Destination Elite Fall 2016

DESTINATION ELITE SAN DIEGO’S REALITY TRAVEL

FALL 2016

LIBERTY STATION San Diego’s Arts and Culture Destination MCCSN NETWORKING MIXER Cultural Culinary Connection Spotlight on Chefs Page 14

FEATURE LIBERTY STATION Why We Love It! Page 9

COMIN’ UP MCCSN 2017 Women in Hospitality and Tourism Luncheon Page 18

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ABOUT MCCSN The Multi-Cultural Convention Services Network (MCCSN) is led by the trailblazing visionary Clara Carter. Her personal and organizational mission is to increase the diversity and inclusiveness of the hospitality industry by continuing to be a trusted and leading provider of meeting management solutions that save time and money, and ultimately result in successful and unforgettable meetings and event planning experiences.

Clara has a wealth of knowledge and resources and shares them generously.

She shares with young people by providing training, mentorship and program development to help prepare the next generation of hospitality industry leaders. She shares with her colleagues, her community and her travelers by hosting mixers and community events and publishing Destination Elite. She works to enhance the level and the knowledge of the expertise and wonders available in her favorite city - San Diego. She shares with her clients proactively throughout the planning cycle from inspiration through execution, and provides “real world” recommendations for an even better “next time”. Clara always promises that “Whether planning a corporate meeting, conference, retreat, family reunion, wedding, or special event, we are here to make your program a success!”

MCCSN is a Strategic Meeting and Event management company specializing in providing hotel site selection and contract negotiation services for meetings, excursions, conferences and leisure travel groups, to our clients.

Meetings Made Easy!

Connect with us:

or mccsn.com

Contact us to book your next meeting or event: 619-265-2561 events@mccsn.com

MCCSN mentors Mount Miguel MCCSN plans & hosts San Diego MCCSN planned and hosted High School Business Program Padres Annual Spirit of the Community Airport Minority Advisory Council volunteers at MCCSN Event honoring local heroes from Conference Breakfast meeting events San Diego’s diverse community “Celebrating Women in Aviation’.

students as

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CONTENTS: 6 EDITOR’S WELCOME

14 WHAT’S COMIN’ UP Holiday Happenings

8 WHY WE LOVE San Diego’s Liberty Station Evolving from Naval Base-to-Mini-City. San Diego’s best waterfront urban village is the “new arts and cultural destination for locals and tourists alike who love restaurants, museums, perfect event spaces, ice skating, luxury theatre, dining, playing outside and much, much more!

13 CULTURAL CONNECTIONS MCCSN’S Networking Mixer Spotlight on Chefs A relaxing evening under the stars spent at Liberty Station enjoying food and entertainment and connecting with hospitality industry colleagues, business professionals and community leaders AND some of San Diego's most amazing celebrity chefs, top chefs, and "rising star" chefs.

Liberty Station is happy and merry and new!

15 SMART TRAVELER 17 WHAT’S NEXT FOR MCCSN Women in Tourism and Hospitality Luncheon Celebrating six outstanding women whose achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love have helped build the hospitality industry and shape its future in San Diego.

18 TRAVEL AND TOURISM Past, Present & Future: Development of San Diego

The

So where does this take us and what can we anticipate moving forward?

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EDITOR’S

WELCOME FALL INTO SAN DIEGO… Fall is by far one of my favorite seasons. It’s also a time when many are traveling near and far celebrating and spending quality time with loved ones.

One way we are celebrating this fall is with the relaunch of Destination Elite, San Diego’s Reality Travel magazine. Destination Elite was created to showcase our beautiful destination of San Diego to our “esteemed visitors” and locals seeking unique experiences in the City.

Beginning with this issue Destination Elite is now a quarterly e-magazine where we share the best San Diego has to offer our visiting and local readers who love the San Diego lifestyle.

