22 Feb 2016
Looking for a glamorous, exclusive and “wow” location that will have your guests talking long after the curtain has closed? Whether you're hosting a small group or the whole company, Los Angeles (L.A.) is home to a wide variety of event spaces to ensure your group comes away with an experience to last a lifetime.
You'll be able to add a touch of Hollywood stardust to your next event without the blockbuster budget, with a range of venues including: working Hollywood film studios, historical theatres, museums, “only-in-L.A.” private residences and beautiful outdoor locations, which suit the 292 sunny days a year.
To help you easily navigate the endless options available in this 'city of cities', L.A. Tourism & Convention Board has recently launched www.meetla.com - an online tool that features accommodation options, transport advice and an array of venues. Here are some of our hot tips to get you inspired:
HOLLYWOOD MOVIE MAGIC
To add some glitz and glam to your next event, consider a behind-the-screen experience at one of L.A.'s most notable television and film studios. Choose from Warner Bros Studios, Paramount Pictures Studios, Universal Studios Hollywood or Sony Pictures Studios, where you can work with movie production staff to create something extra special for your guests.
Walk in the footsteps of Hollywood greats with your own red carpet arrival, complete with paparazzi to capture these memorable moments. Recreate any location or theme from an iconic film, designed by skilled Hollywood production teams. If you have extra time beforehand, include a VIP behind-the-scenes tour of a working movie studio – don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for any stars.
Warner Bros. Studios
3400 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank
Warner Bros. Studios offers special screening rooms, backlot sets, a museum, dining room and a theatre, which can collectively host groups up to 5,000. Its popular studio tour is anchored by the addition of a brand new feature, Stage 48: Script to Screen, which shows guests how their favourite movies and TV shows were made, including an interactive opportunity for guests to re-enact a scene from Friends on the iconic Central Perk set.
Sony Picture Studios
10202 W Washington Boulevard, Culver City
Sony Picture Studios' historic outdoor lot provides one-of-a-kind backdrops for events up to 3,500. Tours visit historic sound stages where Dorothy followed the Yellow Brick Road and where Spider-Man battled his nemesis. You might even be able to glimpse at the next blockbuster movie set being built, as Sony Pictures Studios is a real working studio.
Paramount Pictures Studios
5555 Melrose Ave, Hollywood
At Paramount Pictures Studios, host a bash on a lot modeled after a New York Street (among others), which is big enough to accommodate 10,000 guests. Recreate scenes from The Godfather or superhero films, or pop in to watch a Dr Phil session being filmed live.
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
www.universalhollywoodevents.com
For events that demand Silver Screen sophistication blended with a little theme-park fun, Universal Studios Hollywood features more than 45 indoor and outdoor spaces, award winning catering, state-of-the-art audio, visual and lighting, and capacity for up to 20,000. Experience the largest movie set in Hollywood history built with creative consultation by Steven Spielberg himself, walk past the creepy mansion from Bates Motel and wander down Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. The new King Kong 360 3-D show created by Peter Jackson will raise the hairs on your arms.
ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET WITH A BESPOKE AWARDS EVENT
If you're planning to travel abroad for a special event such as an AGM or sales incentive, why not congratulate the team in style with your very own awards ceremony? Los Angeles is home to many iconic award shows including the Oscars, Grammys and Emmys (to name a few) and the city sure knows how to put on a celebration worthy of its AAA guest list. Roll out the red carpet and recreate one of these awards shows at a classic Hollywood theatre.
Dolby Theatre
6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Home to the Oscars, Dolby Theatre sits right on the walk of fame in the heart of Hollywood. Roll out the red carpet, prepare the camera flash, pour the bubbles and welcome your guests to the event in style. The grand entrance boasts a five storey high lobby and a sweeping staircase, which leads to a theatre that can seat 3,400 guests. Plus, it is located next to the Hollywood and Highland Shopping and Entertainment Centre, which your guests can explore before the event to get 'glammed up'.
TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Opening at the peak of the Roaring Twenties, this classic cinema has hosted some of the most prominent red carpet movie premieres and special events, and is where Hollywood's biggest and brightest stars come to watch their own movies. The lobby or ballroom is perfect for a cocktail hour before the screening, and the plush seating inside the venue can accommodate 930 guests in a classic theatre style. Just recently, this venue hosted a wedding for two Star Wars fans – classic Hollywood!
Egyptian Theatre
6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
Referencing the prestige of Egyptian culture, this Hollywood landmark was built just before the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb and embodies the golden era of Hollywood in all its early glamour. The first Hollywood premiere, Robin Hood, was screened here in 1922, which had a live orchestra play alongside the film. Still a fully operational theatre, you can organise a private screening for up to 650 in the Lloyd E. Rigler theatre or 83 in the Steven Spielberg theatre.
LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND THE FAMOUS
Fancy living like a celebrity for a day? Make this dream a reality, sourcing an ultra-glam 'only-in-L.A.' residence to take the X factor up a notch or two.
Take over the private mansions and estates of some of Hollywood's elite with an intimate dinner, lavish cocktail party, product launch or an L.A. classic – the pool party. Choose from plush locations in Beverly Hills and Bel Air, through to California vibes in Malibu and Venice Beach. The team at Gianna and Company can help you find a venue suitable for your dream event.
Greystone Mansion is an iconic Beverly Hills Mansion that's also available for private hire. Visit www.beverlyhills.org for more info.
Rodeo Drive is known as the epicentre of luxury in L.A., a glamorous street that features boutiques from Burberry, Chanel and Cartier, through to Agent Provocateur, La Perla and Jimmy Choo. A privately owned shopping lane in the heart of the action can be closed off to host a private party or special event. From a lively Beverly Hills cocktail party for 350 to an intimate dinner setting for smaller groups. Via at Two Rodeo is the perfect spot for charity balls through to award ceremonies and everything in between.
OTHER QUIRKY VENUES
California Science Center
700 Exposition Park Drive
www.californiasciencecenter.org
The sky is the limit if you're looking for a grand event space. Did you know that you can host dinner under the original Endeavour space shuttle at the California Science Center? This masterpiece is the exact orbiter used by NASA in its Space Shuttle Program from 1992 until it was retired from use in 2011.
Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park
For a luncheon event, the Los Angeles Zoo is the perfect venue – making the most of L.A.'s beautiful weather. Choose to have your event next to an animal enclosure, with wandering elephants just a trunk away. After lunch, guests can stroll around the zoo at their leisure, taking in the sights and sounds of the park.
Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
40 Presidential Dr, Simi Valley
At the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, guests can board the actual Air Force One that transported seven U.S. presidents. Get up close and personal with the retired Air Force One with tours of the plane included in rental packages. The Air Force One Pavilion can accommodate up to 1,600 guests for a reception or 1,400 seated dinner guests.
Hollywood Museum
1660 N. Highland Ave, Hollywood
If a peek into Hollywood's history is desired, surround yourself with 10,000 showbiz treasures on display at the Hollywood Museum. Private events can be tailored for groups of 20-650 guests. You can even host a private dinner alongside the original set and prison corridor from the movie Silence of the Lambs in the basement's spine tingling Dungeon of Doom.
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown
If you're looking for a large space to host your next event, consider the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC). LACC recently completed a USD$10 million project to refresh and upgrade the spectacular building, both inside and out. Soaring atriums allow warm California sunshine to flood lobbies and concourses, while clean lines and generous use of glass give the building a contemporary feel that fits perfectly with the spectacular urban setting.
