PCMA EduCon 2019 Heading to Los Angeles

Author: Jasmine Zhu       

Los Angeles

Known as the epicenter of the film industry, Los Angeles’ new and upcoming developments are making it a hotbed for the business events industry.

Los Angeles

Darren K. Green, senior vice president of sales for Los Angeles Tourism

Los Angeles will roll out the red carpet for PCMA’s Education Conference attendees when they arrive in town June 25–28. While known as the epicenter of the film industry, L.A.’s new and upcoming developments are making it a hotbed for the business events industry as well. Convene talked to Darren Green, senior vice president of sales of Los Angeles Tourism, about how the destination is reinventing itself for groups and what EduCon participants should keep an eye out for.

New Attractions

Two Bit Circus, a new micro-amusement park in The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles that includes immersive entertainment. Think multi-person VR games, robot butlers, and farm-to-table circus food. The 38,000-square-foot venue can host between 500 and 700 guests.

City Market South, a new 2.5 acre dining and entertainment destination in Downtown L.A. — on the site of L.A.’s oldest produce market — is an open-air area that includes stalls for craft cocktails by local legends Steve Livigni and Pablo Moix, cult-favorite coffee brews by Cognoscenti Coffee, and the 12,000-square-foot City Market Social House, a full-service event space catered by Wolfgang Puck.

Los Angeles

Two Bit Circus is a new micro-amusement park in The Arts District in Downtown Los Angeles.

Coming Online

The L.A. Convention Center — last expanded in 1997 — is on the verge of a remake. “We’ll continue to move ahead with the renovation and transformation of the L.A. Convention Center,” Green said. “We’re in the process of finalizing that.”

The L.A. Rams Stadium will soon open in the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District (LASED), and will become a completely wireless experience — including “cash transactions, phones, and everything else” visitors would use in the stadium, according to Green. “It’ll probably be the most advanced facility in terms of the stadium, unlike anything that’s ever been seen, in terms of the technology, elements of the roof, elements of the connection.”

Academy Museum, opening in late 2019 and built by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will include special event spaces, educational areas, and, of course, movie theaters.

Los Angeles

The Academy Museum will open in late 2019.

Flight Plan

Travelers will find their experience at LAX to be smoother than ever, thanks to a recent $516-million redesign of Terminal 1, which includes Southwest Airlines, completed this past November. It’s all part of a major, in-progress overhaul at the airport. Also underway: A reconfiguration of the airport’s rental car facilities, and installation of a people mover, both slated for 2023.

Green thinks the recent developments in L.A. will offer EduCon attendees a lot to explore. “L.A. is extremely excited to host the event,” he said. “We think we offer a great landscape, and we know that the attendees are just going to have an incredible time here in L.A.”

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