[ExI] Question: Conference in San Francisco Venue Options

[F. C. Moulton]

Much of the answer depends on the details of the question:
1. How many attending? What kind of event is planned?  A one day or a
full weekend (Friday night, all day Saturday and most of Sunday)? What
is the price range?
The price range is likely a major determining factor.  A one day event
means that hotel space is less of an issue.  If a lot of people are
coming in from out of town what kind of hotel will they want to stay at?
 Some hotels will discount the function space if there are enough hotel
rooms being sold.

2. From where are most of the attendees coming?
If most are in San Jose area then it makes sense to have near San Jose.
If most are further north then Burlingame or San Mateo might work.
If most are in San Francisco or Berkeley or Oakland then check there.
If most are flying in then which do we know which airport?  The various
airlines are not uniformly represented by flights to the big three
airports in the area; Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco.
Also will people flying in need to rent a car?  That can jack up the
cost. The three three airports connect either directly or via a shuttle
bus to a transit system; Oakland and San Francisco airports connect to
BART, San Jose airport connects to VTA light rail.  If the event is held
at a hotel with airport shuttle then that handles some of the
transportation issues.  Also consider if people are driving what are the
parking charges.  One more thing about driving from an airport remember
that Friday afternoon or evening will be very congested in some areas so
the simple 45 minute drive from the airport can turn into the better
part of two hours in some cases.

3. What kind of ambiance is desired?  What audio video infrastructure is
needed?  How many people?
A high end place such as the San Jose Rep can run several thousand per
day  http://www.sjrep.com/about/rent/  but does have the advantage of
being next to a light rail stop and in the middle of San Jose so there
are lots of places to eat.  Less upscale is a university campus; the
rate sheet for San Jose State University student union is at
https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http://www.union.sjsu.edu/su/SU_Event_Services/docs/Room%2520Rental%2520Rates.pdf&pli=1
Also there Morris Daily Auditorium on the SJSU campus can hold a lot of
people:
http://www.livesv.com/venue/detail/2743/Morris_Dailey_Auditorium_San_Jose_State_University
And there a lots of hotels in San Jose with ballroom space such as the
Sainte Claire.
Also the Tech Museum rents there facility
http://www.thetech.org/about-us/facility-rentals

Fred