Every issue will take you on a journey through one of San Diego’s best destinations and highlight upcoming elite cultural events. This issue features the historical landmark, Liberty Station. We explore this destination, from its beginning as the former Naval Training Center (NTC), to its exciting new life as San Diego’s elite arts and culture destination with over 120 galleries, museums, artists, studios, makers, creators and awesome dining experiences. Read our “Why We Love….” section to learn more about Liberty Station and the exciting events you can look forward to in the coming months at this “jewel” of a destination.

EDITORIAL STAFF CLARA CARTER editor-in-chief clara@mccsn.com

PRODUCTION CHERYL MORROW producer/managing editor cheryl@mccsn.com SANDRA DRYDEN editor/writer/digital content sandra@mccsn.com SHAWN MCCLONDON Art / Graphics me@shawnmcclondon.com

TRAVEL AND TOURISM ROBERT RAUCH, HOTEL GURU Contributing Writer

Each issue will also give you the travel and tourism viewpoint of one of our contributors and spotlight MCCSN’s hospitality and tourism special events to include our networking mixers for insiders from the hospitality, corporate and entrepreneur business sectors of San Diego - everyone is welcome to attend.

We will share highlights from MCCSN’s Fall networking event held at Liberty Station showcasing some of the elite cultural food and entertainment available and 13 of San Diego’s best chefs. This event was so well received, Liberty Station requested that we hold it again next September - so save the date and watch this space for more details and exciting ways you can participate.

Whether you are seeking a romantic getaway, family friendly outings, weekend retreat, the perfect location for a business meeting or just some “me” time – we have you covered!!

Our promise to you is that Destination Elite will always give you the information and travel tips you need to emerge yourselves in the best culture of our City, San Diego, No. 1 US Travel Destination by Money Magazine 2016.!

Clara Carter, Editor-in-Chief 6

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FEATURE: LIBERTY STATION - Here’s why we love it!!

When we first visited Liberty Station we fell in love at first sight and the more we got to know this fabulous destination, we knew we couldn’t just keep it to ourselves…we had to tell you why you’re gonna love it too!!!.

For over 90 years Liberty Station has been “the” place to experience San Diego being its best. Liberty Station operated its first 70 years as a Navy Training Center (NTC) changing young men and women from “raw recruits” into the world’s best fighting force. When the Naval base closed in 1997, the land was set aside by the San Diego City Council for future urbanizing by the Corky McMillin Company with arts and cultural stewardship by the NTC Foundation. Thanks to input from San Diegans, innovative thinking, and outstanding planning and urban design, the former Navy Base now operates as Liberty Station. We think it’s San Diego’s best waterfront urban village and the “new” arts and cultural destination for locals and tourists alike!

Liberty Station offers 361 acres of accessible retail office and meeting space and venues, dining options, museums, dance studios, schools and residential spaces, exquisite promenades and gardens, breathtaking scenery and open spaces along the boat channel that allow you to escape, relax and refresh, and take full advantage of San Diego’s weather, unique culture, location and history.

Liberty Station is a place for visitors, locals, residents, and occupants to honor the past, enjoy the present and build for the future. We love how Liberty Station is evolving right before our eyes into San Diego’s best community for history, commerce, and the arts. Its’ phenomenal progress entices us to visit again and again. We love that Liberty Station has lots of free and interesting things to do and even includes free parking. We even love the name Liberty Station. With a wink to its military past, the word “Liberty” says what life in San Diego is all about. It’s the best place to live, the best place to work and the best place to play!

We love how Liberty Station showcases San Diego’s grand architectural style and vivid military history.

USS Recruit

The North Chapel

Submarine Memorial Walk Way

Many of the beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival style buildings at Liberty Station have been restored and preserved as a nod to its history. We love how the buildings also honor both the Navy tradition and the 1.75 million sailors who received training there and who affected every aspect of San Diego life and times.

The USS Recruit, a permanently docked 2/3 scale model of a navy destroyer lives at 4325-4461 N. Harbor Drive San Diego CA 92101. Unofficially dubbed the “USS Neversail,” it served for over 40 years as a hands-on classroom and it’s the only one still around today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001 and was designated a California historic landmark in 8

2004. We love how Liberty Station’s real estate developer, Corky McMillin has joined forces with the Midway Museum, active duty and retired Navy personnel, and volunteers to get the Recruit shipshape again and ensure its authenticity. In tribute to all who trained on her decks, plans are in the works to build the USS Recruit Museum for the public to enjoy.

