PIUG 2014 Annual Conference
An International Conference for Patent Information Professionals

Patent Knowledge & IP Strategy:
Riding the Waves of Change to Achieve Business Success

Travel and Tourism

Lodging

Attendees are responsible for making their own hotel reservations at the Hyatt Regency Orange County using the contact information above. Group reservation rates forthcoming.

The hotel is about 25 minutes away from Orange County/John Wayne Airport (SNA) and about 45 minutes away from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

With Disneyland shuttle service available to the world-famous theme parks located just 1.4 miles away, the conference hotel offers easy transit to this major venue. In addition, the hotel has two outdoor heated pools, a hot tub and full sized tennis and basketball courts, plus a 24 hour StayFit™ gym.

Enjoy all of the hotel's recreational facilities, from two outdoor heated pools, hot tub and full-sized tennis and basketball courts, to preferred tee times at premier golf courses. Arrangements for preferred tee time at local golf courses can be made by the Concierge .

View Larger Map

Hotel Reservations

Online hotel reservation at the PIUG group rate are available by the link to the hotel above or here.

The PIUG group rate of $139/night (single/double occupancy) is available from Thursday, April 21 to Saturday, May 7, 2014. The special room rate will only be available until Thursday, April 3, 2014 or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first. If the hotel block sells out before April 3, 2014, the hotel cannot guarantee you will receive the discounted group rate, so please make your reservations as early as possible.

PIUG has also negotiated reduced rates for additional room types:

Travel

By Car

Note that the Hyatt Regency Orange County charges for parking: $16/day (self-park) and $22/day (valet).

From Los Angeles (about 30 miles) and points north

Take Hwy 101 S/US-101 S to I-5 S
Drive on I-5 S to S. Harbor Boulevard in Anaheim
Take the Harbor Boulevard exit and drive to 11999 Harbor Blvd. on the right

From San Diego (about 95 miles) and points south

Take I-5 N to N. Anaheim in Orange
Exit at College Boulevard
Take Orangewood Ave. to S. Harbor Blvd. to 11999

By Train via Amtrak

Take the train to Anaheim Station, Anaheim, CA (2150 Katella Ave) then take a taxicab three miles to the hotel.

From Airports

LAX - Los Angeles International Airport, CA, USA

Driving

I-105 East to
I-605 South to
CA-91 East to
I-5 South
Exit Harbor Boulevard South (Exit 110A)
The Orange County hotel is 1.8 miles on right, at Chapman and Harbor

Distance to hotel: 34 miles
Shared van: US$16
Bus: US$19
Taxi: US$100
Limousine: US$150+

From Orange County/John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, CA, USA

Driving

Follow the airport exit signs to CA-55 North
I-5 North
Exit Chapman Avenue
Turn left on Chapman Avenue
The Orange County hotel is 1.5 miles on right, at Chapman and Harbor

Distance to hotel: 28 miles
Shared van: US$10
Bus: US$19
Taxi: US$45
Limousine: US$150+

Travel to/from hotel from/to local airports and nearby locations

The Super Shuttle shared van (www.supershuttle.com) will take you to/from the hotel from/to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ($16), Orange County/John Wayne Airport (SNA) ($10), Long Beach Airport (LGB) ($35) or even Disneyland. Reservations and details at 310-782-6600 or 1-800 BLUE VAN (1-800-258-3826). Upon arrival, follow the signs to the baggage claim and collect your luggage. Proceed to the outside curb and follow the orange overhead signs to the "Shared Ride Vans" loading zone. At the loading zone, present your confirmation number to the uniformed Customer Service Representative for further assistance.

The Gray Line full-sized buses (www.graylineanaheim.com) run about hourly between the Los Angeles and Orange County/John Wayne airports to/from the Hyatt Regency Orange County hotel. Costs run US$26 (one way), US$33 (round trip) from Los Angeles airport and US$19(one way), US$29(round trip) from John Wayne airport. Buses run from 0600 to 2130 from Los Angeles airport and 0600 to 2000 from John Wayne airport.

The OC Trolley offers complimentary transportation to and from many popular shopping, dining and entertainment venues. Stops include The Outlets at Orange and Anaheim GardenWalk, and it leaves right the hotel's front drive multiple times throughout the day. Contact the hotel Concierge for details.

Area Information

Contact Hyatt Regency Orange County Guest Services at +1-714-740-6051 for more information.

* Thanks to John Willmore of BizInt for the wonderful content of many of these sections. Please refer to the BizInt PIUG 2014 Travel page for another take on "Getting to Garden Grove" and "Things to do in Orange County" as well as for updated information, especially on "Eating Out."

