Hilton San Diego Bayfront Convention Hotel

While I heard on a recent visit that San Diego Convention faces similar dillemas to other venues that lose business because of their convention space limitations compared to larger convention halls in other cities, from what I have seen, there are some breakout options in the nearby hotels such as the Hilton Hotel on the San Diego Bay next to the convention center. I plan to return there and wander around to do a first-hand report. But here’s some useful data and three good reasons to consider a convention or business event in San Diego.

1. Hilton San Diego Bayfront features 1,190 guest rooms, allowing for booking many of your key attendees into close proximity of the venue.
2. Hilton San Diego Bayfron offers over 165,000 sq.ft. of meeting space that can be added as break-0ut to the convention center space.
3. The 30 story tower hotel is elevated to maximize the harbor views from the main lobby and meeting areas and to allow guests direct pedestrian access to the 4.3 acre exterior waterfront park and the Convention Center.
4. Everyone loves the ocean and nice weather. San Diego vacations make an appealing package for families to see attractions such as Sea World, Legoland and San Diego Zoo during conventions and event. Comparing the atmosphere to Las Vegas, for instance, the weather and wholesome family fun is ideal for the demographic of those who attend conventions, allowing them vacation time and business write-offs in many cases.

Explore the prices and options to get a feel for the hotel’s amenities, size, and brand new building!

I never realized when I dined at the superb Croce’s Bar & Jazz Club  (named after famed singer/songwriter Jim Croce) and owned by his wife who’s kept his memory alive for decades with his gold records and memorabilia tastefully decorating the restaurant,  that  such a charming place exists–and it rocks!

Located in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter just a stone’s throw from the convention center and ball park,  Croce’s and its connected hotel, The Keating, don’t rock  in the same manner as  the Hard Rock down the street. They rock with a vibe that counts time in a bottle spirited by the cozy intimate atmosphere in the restaurant, or the elegance of the connected Keating Hotel.

Surrounded by grandeur and modern allure, this chic retreat on the corner of 5th & F in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter,  offers ergonomic modern Italian Design punctuated by historical detail.

Bang & Olufsen Entertainment Systems, 37″ Beovision HD plasma televisions, Beosound CD stereo systems, and LavAzza espresso machines! Now that’s a WOW!  Rooms are appointed with Pininfarina furnishings.

500 west hotel

Not everybody needs the convention hotels on site, and this 500 West Hotel is geared for those traveling in style during conventions to San Diego. You’ll generally not find this hotel on the San Diego convention hotels list, but it should be. Only a five minute walk to the convention center makes it worth considering. But what we like best about San Diego’s coolest hybrid hotel in the heart of downtown San Diego just steps from the Gaslamp District, Horton Plaza shopping center, Seaport Village, Amtrak and trolley stations, is the affordable accommodations.

They call 500 West the hybrid because it is in the same breath like an upscale hostel and it also is affordable. In California Gold Country they call these B&Bs.

Sleek, modern furnishings include flat-screen television, custom designed writing desk and platform bed with pillow top mattresses, and semi-private bathrooms. This means you share them, but for those accustomed to B&Bs, it’s well worth checking out 500 West.

Check out hotel photos of this lovely place.

San Diego Convention Center

San Diego Convention Center is located on the waterfront of the San Diego. The uniquely formed bay includes several marinas and many hotels with water views. The San Diego Convention Center’s downtown location is next to Gaslamp Quarter, known for its hotels and nightlife,  the red trolley which makes many trips to the Mexico border at Tijuana for daytrip shopping excursions,  Seaport Village, Petco Park and a short walk to Horton Plaza outdoor shopping mall.

San Diego Convention Center hotels & map

1. San Diego Marriott Marina & Bay hotel. This hotel offers a uniquely shaped curved building, marina setting and is connected to the convention center through a walkway. If you are looking for THE Convention Center hotel, this has long been consider IT.
2. San Diego Bayfront Hilton is located on the other side of the Convention Center and for just a few steps more, you can sometimes save money and fiind more availability in hotel rooms. We like to compare this to the San Jose Convention Center set up where you have a Marriott on one end of the building and a Hilton on the other end. Bothy are great choices.
3. Hard Rock Hotel is a contemporary hotel with lots of lively nightlife across the street in the four diamond range include
4. Omni is slightly more conservative in decor than Hard Rock, though it maintains the same four diamond status for its quality furnishings, bedding and treatments, plus amenities on site.
5. Westin Gaslamp Quarter is convenient, nicely decorated, features quality bedding, decor and on-site amenities such as in-room massage by appointment. Read more

There are over 40 hotels that call themselves convention center hotels. Of course for those who walk from a hotel, there’s a core of about 10-15 hotels that are the closest, less than a block to a few blocks distance.  Scroll down to see the map of the convention center showing the hotels that surround it.