The Quarters North Chapel. Built in 1942, the North Chapel is a magnificent 7,760 square foot chapel with high vaulted ceilings and stained glass windows with anchors and other Navy symbols. It served as a place of worship for recruits and servicemen. Today the North Chapel welcomes all types of services. It offers all the conveniences and comfort of a traditional church in a beautiful historic setting. It also offers space for weddings, private and public events and concerts. And, the chapel is open for viewing every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 11am-1pm.

The WWII submarine memorial. Submarines made up less than 2% of America’s World War II Navy fleet, yet destroyed over 55% of all Japanese shipping. Liberty Station’s 52 Boats Memorial consists of wide paved handicap-accessible walkways lined with 52 American Liberty Elm trees, 52 flags and 52 black granite structure honoring the 52 submarines that were lost in the war and the 12,000 sailors who served on them and a carved description of what happened.

The Life of an NTC Recruit Exhibit. The exhibit is located in an historic barracks building. It tells the story of the life of an NTC recruit from the time they stepped off the bus to graduation from boot camp 12 weeks later.

We love how Liberty Station showcases San Diego’s rich, diverse and innovative culture.

Rebecca Jade and the Cold Fact at Liberty Station’s White Box Live Jazz series produced by San Diego Dance Theater in collaboration with THE LOT

Liberty Station’s Dance Place is home to San Diego Dance Theater Company dancers who are all professional San Diego artists and teachers committed to expanding access to the stage for dancers of many nationalities, races, ages, and physical abilities.

Patricia Rincon Dance Collective performing at Friday Night Liberty, San Diego's biggest open gallery night! Meet working artists, visit museums and galleries for free!

We love The Liberty Station Arts District.

In the past the Naval Training Center included unique opportunities for community fellowship and connection. Liberty Station honored that intention when it repurposed and upcycled the naval base’s old mess hall, a fire station, auditorium and former military barracks and launched a set of exciting high quality and high value concepts.

The area is now the lively Arts District with an innovative and evolving hub of activity and culture. We love its smart collaborative mix of for-profit and non-profit occupants that offer authentic engaging activities where you can indulge your senses, forge stronger connections with family and friends, learn about yourself and others, and enjoy a real sense of belonging.

The district is filled with unique stores, fashion boutiques, and a furniture gallery where you can “shop ‘til you drop”. There are free Wi-Fi and commercial centers so you can handle your business; health, beauty and wellness spaces, studios and activities for fitness enthusiasts; markets, fine dining and casual fare for foodies; studios, galleries and museums for artists and admirers; spaces for cinema, theatre, music and dance lovers; creative opportunities, instructions and schools for learners of all ages; and fun events to delight one and all. Each time we visit we find new and exciting things to see and do.

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Pachis Art Studio For Kids offers chances for kids to explore their creativity through art classes, at after school activities and at customized birthday parties.

Art Groups showcase their creativity and original

Ice skating rink moved to Liberty Station

THE DANCE PLACE BUILDING. Over 13,000 square feet of rehearsal and studio space and home to 3 prestigious and awardwinning companies and dance organizations in San Diego features top quality flooring, abundant parking, and amenities such as a green room, showers and dressing rooms. Stop in for class and enjoy the proximity to beautiful park space, restaurants, shops and various other recreation and arts activities.

