Convention Center Face Lift Moves Ahead

As for the new-and-improved Anaheim Convention Center, the renovation and expansion is two-thirds complete, including the towering glass facade looking out on the Hilton and Marriott convention hotels.

As convention officials promote the facility, they are especially excited by the plans for more restaurants, nightclubs and movie theaters in the area, at the Downtown Disney area going up as part of Disney’s expansion, and at competing sites such as Pointe Anaheim.

“The criticism was always that there was nothing to do at night in Anaheim,” said Charles Ahlers, president of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor and Convention Bureau. “They won’t be saying that anymore.”

E. Scott Reckard covers tourism for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-7407 and at [email protected].