Long known as the host of the Coast, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort offers groups a quintessential Southern California experience. The only full-service waterfront resort and spa in Newport Beach accommodates gatherings of up to 1,000 guests on the coast at Newport Bay.

The largest affairs take place in the Grand Ballroom, where the decor includes beaded crystal chandeliers, damask wall coverings, plush Italian-style carpeting, and high-beamed ceilings. The 7,000-square-foot venue opens to the Coconut Grove, an open-air terrace ideal for mingling over cocktails.

Eleven additional rooms and two outdoor areas accommodate from 10 to 230 guests. Thanks to the resort’s waterfront locale, planners also have the option of booking cruise parties aboard a chartered yacht, launched right from the club’s private marina. No matter what the setting, dedicated meeting, catering, and audiovisual support staffs ensure a seamless event.

Like any good host, the resort prides itself on supremely comfortable accommodations. The 132 guest rooms average 500 square feet and feature marble bathrooms with sunken tubs, pillow-top mattresses with crisp duvets, high-speed Internet access, and bay views from a private terrace or balcony. The Presidential Suite tops the list of ten suites with its three bedrooms, grand piano, fireplace, dining and lounge areas, and breathtaking views of Newport Bay.

Participants make the most of their free time by sunning beside the Olympic-size heated pool, working out in the health club, or sampling treatments at the club’s comprehensive spa. Planned outings might take groups to the Orange County Performing Arts Center; the area’s upscale shops, golf courses, or beaches; and Catalina Island, located just 25 miles off the coast.

At home, The First Cabin restaurant presents stylish California- inspired cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Participants enjoy million-dollar views as they dine inside near the bay windows or alfresco on the terrace. For those wishing to dine in their rooms, The First Cabin provides room service 24 hours a day. Duke’s Place, named for actor and former member John Wayne, lightens the mood with live entertainment and dancing every night.

Today’s guests follow in the footsteps of illustrious Balboa Bay Club members such as Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope. These days the property extends its hospitality to groups, whose members invariably leave feeling like stars.