THE LOT. San Diego’s new luxury Cinema / Restaurant / Bar / Café and outdoor dining destination just opened last May. It is located in the renovated and upcycled 4,000 seat Luce Auditorium. Once, 1,800 Navy Recruits at a time saw training films during the day. Weekends and evenings servicemen and Point Loma residents enjoyed together the latest Hollywood films and legendary entertainers. Today, the LOT is a high energy social hub for craft coffee, artisan pastries, elevated cuisine, premium spirits and sophisticated wines. You can experience its 6 state of the arts cinemas and glass paneled outdoor dining lounge and you can envision the local film festivals planned for this space. Sunday evenings in August feature the White Box Live Jazz series. The LOT is part of this new collaboration combining Liberty Station’s White Box Live Arts venue, Liberty Station’s resident modern dance company San Diego Dance Theater, and the supreme food and VIP food service of The LOT. SOLARE’ RISTORANTE. Voted a “San Diego’s best” restaurant in 2016, Solare’ is family-owned, family friendly, and dedicated to providing an amazing dining experience. It features authentic Southern Italian cuisine and focuses on fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The famous "Pici al Limone e finto pesto" was featured in San Diego Magazine and the desert trio is to die for. You can book the wine room for your anniversary or rehearsal dinner or set up a four-course tasting menu with wine pairings. You will be thrilled with the food and the service - they really know what they're doing!

FIELDSTONE LEGACY PLAZA. Liberty Station’s best-planned outdoor space. Designed with festivals, receptions and events in mind, the signature Luce Court and Legacy Plaza are spacious and fully landscaped. Highlighted with fountains, rose gardens and dozens of palms trees, Luce Court and the Legacy Plazas offer open space with electrical capabilities other event amenities.

ART GROUPS. On First Fridays Liberty Station’s inspiring, creative people, chefs and artists show you their original, fine art and many offer food and drinks. If you come at the right time, you may happen upon a "Wine, Chocolate and Cheese" or “Art Walk” festival or even the bi-annual Liberty Station Block Party. This community celebration highlights the fresh and unique businesses that call Liberty Station home with a walkabout-style evening of complimentary tastings, activities and entertainment. One thing is clear, Liberty Station’s Art district is always changing, evolving and inviting guests to explore all the things that make it unique.

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We love the Liberty Station Outdoor Space.

Waterfront Walking Path

Loma Club golf course

Festival on Fieldstone Legacy Plaza

Liberty Station is a fun and scenic place to exercise or take a leisurely stroll outside all year around. This area used to be a place reserved for honors, ceremonies, training and drills and included the graduation parade ground where the recruits would pass in review. It was where people came together and shared memorable experiences. Now it’s a place to make new memories enjoying the many free open area options.

There is a park that runs along Liberty Station’s Bayfront channel. The landscaping showcases plants that thrive in San Diego, such as birds of paradise, colorful succulents and bougainvillea. You can play touch football or soccer. You can smell the roses and relax while kids climb on the playground structures. You can loll on benches and lawns and watch planes take-off from the nearby airport. In the afternoon and evening you can recline on a blanket with your best friend and picnic with food purchased from one of Liberty Station’s nearby gourmet shops and stores or you can watch a colorful sunset as a Liberty Station concert begins.

Corvette Diner fun for kids

Liberty Station’s Halsey Road Pedestrian Bridge over the bay to Spanish Landing Walkway (http://mapio.net/s/4422951/?page=2

Picnic in the Park

Or, you can put your dog on a leash, grab your phone, camera, sunscreen and sunblock and get moving. Start at the north parking lot near Corvette Diner. If you love military ceremonies, you can head north from there and walk, run or jog 1.7 miles to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot parade grounds to watch a recruit graduation ceremony. If you love the waterfront, Liberty Station is part of San Diego’s best waterfront walk. You can head south from the parking lot near the Corvette Diner along the bayside trail to Liberty Station’s hotels. You can follow the paths at the back of the hotels past the USS Neversail over the Halsey Road pedestrian bridge to the harbor's edge. On the other side, take a right on to a dirt trail that links with the Spanish Landing walkway.

As you continue walking, check out the Maritime Museum’s ongoing efforts to build a replica of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s flagship, San Salvador. You can continue left from the harbor’s edge for ½ mile then turn right to Harbor Island and enjoy its panoramic views of the San Diego skyline (yes you can bring your fishing pole) or go straight ahead past the airport to downtown San Diego. Or if you turn right from the harbor’s edge you can explore the nautical air and sport fishing available in the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Shelter Island. Or, even better, for a good look at Liberty Station’s ever changing neighborhood attractions, you can continue past the hotels and meander up and down Liberty Station blocks.

