About Oakland
Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay area and serves as a major trade hub. Home to Lake Meritt (rumored home of the Oak-ness Monster), Oakland is one of the most diverse cities in the United States. The city is extremely vibrant and picturesque with its own redwoods a few miles from the city center.
The weather in Oakland is pleasant all year round. The summers are typically long, comfortable, and with clear skies whereas winters are short with a few clouds blocking direct sunlight. That said, it’s got some of the most comfortable weather in the country no matter the time of year.
There are definitely a few quirky things about Oakland like the hundreds of hidden staircases or the fact that one of the city’s most popular parks is a cemetery, Mountain View Cemetery. But all said and done, it continues to be an extremely popular city and a business hub which means there are tons of resources and professional spaces for you to host your meeting.
Meeting Space Options in Oakland
Being a trade hub and business capital, Oakland has plenty of options for a meeting space. However, if you want your meeting to be a success, there are a few more things to consider. But don’t worry, there are plenty of local businesses that can help you organize the perfect meeting.
- Furniture Rentals
Often while renting meeting spaces, furniture may or may not be included. Luckily, there are plenty of rental companies in Oakland that can help you with all your furniture requirements. Most of these spaces also offer AV equipment, projector screens, and other tech equipment you might need for the meeting.
- Transportation
If people are coming from out-of-town for your meeting, or you want to ensure timely arrivals, then there’s nothing like hiring a transportation service. Whether it’s an airport pickup or one from a hotel, a transportation service goes a long way in reducing the stress involved for all the attendees.
- Catering
Depending on the duration, time, and agenda of the meeting, organizing a catering service to take care of the food requirements will greatly aid in making the meeting a success. Yes, people do get hungry during meetings, and caterers not only provide you with the food but also do all the cleanup later. This is especially useful if anyone has any food allergies or preferences as a catering service will cater to their tastes as well.
- Photographers
Although you may not be inclined to hire a photographer for a team meeting, hear us out. Not only are they great at capturing important moments like an award ceremony or team-building exercises, but they also help create content for your company’s social media and there can never be enough of that.
Meeting Space Companies in Oakland
Now, you can go about organizing all these services individually, or you can hire a professional event planner to take care of all the arrangements for your meeting space. Whether it’s someone to help you with just a few details, or someone to take over the planning completely, there are plenty of options across all price ranges in Oakland that you can choose from.
- Barbara Llwellyn Catering & Event Planning
Based in Oakland, Barbra Llwellyn has over thirty years of event planning and catering experience. The team has organized all sorts of corporate and social events both on-site and off. With a deep network of resources in and around the Oakland area, their team is fully equipped to handle your meeting space requirements.
- Oakland Venue Management
Featuring a community-centric business model, Oakland venue Management offers event and production services for all sectors. The team has organized over 4,000 successful events and has the capabilities to take over all the prep required for your meeting.
- Special D Events
A company where all event managers are certified in Virtual Event and Meeting Management, Special D Events has 30 years of experience managing events all over the country. The team offers plenty of different services that can be helpful while organizing a meeting.
Pros and Cons of Meeting Spaces in Oakland
Oakland is a great place for any event, but there are a few cons to the city as well. Here are a few things you should keep in mind while renting a meeting space in Oakland.
Advantages
- Venues
In a city as large and business-centric as Oakland, there are plenty of amazing meeting venues that you can choose from.
- Climate
Oakland has mild, amazing weather throughout the year; so it’ll be easy for all services to run smoothly without any weather delays.
- Culturally diverse
Oakland is a culturally diverse city, and if you’re organizing a networking event, this will work in your favor.
- Wonderful attractions
Apart from meeting times, your guests will have loads to do in the city. All this makes your meeting event more memorable.
- Event planners
A large city means plenty of event planning experts including caterers, rental services, and A/V technicians.
Disadvantages
- High costs
Oakland is a costly city across the board and these costs will reflect on the amount you spend for a successful meeting event.
- Horrible traffic
Oakland has been ranked as the 4th worst city in the US in terms of traffic. So if your guests are driving to the location, they may be irritated on arrival.
- Humidity
With an average humidity of 75%, Oakland can be quite humid all year. So wearing heavy suits and formal attire might not be the preferred choice for the guests.
- Crime levels
Oakland has a higher than average crime rate.
Famous Locations in Oakland
- Lake Merritt
With a three-mile shoreline, Lake Meritt is an oasis of tranquility in the heart of the city. The idyllic parkland with extensive lawns and luxuriant trees house seven acres of beautiful themed gardens. You can also indulge in bird-watching and water sports here. There are also plenty of restaurants you can eat at while taking in the waterfront, and the last surviving Victorian mansion, the Camron-Standford House, is open for public tours on Sundays in the summer and spring.
- Oakland Museum of California
California has been a hub of culture and art before Hollywood, and the Oakland Museum of California presents all this and more with engaging exhibits and extensive collections. The rich heritage and culture of California really come to life at the venue. What’s more, every Friday, the museum hosts an event that includes half-off admissions and plenty of activities that you can partake in.
- Redwood Regional Park
Amidst the urban jungle, the Redwood Regional Park is a well-kept treasure for all citizens of Oakland. The pristine forest is just a few miles outside downtown Oakland and plays home to several species of flora and fauna. The forest’s peaceful vibes are inviting for picnics, hikes, camping, and all sorts of nature-centric activities.