A city on the move and long a center for international trade, Oakland, Calif., is also a dynamic, appealing venue for association meetings, in part for its temperate climate and proximity to San Francisco. The Oakland Convention Center offers 64,000 square feet of meeting and convention space and is conveniently situated in downtown Oakland, only 10 minutes from the Oakland International Airport. Right outside its doors lie Oakland's Chinatown; Old Oakland; Preservation Park; City Center - home to scores of shops, restaurants, and cafes and within a few short blocks, the historic waterfront; Jack London Square, and the Paramount Theatre. The adjacent Oakland Marriott City Center hotel features an additional 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and 483 deluxe guest rooms.

Oakland is also home to a multitude of exciting attractions, as well as to a vibrant arts and entertainment scene and a diverse range of restaurants. Once meetings are over, the city is an equally great starting point for excursions to such well-known sights as San Francisco, California's Wine Country, Silicon Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Monterey. Getting to and around Oakland is also easy via automobile, train, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), bus, and ferry. Oakland International Airport is served by 12 major domestic and international airlines.

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Contact: The Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau at (510) 839-9000, or visit www.oaklandcvb.com. Expert staff members are prepared to assist with every aspect of the process, from finding a venue and lodging, to promoting meetings, to itinerary planning. Assistance with site inspections, proposals, and referrals is also available.