8 WHAT'S NEW IN SAN FRANCISCo STOP WHAT’S NEW IN SAN FRANCISCO 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 2020 AND BEYoND. The Moscone Centerr THE MOSCONE CENTER CONTINUES TO SHINE With the hard work of a $551 million expansion complete, The Moscone Center reigns supreme as San Francisco’s largest and most coveted convention venue. Now, it’s the greenest, as well. In June 2019, The Moscone Center achieved LEED® Platinum certification, a designation unmatched by any other convention center in the world. The Center has quickly established itself as an icon of the city, with its light art installation by acclaimed artist Leo Villareal, “PointCloud,” showing up in media across the globe as a symbol of San Francisco’s innovation and creativity. HOTELS In october 2019, the Grand Hyatt at San Francisco International Airport opened its doors to guests. The 350-room hotel features direct connection to airport terminals via SFo’s AirTrain, a signature restaurant and sushi bar, and its 5,760-square-foot Grand Ballroom. Scheduled hotel openings for 2020 include the Marriott Mission Bay at Third and Channel streets and the Line Hotel on Market St. The Marriott Mission Bay will be the first hotel in its neighborhood, a short walk from both oracle Park and the new Chase Center. The Line Hotel, a 236-room property, will be located in the rapidly developing Central Market neighborhood, with theaters, museums, and the Powell St. cable car turnaround just steps beyond its front door. A number of other properties are still in the planning phase, including two AC Hotels by Marriott, Langham Place near The Moscone Center, and an additional property close to the Chase Center. For more hotel updates, visit sftravel.com/media . Don’t forget to check out San Francisco’s SFMeetCulture™ program, which allows planners to connect with historically significant artistic and cultural venues. For details on these venues and more than 120 others, see page PD13 or visit the Meeting Planner section of sftravel.com . MEMORIES AND MILESTONES In 2020, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, home to museums, protected wildlife, and acres of open space, will celebrate its 150th anniversary. The site of annual San Francisco celebrations like the outside Lands music festival and the Bay to Breakers race, Golden Gate Park is the city’s shared backyard. Details about the ongoing celebration will be announced at sfrecpark.org. San Francisco Travel Association; Rendering © wHY and Asian Art Museum The San Francisco Giants will celebrate 20 years at their bayside home this year. oracle Park may have had many names over the past two decades, but it has always been home to the Giants, as well as major concerts and other championship sporting events. 2020 will also mark the 50th anniversary of San Francisco Pride. The city is considered to be the epicenter of LGBTQ culture and the modern fight for equality. Expect plenty of celebrations, special events, and opportunities to give back as the milestone is marked during June’s Pride Month and october’s LGBT History Month. AIR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION San Francisco International Airport (SFo) continues to grow. New international carriers including Norwegian, Air Italy, El Al and TAP Portugal began service out of SFo in 2019. Additionally, United Airlines increased their international capacity by nearly 20 percent, adding new nonstop service to Amsterdam, Toronto, New Delhi and Melbourne, while increasing annual frequencies to Auckland, Pape’ete and Seoul. In July 2019, SFo opened its new, $2.4 billion Harvey Milk Terminal 1, featuring an entirely new concourse and Boarding Area B, along with a new centralized security checkpoint. The airport has also added an outdoor terrace at the International Terminal, allowing travelers to get some fresh air while they wait for their flights, and has radically rethought the road plan for ride shares, decreasing traffic around the terminals. VENUES The newly transformed Presidio Theatre on the Main Post of San Francisco’s historic Presidio features a 600-seat proscenium theater, a pavilion and courtyard for events, and additional amenities that make it a perfect venue. The Asian Art Museum is moving toward completion of its Pavilion and Art Terrace, which will add approximately 13,000 square feet to the existing structure on the east side of the museum’s Civic Center location. opening date is projected to be spring 2020. Rendering of Asian Art Museum Pavillion and Art Terrace OFFICIAL MEETING PLANNER’S GUIDE 2020
San Francisco Meeting Planner's Guide 2020 MPG: Page 8
