The meeting landscape has changed for the foreseeable future—that much is undeniable. But, along with coping with trials and tribulations, regions and communities serving as destinations have also demonstrated great ingenuity and adaptability this past year. From Oakland eateries bookable as meeting spaces to unique activities that can only be found in Oakland, "The Town," as Oakland is fondly known as, is preparing to receive meetings in the near future.
In November 2020, Oakland's Convention Center received its GBAC certification, an accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council that verifies a business' best practices, protocols, and procedures to control risk factors associated with infectious disease. Oakland is one of the 13 largest convention centers in California to earn this certification.
From contactless check-in to the highest standards of cleanliness and safety, Oakland hotels have also been preparing for guests to visit in the age of COVID-19.
Oakland's Estuary has four waterfront properties. Aptly named, the Waterfront Hotel has 145 rooms with 13 event and meeting spaces, many of which offer waterfront views. The hotel functions in accordance with Hyatt's Global Care and Cleanliness Commitment that enforces rigorous safety and cleanliness protocols.
Just a little farther down the street, The Executive Inn & Suites and Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel both have meetings rooms with doors and windows that open up to the water's edge.
The Claremont Hotel Club & Spa sits on the border of Oakland and neighboring city, Berkeley. The historic 276-room property—which received Accor's ALLSAFE designation—recently underwent a four-year, $80 million renovation. With more than 20,000 square feet of event space, the resort can cater to groups of all sizes. What makes the property truly one of a kind for events is that it is nestled in the Oakland hills and offers expansive Bay views.
Oakland's multicultural food scene has been thriving for decades. Eater made that clear when it set the record straight that the Bay Area's "most dynamic dining scene" isn't San Francisco—it's Oakland. The cuisine is diverse and the local chefs are proud to promote the city through local ingredients and native cuisine.
Recently opened is Sobre Mesa, where chef Nelson steers away from entrees to focus on cocktails and tapas-style plates; each small plate can be perfectly paired with a cocktail. His inspiration comes from Latin American countries like the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.
Another Oakland culinary staple is chef Tanya Holland's Brown Sugar Kitchen. The restaurant, which is available for private events and buyout opportunities, features a soul food menu but with Holland’s special twist to it: Cornmeal waffles, classic buttermilk fried chicken, biscuits, beignets and cheesy grits are just some of the decadent dishes on the menu.
As we take the necessary precautions to reopen our city, we remain connected to our hotels, to our small businesses, to the people who love our destination, and to those who have yet to enjoy our side of The Bay. We look forward to welcoming you soon. In the meantime, Let's plan to meet. For real.
To learn more, visit Visit Oakland.