If you love golf you can head west from the Corvette Diner parking lot to the Loma Club, the oldest golf course in San Diego. The 11

club features a 9 -hole executive golf course and driving range, a pro-shop, and the Sail Ho Bar & Grill that hosts awesome events and live music. The Arts District Recently opened Liberty Public Market, a 22,000 square foot artisan market housing more than thirty local specialty purveyors. The ice rink previously at Horton Square in downtown San Diego for 18 years moved to Liberty Station last year. Unlike the previous downtown San Diego location, the Liberty Station rink will have state-of-the-art permanent infrastructure embedded in the ground for easy set-up each year.

Read more: San Diego Community News Group - Fantasy on Ice skating rink moving to Liberty Station Read more: San Diego Community News Group - Fantasy on Ice skating rink moving to Liberty Station, and it has opened an ice skating rink just in time for the San Diego “winter”.

Liberty Station Hotels

Liberty Station Condos

Liberty Station Barracks Hotel planned to open 2018

We love the Liberty Station living spaces.

Along the Bayfront’s southernmost region is its 650 room hotel district with 2 hotels and one more on the way. Although the design intent is rooted in history, It’s a stay with history, not a stay in it. These hotels are far from evoking images of drafty nights and plank hard beds and other naval clichés of the past. The Homewood Suites by Hilton and the Courtyard by Marriott have an authentic sense of place, but that place is here and now. They overflow with modern technology and amenities, and all the services you need for a great stay.

One section of Liberty Station also has two main residential areas. The 500-unit military housing area is not properly part of Liberty Station and still owned by the U.S. Government. The other area is a 350 home civilian residential community named by Money magazine as one of the best places to retire in San Diego. However, people of all ages live in the community, young families as well as retired couples.

We love Liberty Station’s exciting plans for the future.

There are plans for a 95-room boutique hotel complex. San Diego-based McMillin, LLC and Untitled Hospitality plan to transform the last of the 8 old barrack buildings and officers’ quarters into a new arts-themed, $20 million hotel called The Barracks Hotel.

A little birdie told us that plans are also afoot to make the USS Recruit a museum for the public to enjoy and learn about her storied history.

We also look forward to welcoming Fantasy on Ice to the Liberty Station ice skating rink which will take advantage of the location’s free parking, raise funds for the Rady Children’s Hospital and provide an opportunity for the community to give back while adding holiday skating to their reasons for visiting the NTC Arts & Culture District at Liberty Station.

These are just some of the reasons we love Liberty Station. Being on Liberty Station is like being in a micro city with a variety of places to eat, sleep, shop and play but without the traffic to get there. Amazing food, great people, breathtaking scenery. Seriously! it is what living San Diego life and lifestyle is all about! There are so many ways to discover and experience San Diego’s unique culture and history right in this exciting neighborhood and then top it all off with easy access to the City of San Diego! As our military friends would say, “At ease” San Diego lovers. It’s time to go outside and play. It’s time for “Liberty”.

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MCCSN NETWORKING MIXER CULTURAL CULINARY CONNECTIONS - SPOTLIGHT ON CHEFS MCCSN and industry friends enjoyed an evening to remember Thursday, October 13, 2016 “MCCSN Fall Mixer” as they celebrated San Diego’s rich diverse cultures through traditional culinary tastes and art at a Cultural Culinary Connections event held at the VENUES Liberty Station - Fieldstone Legacy Plaza.

Guests enjoyed delicious cultural food samples from 12 of San Diego’s top chefs which included three chefs from Liberty Station’s restaurants, live cultural entertainment from industry suppliers, vendor marketplace and fabulous silent auction destination packages.

Dan Nattrass Fishbone Kitchen at The Public Market

Chef Mario Medina The Main Course Restaurant

Chef Santos Mendoza Pacific Wild Shrimp

Chef Emilia Estanislao Bocolan of Gabina’s

Chef Accursio Solare Ristorante

Chef Otis T. Berthey Jr. FROM THE HEART CATERING AND EVENTS, Call 619-471-5722 or email otisberthey@gmail.com.