Around the Hotel*

PIUG 2014 is at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, at the intersection of Harbor Blvd and Chapman Ave in Garden Grove, CA. You're actually on the border of Garden Grove and Anaheim - the other side of Harbor is Anaheim.

If you walk out of the hotel and turn left on Harbor, you're 1.5 miles from the entrance to Disneyland and the California Adventure parks. Between the two parks is the Downtown Disney area, which is a good place for souvenir shopping and is filled with restaurants.

Diagonally across the intersection from the hotel is a Walgreens pharmacy and a Target with a grocery store. The next closest grocery store is on Chapman - simply cross Harbor and continue on about 1/2 mile east to Vons.

Rounding out the compass directions, heading south on Harbor will take you past strip shopping malls and a number of less expensive food options, while heading west on Chapman mostly takes you to residential neighborhoods.

Eating Out*

Orange County has a wide variety of cuisines to match a diverse population. In the last several years, the range has expanded to include a lot of innovative and delicious food.

Immediately around the hotel you'll mostly find chain restaurants:

• Outback Steakhouse
• Joe's Crab Shack
• Oggi's Pizza and Brew
• Buca di Beppo
• Ruth's Chris Steak House
• Morton's Steakhouse

At the Gardenwalk (Katella, 1 mile north of hotel, then right):

• Roy's Hawaiian Fusion
• P.F. Changs
• McCormick and Schmick's
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
• Cheesecake Factory

At Downtown Disney:

• Catal - mediterranean dining at Downtown Disney (a personal favorite), with a view of the Disney firework show
• Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
• Napa Rose - expensive but highly rated
• Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar - yes, it's at the Disneyland Hotel, but definitely an adult attraction

Old Town Orange (4 miles east on Chapman):

• Haven Gastropub - excellent food, beer, and cocktails (no reservations)
• Gabbi's Mexican Kitchen - awesome margaritas, six types of mole, can be on the spicy side
• Bruxie - sandwiches on Belgian waffles, both savory and sweet

Downtown Santa Ana (about 5 miles, down I-5 - this is the "in" place in the OC for food and cocktails):

• The Playground
• Little Sparrow
• The Crosby

Elsewhere:

• Marche Moderne - excellent French bistro inside South Coast Plaza
• Hamamori - creative sushi, also at South Coast Plaza
• Darya - excellent Persian, near South Coast Plaza
• Taco Rosa - light, fresh, and excellent Mexican

Museums/Arts

Bowers Museum - Distance 4 miles
Visit this celebrated museum in Santa Ana, which houses 124,000 cultural artifacts on rotation. It is dedicated to "the preservation, study and exhibition of arts from around the world."

2002 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA
Phone: +1-714-567-3600

Discovery Science Center - Distance 5 miles This learning large facility is designed to spark children's natural curiosity, and has been providing fun and education for young minds in Orange County since 1998. Families can explore over 100 hands-on themed exhibits together.

2500 North Main Street
Santa Ana, CA
Phone: +1-714-542-2823

Mission San Juan Capistrano - Distance 28 miles Established in 1776, this Mission is the seventh among 21 California missions. Discover serenity and peace amid the 10 acres of lush gardens and cool fountains, and experience respite from the sights and sounds of a busy world.

26801 Ortega Highway
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Phone: +1-949-234-1300

Old Towne Orange - Distance 4 miles
An 1899 soda fountain diner and antique shops galore make this "Main Street America" experience a trip back into time. Explore the many antique shops and learn what it was like back in 1899 in Anaheim, California.

Orange County Performing Arts Center - Distance 12 miles
Orange County's premier arts venue showcases top performances from Broadway shows to classical concerts. A recent $200 million expansion has transformed this performing arts center into an even more extraordinary arena.

600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
Phone: +1-714-556-2787

Parks/Recreational Areas

Crystal Coast State Park - Distance 20 miles
Crystal Coast State Park is Orange County's only state park attraction. Enjoy 3.5 miles of beautiful, natural beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped, pristine woodland. Additionally, historic beach cottages are available for rent and there is a popular "Underwater Park" on the grounds. Choose your favorite beach activity - surfing, swimming, sunbathing, scuba diving, collecting shells or building sand castles. Mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding are popular things to do on trails through the woodlands. Located off Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beach, the park is easily accessed from I-5, 405 and 73.

