Big conferences, poolside parties, and a fresh new backdrop for corporate events in San Diego.
San Diego has never been short on great hotels and conference venues.
But every once in a while, something opens that raises the bar.
Enter the Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, the spectacular new waterfront property in Chula Vista.
Opened in May 2025, this $1.35 billion resort is a serious addition to San Diego’s meetings and convention landscape. With 1,600 guest rooms, more than 477,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, expansive ballrooms, waterfront views, and a sprawling pool complex, the Gaylord Pacific was built to do things on a grand scale.
And as we recently discovered, it’s also a fantastic place to photograph an event.
Business Meetings Meet Poolside Fun
We recently had the pleasure of photographing the Unanet Champions Conference 2026, including a wonderfully colorful poolside social that was anything but your typical corporate gathering.
Think tropical shirts, oversized sunglasses, cocktails, plenty of laughter, and a synchronized swimming performance that had everyone reaching for their phones.
For our photographers, it was a welcome departure from the usual conference rooms, podiums, and PowerPoint presentations.
The resort’s outdoor spaces, contemporary architecture, and beautiful San Diego light made for an exceptional photographic backdrop. But what made the event particularly memorable were the people, the personalities, and the energy.
And that’s precisely what we love to photograph.
A Welcome Addition to San Diego’s Corporate Event Scene
The Gaylord Pacific gives meeting planners something special: the infrastructure to accommodate large conventions, combined with the atmosphere of a Southern California resort.
It’s an appealing combination for companies looking to bring people together, conduct business, and create experiences their attendees will actually remember.
For those of us who photograph corporate events throughout San Diego, it’s exciting to have another world-class venue in our own backyard.
And judging by our first experience, we’re looking forward to spending a lot more time there.
Planning a corporate event at the Gaylord Pacific?
At Barnett Corporate Photo, we’ve spent more than 30 years photographing corporate conferences, conventions, executive gatherings, and special events throughout San Diego and beyond.
We’d love to help tell the story of yours.
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