The Art Institute of California Culinary Program

Chef Jeffrey Roberto SUSHI ON A ROLL

Chef Eduardo Escalante Oh Bon Bon

Chef Kevin Fisher Rotisserie Affair

Sensational Treats

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2016 MIXER SPONSORS We appreciate the support of our sponsors

SAVE THE DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 MCCSN’S CULINARY CONNECTIONS MIXER AT LIBERTY STATION Liberty Station highly recommends MCCSN mixers for opportunities to network with a diverse group of professionals in our industry; to see unique venues that showcase our beautiful city; and to hear excellent speakers sharing knowledge and experience that can positively impact our business.

We highly recommend Liberty Station’s Venues for meetings up to 1,500 people. In fact, we will hold our mixer next fall in this same space. Watch for details and exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities or contact MCCSN at 619-265-2561 or events@mccsn.com

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Holiday Happenings at Liberty Station ARTS DISTRICT Liberty Station is a great spot to host your holiday party. Check out one of the many unique dining experiences or visit VENUES Liberty Station to book your next event.

Liberty Station lights up the holidays beginning November 16 when San Diego artist Ben Cabral will delight visitors with a new temporary light art installation featuring a variety of figurative cutouts inspired by the “Collect Beautiful Moments” sign along the Liberty Station roadway.

Highlights FANTASY ON ICE RINK | OPENING November 17-January 8 Fantasy on Ice, benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital, is at home in the historic heart of Liberty Station. Enjoy festive outdoor skating from; tickets online or in person. Skating every day from 10PM-10PM. After a festive skate, shoppers are encouraged to wander through 16 historic buildings and visit the over 80 artists, galleries and museums to shop for Holiday Gifts with a Creative Twist.

Locally-made unique works of art, handmade jewelry and furniture make great gifts that are unique, creative and support our arts and culture community.

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY | Wednesday, November 30, 6 PM Watch as the spirit of the season lights up Liberty Station during the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony. Marvel at the 90 ft. Norfolk Pine as it transforms into a Holiday Wishing Tree, complete with thousands of twinkling lights and colorful ornaments. Grab a seat on the lawn or spend the evening rocking around the tree with live music, complementary refreshments and merry decorations throughout Liberty Station.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIBERTY | November 4 and December 2, 5- 9 PM Experience all the ARTS DISTRICT has to offer is by attending a FREE Friday Night Liberty art walk – San Diego’s biggest FREE monthly art event! Meet working artists, enjoy dance, theatre and music performances, visit museums and galleries and explore the growing District decorated in its holiday finest. Sip and stroll while you shop for holiday gifts with a creative twist, enjoy lively entertainment and new culinary and creative experiences. Stop by Dick Laub NTC Command Center at 2640 Historic Decatur Road and pick up a monthly program.

HOLIDAY BLOCK PARTY | Saturday, December 10, 4:30-7:30 PM Get ready for Santa’s sleigh and plenty of wondrous activities at Liberty Station’s 2nd annual Holiday Block Party as the unique eateries, creative studios, and joyful community located within Liberty Station pull out all the stops with complimentary bites and sips, live entertainment, and merry activities for friends and families to enjoy.

FREE DAY OF DANCE | DOROTHEA LAUB DANCE PLACE | December 26, 9:30am – 6:30pm A tradition continues. San Diego Dance Connect (SDDC), VENUES Liberty Station, Malashock Dance, San Diego Ballet and San Diego Dance Theater will come together to offer a Free Day of Dance at Dorothea Laub Dance Place. The day’s schedule will include a diverse variety of movement classes and community members of all experience levels are invited to participate. More info at www.sandiegodanceconnect.org

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Smart Traveler Travel Tips for San Diego Travelers flying to and from San Diego https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips     

Arrive Early: Longer lines and wait times may result because of increased security measures. Plan to arrive two (2) hours prior to flight departures. Passengers are strongly encouraged to check with their respective airlines to verify schedules before coming to the Airport.