Orange County Beaches - Distance from 15 to 35 miles
With more than 42 miles of resplendent coastline, Orange County is a popular beach resort area. Immerse yourself in the quintessential California beach lifestyle experience on our famous beaches. Enjoy days of fun-filled excitement on six area beaches, with exciting activities from boating, kayaking, sailing, fishing and swimming to volleyball, surfing and sunbathing. Don't miss Catalina Island - the only island resort in the state. Choose from six celebrated Orange County beaches, including from North to South:

Seal Beach - Distance 15 miles
Huntington Beach - Distance 12 miles
Newport Beach - Distance 15 miles
Laguna Beach - Distance 20 miles
Dana Point - Distance 30 miles
San Clemente - Distance 35 miles

Disneyland® Resort -- Attractions

Los Angeles Shopping

The Outlets at Orange - Distance 2 miles
This world-class, open-air shopping mall features the best names in manufacturers and retail outlets. Shop at Old Navy, Ann Taylor Factory Store and OFF 5th Saks Fifth Avenue. Discover AMC 30 Theaters, Lucky Strike Lanes, Vans Skate Park (for skateboarding enthusiasts), Alcatraz Brewery and Dave & Buster's. The Outlets at Orange also offers a wide variety of dining choices, including Koji's Sushi & Shabu Shabu, Café Tu Tu Tango, and El Torito Grill.

20 City Boulevard West
Orange, CA 92868
Phone: +1-714-769-4000

South Coast Plaza - Distance 9 miles
Orange County's largest shopping attraction with over 280 boutiques, South Coast Plaza is anchored by Macy's, Saks, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdales. Looking for Gucci handbags, iPods, watches, dresses, bars, entertainment and a dazzling array of cuisine? Great! Discover all that and more at South Coast Plaza.

3333 Bristol St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone: +1-800-782-8888

Fashion Island - Distance 15 miles
Dazzling water features, unique architecture, an open-air promenade, 200 department and specialty stores, 40 restaurants and two Edwards Cinemas theatres makes this shopping center an "experience." Visit this "town center of Newport Beach," where you'll discover breathtaking ocean views and endless shopping and dining variety. Enjoy a carousel with 39 enchanting animals, art exhibits and a variety of special events and activities that are available throughout the year.

401 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA
Phone: +1-949-721-2000

Anaheim Gardenwalk - Distance 2 miles
Enjoy the city's retail and dining center located in the Anaheim resort district, just minutes from Hyatt Regency Orange County. This hip family entertainment hot spot in Orange County offers an interesting mix of fabulous restaurants, retail outlets and entertainment venues. Choose from famous restaurants like Bubba Gump's, Bar Louie, P.F. Chang's, Roy's of Hawaii, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory and more. Appealing to tourists, locals and convention visitors, Gardenwalk is a social hub with concourses and gardens, in addition to offering premium shopping venues.

321 W. Katella
Anaheim, CA 92802
Phone: +1-714-635-7410

Beyond Orange County*

Orange County is just a small part of the state of California. Day trips are possible to Hollywood, the Getty Museum, the San Diego Zoo (or the Wild Animal Park), and many other destinations. If you want to see more of Southern California, you could head south to San Diego, east to Palm Springs and the desert, or north and west to Santa Barbara and the southern California wine country.

A visitor's guide to the Anaheim Resort District is available on AnaheimOC.org.

Contact Hyatt Regency Orange County Guest Services at +1-714-740-6051 for more information.

What to Wear*

The California dress code is casual. A restaurant that requires jacket and tie back east may have a "no cut-off shorts" rule out here. There will always be someone dressed more casually than you, and there will always be someone more dressed up than you. We'll be in the midst of tourists visiting the Disneyland resort. Your conference wear will certainly be plenty dressy for any purpose.

When you are packing for the trip (or for a day of sightseeing), you need to be aware of the local weather. The ocean is a huge factor in the weather along the coast. Most days when you wake up and look out your hotel window, you're going to see heavy clouds - a marine layer of fog off the ocean. This doesn't mean rain - in fact, it would be rare to have any rain in late April. By noon it will be clear and sunny, as the fog burns off. Then, as evening arrives, the marine layer will return. The further inland you go, the less impact the marine layer will have.

The marine layer has two effects. The first is that it is chilly. Even if the weather calls for shorts during the day, you're going to want a light sweater or jacket in the evening. Likewise, if you're heading out for a day of sightseeing, you may dress for the cool weather in the morning, but you should expect it to get much warmer and sunnier during the course of the day. The second effect is to block the sun. If you have fair skin, consider putting on sunscreen first thing in the morning. The transition from cloud to full sun can sneak up on you quickly.

You should also make sure to pack shoes for walking. There are quite a few restaurants in walking distance.

Weather

Typical weather in this area of Southern California is mild, with temperatures in the 70's F (low 20's C) and plenty of sun, with little expectation of rain forecast the time of the meeting, though the temperature can drop significantly once the sun goes down, so a light jacket when going out at night is recommended. Wear a hat and sunscreen, even if it is cloudy during the morning, because the clouds will burn off around noon and it will be very sunny.