Situated north of San Francisco International Airport and only 15 minutes away from Silicon Valley, the South San Francisco Conference Center offers an ideal location for doing business in. Equipped with some of the world’s most advanced business technology, superb green credentials and a team possessing impressive local knowledge, it is unsurprising that the centre has been voted Best Meetings and Conference Centre, North America in the 2015 Business Destinations Travel Awards.
First for business
The centre’s ideal location is perfectly matched by its exceptional transport links. Complimentary parking is available, as well as a free weekday shuttle to and from the South San Francisco BART station and CalTrain station. In the area surrounding the centre, visitors have access to over 3,000 hotel rooms and motel lodgings, making it the perfect destination for those arriving from outside of California.
The centre’s ideal location is perfectly matched by its exceptional transport links
Additionally, the centre’s attentive team is more than happy to assist with group bookings, ranging from organising group accommodation to overseeing the set-up and running of crucial functions. Offering highly competitive rates for these top-quality services, which include technical assistance and customised requests, the South San Francisco Conference Centre strives to ensure that all its events run smoothly and successfully.
Steps ahead
One of the key drivers behind the centre’s ability to organise and host extraordinary events is its range of facilities and technologies. The centre boasts 20,500sq ft of flexible meeting space, including a dramatic and well-lit glass atrium, which serves as the perfect pre-function meeting location. The centre also offers a further 3,600sq ft of pre-function space surrounding its magnificent ballroom. This Grand Ballroom can be divided into as many as 10 meeting rooms, while the Baden Room can be halved or expanded with the addition of the Oyster Point Room. All meeting rooms are soundproofed and, uniquely, vehicles can even enter the ballroom, creating the potential for motor shows and other larger displays.
Projection Presentation Technology has been the preferred in-house audio-visual provider for the centre since it opened in 1993. Audio systems for speakers, panels, musicians, video broadcasts and teleconferences are all available, as well as atmospheric staging and professional theatrical lighting. The facility also features wireless internet access throughout, with fibre-optic connectivity that can support even the most demanding client requirements.
In November 2011, the South San Francisco Convention Center became the first business in the region to earn The Bay Area Green Business Certification. Previously a warehouse, then a photo-processing lab, the building eventually became an empty eyesore at one of the major entryways to the city. In 1993 it was repurposed as a gleaming conference facility, demonstrating an exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability.
Diverse culture
San Francisco is known for its cultural offerings. With the conference centre located only 15 minutes away from the city’s thriving centre, there are plenty of things to see and do in between meetings: world-class shopping facilities, sports, arts, theatres, botanical gardens and multicultural neighbourhoods are just a few of the attractions on offer from the city that is known internationally for its inclusivity, diversity and culture.
Additionally, the city’s outstanding culinary offerings are not to be missed. Wide-ranging and catering for all tastes and cultures, the city’s reputation for providing excellent food precedes it. The South San Francisco Conference Center’s awareness of this citywide status has resulted in a keen interest in providing only the finest catering facilities for visitors: all foods are prepared onsite and comprise the freshest ingredients across a selection of high-quality, organic dishes. Conference planners prepare individual menus for each event, including refreshments during breaks and hors d’oeuvres for more casual occasions.