Have ID and Tickets Ready: Ticketed passengers with photo identifications (IDs) will be allowed past security checkpoints to boarding areas. Passengers embarking on ticketless travel must either carry printed proof of their ticket purchases (e.g., a printed itinerary) or check in at the ticket counter.

Curb Alert: Curbside parking is seriously not permitted in San Diego. Unattended curbside vehicles will be ticketed and may be towed. Occupied vehicles at the curb will be asked to circle around unless actively loading or unloading passengers. Check the Parking section of this Web site for additional information on passenger pick-up and drop-off.

Stay Informed: Tune into 1690 AM on your radio for security-related travel tips, including check-in updates, lists of banned and permitted items, and other important information. Continue to check this web site for the latest Airport security information.

Security-related tips from the TSA. https://www.tsa.gov/. Whether traveling through SAN on business or taking that much needed vacation, TSA offers several important tips to facilitate your experience through the security screening process.

✓

Consider TSA Pre ® to save time and stress. With a 5 year, $85 membership, you can speed through security and don’t need to remove your shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets. https://www.tsa.gov/precheck

Pack some extra time into your trip... to indulge.

Upgrade your Airport experience with special offers and insider discounts. http://www.san.org/Shop-Dine-Relax/Relax

Nonstop Destinations from San Diego You can travel to virtually any city in the world from San Diego. Nearly 500 daily flights provide nonstop and connecting services to major domestic destinations and across the globe. Explore your travel options from San Diego below, with more than 50 nonstop markets in the US and abroad.

Cell Phone Lot Friends and family who are picking up arriving passengers can conveniently wait for them at the Airport's Cell Phone Waiting Lot.

Rental Cars

Off-airport rental car agencies are served by free shuttle service from multiple locations throughout the terminals.

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WHAT’S NEXT WITH MCCSN… SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, March 16, 2017 and join us for lunch, entertainment and inspiration at the Women in Hospitality and Tourism Luncheon.

Wyndham Bayside Hotel

Mark your calendars for our 2nd annual Women Visionary Awards Luncheon, to be held during Women History Month, Thursday, March 16th, 2017 at the Wyndham Bayside Hotel. We will honor phenomenal women who have broken the “glass ceiling” and touched many lives with their tremendous strides in the world of tourism and hospitality.

More than 200 people attended MCCSN’s first inaugural Women Visionary Luncheon celebrating Women Leading the Way in Hospitality and Tourism Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Lafayette Hotel in San Diego. The sold-out Luncheon attended by tourism executives, industry insiders, renowned guests and students celebrated six outstanding women whose achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love have helped build the hospitality industry and shape its future in San Diego.

2016 Visionary Women Honorees

Guests at 2016 Luncheon

The event featured an exhilarating luncheon and awards program that included entertainment and a panel of six honorees - Lucy Burni, President of Burni Enterprises; Maureen Carew, General Manager at the Courtyard Rancho Bernardo Marriott; Karima Zaki, owner of Sancuate! A techno spa; Julia Slocombe, Vice President of Operations at Smart City Networks; Terri Breining, President of the Breining Group; and Christine Shimasaki, Managing Director, empowerMINT.com and Event Impact Calculator and moderated

by Peggy Cooper, Sr. Community Relations Specialist at the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority. These phenomenal women motivated, and inspired guests and provided a better appreciation for the work they do and insights into the future of the meetings industry for women. “The inaugural Luncheon went above and beyond any of our expectations, which is a testament to the support and commitment of the individuals who make up this dynamic industry,” said MCCSN founder Clara Carter.

The 2017 luncheon program promises to be an even more inspiring event, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Mt. Miguel High School’s Matador Business Academy (MBA) Program.

To nominate a deserving minority woman for the “Visionary Award” honor, go to mccsn.com/events. The deadline for nomination is December 16th. We will honor the winners at the luncheon March 16,2017.

Sponsorships are available. For sponsorship information email: clara@mccsn.com.