Here are some San Diego Convention Center facts and statistics:

EXHIBIT HALLS
• 525,701 gross square feet of contiguous ground-level space
• 90,000 square feet of column-free space in the Sails Pavilion
MEETING/EVENT
• 72 meeting/banquet rooms totaling 204,114 square feet
• Two ballrooms totaling 80,706 square feet
SAILS PAVILION
• 90,000-square-foot glass-enclosed, column-free, flexible space
with panoramic views of downtown San Diego and the Bay
PRE-FUNCTION & LOBBY
• 284,494 square feet of pre-function and lobby
• 166,901 square feet of outdoor terraces
• 17,613-square-foot outdoor skywalk culminating in a circular
bay view observation deck
FOOD SERVICES
• Two full-service kitchens
• Eight exhibit hall concessions stands
• Three Starbucks lobby locations, including a café
PARKING
• 1,950-space underground parking garage and adjacent
2,000-space free-standing parking structure
TRUCK ACCESS
• 50 loading docks with eight direct drive-in accesses to
exhibit halls
• 30-foot-high elephant door in Hall H
ELEVATORS/ESCALATORS
• Eight passenger elevators
• Five freight and three service elevators
• 14 escalators

San Diego Bayfront Hilton

Hilton San Diego Bayfront features one of the most luxurious pieces of property in all of San Diego. Located right next to the San Diego Convention Center, the hotel offers some city lights views, but many water and ocean views from hotel rooms and suites. Its meeting space, convention space, location next to Gaslamp Quarter and Petco Park, and walkway path to Seaport Village make this a unique, luxurious vacation. It could easily be called a resort, though it lacks an actual beach on site. What it does offer, however, is an outdoor pool with waterfront views, luxurious dining rooms, cocktail lounges and cafes, and the ability to walk to everything, The convention center is just steps away.

If you are attending a convention, this hotel would be an obvious selection. However, you can opt for other nearby hotels that are equally nice. Some prefer places such as the Hard Rock Hotel across the street, the original San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina, or approx. 40 nearby choices ranging from superb four diamond accommodations to budget hotels in the 2 diamond range.

San Dieg Bayfront Hilton offers many special deals and believe or not, when there are no conventions in town, they will often drop the price on rooms to affordable rates that you can hardly fathom. Next time you’re heading for San Diego, make a mental note to add this to your list of options.

See hotel amenties and rates.

Gaslamp Quarter Westin

The Westin Gaslamp Quarter San Diego is a hotel located in the heart of it all. Offering what feels like luxury accommodations as you exit the busy streets of this district of San Diego known for its nightlife and dining, you are glad to be wrapped in quite and comfort. Escape to your room to relax among the pleasing decor as you watch the city bustle and and and the sky turn from blue to dark as night sets in. The Westin is not the most luxurious hotel in the Gaslamp but it is very nice. It has an outdoor pool, beautiful lobby bar, great restaurant on the first floor, and features an easy walk to the San Diego Convention Center within view just a few blocks.

Along that walk you’ll find all the convenience and great amenities–Starbucks, convenience stores, shopping with Horton Plaza nearby, Amtrak station within walking distance and Seaport Village on the Waterfront just down a few blocks as well. Westin is the downtown area, in the Gaslmap, near Petco Park, near the Convention Center, and features everything you could want in entertainment, location, and hotel amenities.

One of the great features of this hotel is the In-Room Spa service offered. You can arrange a time for your private massage in the comfort of your hotel room. This is a real plus for those who have limited time, but need to knock the kinks out of their backs and necks. The Westin has partnered with a local company that have selected for its excellence in service and customer satisfaction.

When you enter the Westin, you get a feeling of rich colors and and grandiose scale. Things feel large and inviting. Hotel rooms feature city lights views overlooking other hotels, businesses, and streetlife below.  On a stay a this hotel you get the swimming pool, gym, meeting space for those who seek business amenites, a casual bar on site, restaurant on site, and a location in the heart of it all. If you’re going to one of the special events that San Diego is so famous for, this hotel is sometimes overlooked as young visitors tend to book Hard Rock nearby, but consider the Westin next time. Chances are you may save a dollar or two.