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On-Site Insight: Los Angeles
October 13, 2009
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| Robert Tuchman |
By Robert Tuchman
Not only is Los Angeles the second-largest city in the United States, it is home to some of the nation’s most interesting characters, from sports figures to pop culture icons. The people of Los Angeles only lay the groundwork for how great the city is for sporting events. Although the crowd can be a little (and fashionably) late arriving to games, when the excitement starts LA is the place to be.
If you journey there, here are some tips to make your experience all the more enjoyable.
First, no trip is great without a great hotel, and LA has many to offer. The Beverly Hills Hotel is the cornerstone upon which the ritzy area was built. It represents Old Hollywood and remains hugely popular today. Its pink stucco facade is surrounded by 12 acres of lush gardens, and with four acclaimed restaurants and complimentary limo service, the Beverly Hills Hotel is always a good bet.
Another great option is the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. As with all Four Seasons, this hotel has exceptional service and luxurious comfort. One of my favorite features is that no matter what room you stay in, you will have a balcony. The Poolside Grill is an award-winning choice for dinner!
Also look to the Peninsula Beverly Hills. Consistently rated one of the best hotels on the West Coast, this property is known for its attentive yet discreet staff that lavish each guest with personalized attention. Plus, it is within walking distance of world-famous Rodeo Drive! Most guest rooms have wonderful views of gardens or small side streets.
Although all of these hotels have fabulous restaurants, there are many exquisite restaurants in the Los Angeles area. Grace offers the best overall dining experience; its head chef, Neal Fraser, was trained by the best in the business, and it certainly shows. The restaurant has sophisticated yet unpretentious food and atmosphere.
For simple yet brilliant meals, look to sister restaurants Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza. Both are homey, buzzing, eclectic places with many great dishes to offer. Service is knowledgeable, guiding you to the best entrees, pizzas, and wines.
California is famous for its sushi, so be sure to check out Koi. With its soothing feng shui atmosphere and superb Asian cuisine, there is not much to be missed at Koi.
If your group desires to escape the noise and commotion of downtown, head to the hills to Saddle Peak Lodge. This is a romantic restaurant with—get this—no cell phone service. Undisrupted, delicious meals at candlelit tables make the Saddle Peak Lodge a must. It has a Wine Spectator-award-winning wine list to boot!
After your incentive attendees are stuffed beyond capacity, be sure they check out all the sties that LA has to offer. The must-sees are the Getty Center, Universal Studios, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
As the City of Angels does boast the world champion Los Angeles Lakers, this would be a good time to capitalize on all the enthusiasm surrounding LA sports. The Lakers hold the NBA record for most wins and only trail the Boston Celtics in total NBA championship titles (15 for the Lakers, 17 for the Celtics).
Although the Lakers may be on top of the LA sports scene right now, its other teams are also quite exciting: the city's other NBA team, the Clippers, baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, and hockey's Los Angeles Kings. With much history, tradition, and fan support, to see any of these teams play is worth the trip to L.A.
Incentive columnist Robert Tuchman is president of Premiere Corporate Events, www.pcevents.com, a division of Premier Global Sports, and author of 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live. He blogs at 100SportingEvents.com, YoungBusinessExecutives.com, and PremiereSports.com.
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