Since 1975 guests have been connecting with Big Sur, California through their visits at Ventana Inn & Spa, which sits 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean and offers breathtaking 50-mile expansive views of the water. After more than 30 years of hosting couple retreats, Ventana Inn & Spa is emerging onto the small meetings destination scene. New for 2009, the resort has opened its doors to executive board meetings, leadership retreats and special events as a result of a carefully crafted, property-wide $18 million renovation that included the addition of new meeting space.  Meeting facilities include: The Coast House, The Library and The Gallery, which  range in size from 380 to 740 square feet and  can accommodate small meeting groups from 12 to 20 people.  The three facilities can also host small receptions, lunches and dinners, from 20 to 40 people, while the two Terraces (Upper and Lower) provide larger spaces for receptions, lunches and dinners.  The Upper Terrace, at 3,000 square feet, can seat as many as 120 people, while the Lower Terrace accommodates 80 people in a 3,600-square-foot venue.  The Fireside, a semi-private room, is equipped to handle smaller and more intimate events of up to 40 people.   Ventana also offers the Allegria Spa featuring treatments are designed to relax and nurture the body and spirit as well as team building activities such as Yoga classes.  The Restaurant at Ventana (scheduled to reopen July 15, 2009)  the property’s award winning restaurant, which has panoramic, 50-mile ocean vistas from its terraces and has a cocktail lounge with fireplace. The Restaurant serves lunch and dinner and provides in-room dining for guests.  In the interim, breakfast, lunch, room service and dinner for resort guests are serviced from the Ventana Bistro located in the Inn lobby. For more information visit - www.ventanainn.com - or call (800) 628-6500 or (831) 667 - 2331