2023-04-04 11:23:47
THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE. CABLE CARS. THESE FAMOUS SAN FRANCISCO ICONS ARE HERE TO STAY. BUT ALL AROUND THEM, CHANGE IS HAPPENING. HERE’S WHAT’S NEW FOR 2022 AND BEYOND. HOTELS The Alton, located in the iconic Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood, offers an elevated, unpretentious guest experience and a retro-chic, rock-and-roll vibe. The 248-room hotel is also home to acclaimed chef Francis Ang’s first restaurant concept: Abacá, a contemporary Filipino-Californian restaurant. The new citizenM Hotel in Union Square is an 11-story, 195-room boutique property. The brand is known for its tech-first approach to the guest experience, with self-service check-in, iPads instead of wall switches in rooms, and a full-service app that can accomplish anything from bike rentals to restaurant reservations. The LUMA Hotel at Third and Channel streets brings much-needed supply to a neighborhood anchored by two major sporting venues, Oracle Park and Chase Center, as well as UCSF's Mission Bay hospital campus. This hotel includes a bar-lounge with breathtaking views of the bay, contemporary and exquisitely designed guest rooms and suites (299 total), and nearly 10,000 square feet of event space, including a rooftop terrace. The LINE SF is scheduled to open in San Francisco’s Civic Center neighborhood in Spring 2022. The 236-room hotel will be home to four distinct dining experiences, including a landscaped rooftop solarium that will have panoramic views of the city. With design by the world-renowned architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Handel Architects, the 12-story Flatiron-inspired building is a contemporary interpretation of the area’s historic architecture. For more hotel updates, visit sftravel.com/meeting-planners. VENUES San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area offer more than 360 special event facilities and venues—nearly one for every day of the year. San Francisco Travel has working relationships with all of these spaces, not just the ones within city limits. Whether big or small, unusual or traditional, even on land or sea, we can pair you with a memorable meeting location that your attendees won’t soon forget. All of our venue partners have been working hard to prepare for your return, employing the latest health, safety, and cleanliness protocols. For more information, visit sftravel.com/meeting-planners. AIR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has been leading the way in a return to safe travel. When visitors arrive at the airport, they can expect to encounter hundreds of hand sanitizer stations, thousands of easy-to-read physical distancing markers, and clear plastic barriers at points of necessary face-to-face interaction. The airport has also enhanced its cleaning protocols, using EPA-approved germicidal agents recommended by the CDC. The SFO team employs no-touch cleaning systems to clean, rinse, and dry surfaces. They even recover the water, making these measures good for your health as well as the environment’s. For more information, visit flysfo.com. NEW PRESIDIO TUNNEL TOPS PROJECT CREATES 14 ACRES OF PARKLAND An elevated highway that cut through the Presidio for seven decades has been replaced with an at-grade roadway hidden by tunnels. James Corner Field Operations, the team behind New York’s much-acclaimed High Line, has created 14 acres of new parkland to cover the tunnels and connect San Francisco Bay with the historic center of the Presidio. For more information, visit presidio.gov/tunnel-tops. FRANCISCO STREET RESERVOIR BECOMES NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PARK The 3.29-acre Francisco Street Reservoir site, located near the many hotels and attractions of Fisherman’s Wharf, has been transformed into a new public park that is ADA-accessible, features playgrounds and fenced dog runs, and offers gorgeous views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. For more information, visit sfrecpark.org. CENTRAL SUBWAY EXPANDS ACCESS TO POPULAR ATTRACTIONS A new light rail line of San Francisco’s Muni Metro system now provides direct connections to major entertainment, cultural, and business venues. Among the attractions along this 1.7-mile extension of the T Third line are the Chase Center, The Moscone Center, Union Square, and Chinatown. For more information about getting around San Francisco, read our Transportation Basics. MEXICAN MUSEUM OPENS IN SOMA A neighborhood already overflowing with outstanding cultural institutions will soon have one more: The Mexican Museum. This museum will occupy the first four floors of 706 Mission St. and the historic Aronson Building. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the museum has already accumulated a permanent collection of more than 16,500 objects. For more information, visit mexicanmuseum.org. THE MOSCONE CENTER CONTINUES TO SHINE The Moscone Center reigns supreme as San Francisco’s largest and most coveted convention venue. It’s the greenest, as well—not just to San Francisco, but in the entire world. Continuing this tradition of innovation and excellence, The Moscone Center is following top international guidelines to protect the health and safety of its guests. Read more about this in our Guide to The Moscone Center.
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