, I think downtown SF is the most accessible location. There is no BART station in Emeryville, and for people coming from San Francisco or the Peninsula, the drive at commute time, both ways, is, as Canice says, a nightmare.

[SusanMac]

Emeryville is fine for many of your requirements, but you won't get attendees from the Peninsula (where I used to live).

With an area so large as the Bay Area, you honestly won't pull from everywhere. If you choose SF, you'll pull from the city, N peninsula & near cities in the East Bay.

Is this a training day where people *have* to attend, and you're just trying to make it convenient for them? Or is it a lead-generation event, and you'll miss out on some key prospect if it's not convenient?

[greek salad]

The event is one-day on a Saturday, from 9-5. It has a rather low registration fee. The audience will largely be small business owners, sales people and the like. Topics on how to grow your business etc. Its not a training event that you have to attend, its a training event in which we are trying to attract people to attend.

I know its impossible to find a spot (for any city for that matter) that pleases everyone, but trying to stack the deck as much as I can in my favor.

Since Emeryville doesn't have a BART station, not sure if that is a good thing. Of course no way to know how many rely on public transportation.

If I held it in the city, and for those that drove in....... would paying for parking in the hotel parking garbage be the main option. I don't know if paying for parking is a big deterrent, especially since many are paying it themselves (vs getting reimbursed from company). I am assuming it is not cheap since its SF. I only know Boston and NYC, and parking for a day is often quite high.

If I go into the city, would Union Square area be best spt? I know there's Bart, many bus lines etc; or would you suggest another area instead?

What about area around SF airport?

Thanks -- keep any ideas coming. Much appreciated.

[Canice]

No, hotel parking wouldn't be the only option, just the most expensive. No cheap parking per se, but definitely better than what the hotels would charge.

Overall, I would say Union Square or South of Market is going to be the most convenient since it's central to the Bay Bridge and the Freeway as well as BART. (I would start with South of Market since you'll probably find more the type of facility you're looking for there.) There are places in Fisherman's Wharf that would suit your needs but it's less convenient for most people.

I think SFO would be much less convenient, plus it's pretty depressing and may not be a big draw. Keep in mind that SF is on the tip of a peninsula, so drawing from the North Bay, South Bay, and East Bay makes it pretty central (not that I know anything about the concentration or distribution of your potential attendees).

[SusanMac]

That further description helps. The Sat also helps.

I agree w/Canice re: SOMA and Union Square in SF. It's really easy for anyone coming from either Peninsula or E Bay via any transit method.

People in the area are used to the parking situation, so I don't think it would be a deterrent.

The airport areas are pretty bad for stuff like this, esp if you're a local.

[tbb113]

I live in the East Bay so I have access to BART. I would normally drive into the city on a Saturday but if there is a Giants game, I would take BART. Union Square would be a good location. If you go into the financial district, the restaurants outside of the hotel may be closed. Since you are trying to attract the entire Bay Area...I think SF proper is the way to go.

[Canice]

And there is a Giants game that day!

[greek salad]

Canice,

I was checking the schudule while you were posting --- there is a home game with time TBD. It seems that some of the Sunday games are at 1:05, but not sure if that is the norm for Saturdays too.

What does that do to the mix? Are people just more likely to hop on pub transp into the city that day to avoid traffic hassles. If it's a day game, the drive home could be impacted (but I don't know where the stadium is in relation). Time for me to check out a map of the area...

I've been striking out at a few spots since they don't want to commit giving up a big chunk of meeting space since I don't need sleeping rooms too (that's the big kaching).

Thanks everyone! Any other thoughts, keep them coming!!

[Canice]

I think the biggest impact of the game is on the freeways since people will be coming from the East Bay and South Bay. I would assume people would either take public transit or just allow extra time - I can't imagine it would be a complete deterrent but I'm not really qualified to guess.
I still think South of Market is the best location, though that *will* potentially be impacted by street traffic around the stadium. If you get a short list of places you're considering I might be able to give an opinion but I think your idea of consulting a map is a good one.

[tbb113]

The Giants game would just add additional traffic/parking concerns and people may choose to use public transit to avoid it (but then again...public transit would be more crowded as well).

I think you just need to find a place that will work for you and assume that most of us are used to dealing with the traffic/parking and will show up anyways.

Have you looked at the Gift Center area? I know that it isn't public transit friendly, but I believe they will rent space without needing rooms as well.