Whatever the group size and reason for meeting, the expert staff, caterers, and wide range of audiovisual equipment guarantee productivity, efficiency, and fun for every event. Some corporate occasions call for more intimate “casita conferences.” Morongo’s six handsomely furnished casitas lie off near the pool in a landscape of fan palms, oak and olive trees, desert marigolds, sage, and star jasmine. Groups meeting indoors gather in the Grand Ballroom’s full 12,000-square-foot expanse or divide it into a variety of configurations for breakouts and smaller meetings. In the evening, the lights shine down on the building, not up, to preserve the inky blackness of sky and diamond quality of desert stars.

Of special note, the lighting systems took their cue from the desert topography and light at sunrise, midday, and sunset. Its contemporary 27-story tower stood for the strength and spirit of the founding Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians while paying tribute to the surrounding mountains, sky, and canyons carved by wind and water. Morongo’s four-diamond oasis set a new standard for gaming luxury in California when it opened in December of 2004 at a cost of $250 million.

Mirroring the 44 acres of California desert landscape, a site-sensitive theme ties everything together, from the entry’s porte-cochere structure in the shape of a giant desert bloom to the top-quality details in every guest room and the gardens that serve as engaging backdrops for outdoor events. Less than 20 minutes west of Palm Springs, the 310-room property promises group members something for everyone. From a distance, the AAA Four Diamond Award–winning Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa rises like a mirage from the desert floor between the San Gorgonio and San Jacinto Mountains in Cabazon, California.

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