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PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE: The Development of San Diego - BY ROBERT RAUCH

The Past Horton Plaza served as the catalyst for San Diego’s development in the recent past and it became the anchor for future development.

Not only did it impact downtown but it also shepherded a resurgence in leisure market getaways including Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla. But the growth did not stop there as Coronado, anchored by the Hotel Del Coronado, Harbor Island, Mission Valley and UTC offered bargain vacations, quality shopping or a destination for corporate travelers and small meetings.

In 1990 Downtown continued its shift with the opening of the San Diego Convention Center soon thereafter followed by the development of the Gaslamp Quarter. Numerous hotels capitalized on the opportunity including the Intercontinental (now the Marriott Marina), the Hyatt, the Hilton and the Embassy Suites. Petco Park spurred additional growth in the East Village that continues to develop and add hotel product as well as commercial and retail, most recently the new home of Sempra Energy and the San Diego Library.

Outside of Downtown, waterfront communities added little product given Coastal Commission regulations resulting in many renovations. However, the region benefited from the persistence of owners who added product in La Jolla, Pacific Beach and Coronado including the Loews and what is now the Marriott Coronado Bay. Additionally, a handful of new hotels in Mission Valley helped the image of older hotels in need of renovation throughout Hotel Circle.

UTC experienced a recent refresh with its mall but the hotels in that market are the same ones that were developed in the late 1980s.

The Carmel Valley/Del Mar/Sorrento Valley market came to life as local developers, took advantage of this growing submarket.

Beginning in 1989 with the Del Mar Hilton, Del Mar Doubletree Hotel and several focused-service hotels in Sorrento Valley and followed by the anchor Del Mar Marriott Hotel in 2002 and a handful of limited service hotels between 2005 and 2013. Torrey Hills sported the first dual-branded Hilton properties, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn and then the Residence Inn Del Mar opened in 2013.

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The Present Now that we have a basic understanding of the past, let’s turn our attention to what is currently happening in San Diego from a developer’s point of view. Downtown hotel development is soaring with new product and renovations galore from the urban core to East Village and Little Italy. Branded and boutique hotels are part of the urban mix including dual-branded properties along Pacific Coast Highway, the luxury 317-room Pendry Hotel and the recently announced first Ritz-Carlton for San Diego in the East Village.

One of the challenges facing developers is that at this point in the financial cycle, the availability of capital is becoming more difficult.

Foreign investors are adding to the mix as international capital continues to flow into the US given its strong economic underpinnings vis-à-vis the rest of the developed world. Additionally, developers need to adapt to the changing customer base including Millennials, international travelers and meeting planners who are increasingly looking for unique spaces outside of traditional norms and design.

The Future So where does this take us and what can we anticipate moving forward? One of the challenges is to ensure that development is diversified to account for leisure, corporate and other market segments so the economy is not beholden to a particular customer base.

If a new convention center or expansion of the existing convention center is not approved, whether it is tied to a potential Chargers stadium or not, where will the demand come from to fill the 8,000 to 10,000 new hotel rooms planned or under construction? While not necessarily good news for all of the developers, the reality is that not all of the planned hotels will be constructed. Not only will financing soon dry up but the increasing costs of construction, interest rates and labor costs will make many of these projects no longer feasible. And while it is still too early to determine the true impact, Airbnb and increased operating costs, mostly the result of minimum wage increases and new overtime laws, will negatively impact the financial case for development.

While nobody truly knows what the future will bring, we do need to plan wisely to ensure that large conventions continue coming to San Diego. Will Comic Con stay forever? What do we need to do mitigate the risks of Comic Con and other conventions seeking destinations outside our great city? These are the questions that today’s developers are pondering and that San Diego’s leadership needs to debate. The Chargers’ got smoked in the recent election — local leadership has another chance to sit down and get it right on the next go around (we can all look forward to that discussion). We are at the precipice of being a truly great city but we need to ensure that all levels of leadership at the civic, political and business levels are in constant dialogue to prevent the city’s momentum from fizzling out. To leadership and then success in 2017 and the future!

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