Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort & Spa, at 1 Ponto Road in Carlsbad, has 11,345 sq ft of event space, including the 5,766 sq ft Shearwater Ballroom for up to 650 guests and a palm-lined terrace overlooking the sea. Above the Line provides audio, video, lighting and LED for conferences, galas and weddings across the resort.
The resort pairs the Shearwater Ballroom with an ocean-view lawn and terrace, plus a run of smaller meeting rooms. We size sound, video and lighting to each space from the resort's own chart.
Room names, sizes and capacities come from the resort's Events page at hilton.com. Photos are the resort's own. Production notes describe a typical Above the Line setup for each space.
The resort's ballroom for up to 650 guests, with pre-function space and an adjoining lawn and terrace.
Reception 650 · Theater 650 · Banquet 450 · Schoolroom 324
For a general session in the full Shearwater Ballroom, we set a center screen with two side screens, and add a lighting wash to match the coastal colors.
Outdoor spaces beside the ballroom, including the palm-lined terrace overlooking the ocean.
Lawn: Theater 400 · Reception 300 · Banquet 288 · Terrace: Reception 400
For a sunset ceremony on the Shearwater Lawn, we use a small line array aimed away from the guest rooms and a wireless lavalier for the officiant.
Ballroom sections that combine for mid-size meetings and dinners.
Shearwater 1, 2 & 3: Reception 420 · Theater 420 · Banquet 300
In Shearwater 1 & 2, we use two screens on the long wall, so the classroom rows all have a clear view.
The other half of the ballroom, for breakouts or a second session.
Shearwater 4 & 5: Reception 215 · Theater 215 · Banquet 150
When the ballroom splits for two sessions, we run separate audio in each half and check the airwall for sound bleed before doors.
Meeting rooms for breakouts and small meetings, two with their own terraces.
Pelican Watch: Theater 120 · Banquet 96 · Reception 70
For a breakout program across these rooms, we put a matching projector, screen and audio kit in each, so every session runs the same way.
Two small rooms for board meetings of up to 10.
Conference 10 each
For a board meeting in Osprey, we add one display and a conference camera bar, so remote attendees can join.
All figures come from the capacity chart on the resort's Events page.
| Room | Sq ft | Theater | Schoolroom | Conference | Hollow square | U-shape | Reception | Banquet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shearwater Ballroom | ||||||||
| Shearwater Ballroom | 5,766 | 650 | 324 | 84 | 124 | 95 | 650 | 450 |
| Shearwater 1, 2 & 3 | 3,660 | 420 | 260 | 420 | 300 | |||
| Shearwater 3, 4 & 5 | 3,660 | 420 | 260 | 420 | 300 | |||
| Shearwater 1 & 2 | 1,922 | 130 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 215 | 150 | |
| Shearwater 4 & 5 | 1,922 | 215 | 130 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 215 | 150 |
| Shearwater Ballroom 3 | 1,922 | 240 | 108 | 54 | 70 | 59 | 200 | 180 |
| Shearwater Ballroom 1 | 900 | 105 | 48 | 28 | 40 | 35 | 100 | 90 |
| Shearwater Ballroom 2 | 930 | 105 | 48 | 28 | 40 | 35 | 100 | 90 |
| Shearwater Ballroom 4 | 930 | 105 | 48 | 28 | 40 | 35 | 100 | 90 |
| Shearwater Ballroom 5 | 930 | 112 | 70 | 18 | 34 | 26 | 150 | 80 |
| Shearwater Pre-Function 1 | 1,230 | |||||||
| Shearwater Pre-Function 2 | 1,425 | |||||||
| Shearwater Pre-Function 3 | 1,824 | 200 | 110 | |||||
| Outdoor and dining | ||||||||
| Shearwater Lawn1 | 3,081 | 400 | 300 | 288 | ||||
| Shearwater Terrace | 2,808 | 240 | 400 | 192 | ||||
| Pelican Watch Terrace | 798 | 70 | 60 | |||||
| Sandpiper Terrace | 588 | 50 | 40 | |||||
| Chandler's Restaurant | 4,118 | 230 | ||||||
| Outside Dining 1 | 276 | 10 | ||||||
| Outside Dining 2 | 300 | 20 | ||||||
| Outside Dining 3 | 770 | 40 | ||||||
| Meeting rooms | ||||||||
| Pelican Watch | 1,012 | 120 | 63 | 36 | 46 | 38 | 70 | 96 |
| Sandpiper | 780 | 81 | 45 | 28 | 40 | 29 | 50 | 60 |
| Surfbird | 529 | 60 | 27 | 22 | 32 | 23 | 35 | 48 |
| Sanderling Library | 234 | 10 | ||||||
| Osprey | 216 | 10 | ||||||
Sources: Events at hilton.com. Retrieved October 25, 2026. A blank cell means the figure is not published.
1 The chart lists the Shearwater Lawn at 400 theater and 300 reception. Both are shown as published.
Not an official Cape Rey or Hilton website. Confirm every capacity with the resort before contracting.
Wireless and podium mics with a PA tuned for the Shearwater Lawn.
Projection and bright LED displays sized to each room and its daylight.
Warm lighting and uplighting for dinners, receptions and award nights.
LED walls for general sessions, launches and award moments.
Cameras, switching and streaming for hybrid meetings and boardrooms.
We draw layouts from Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach's own room specs and a site walk.
Weather-rated audio and lighting for terraces and outdoor spaces.
Itemized budgets for Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, with every line explained.
Our technicians work alongside the hotel's event team from load-in to strike.
Gear ships from our own Southern California warehouses.
We maintain our inventory from VUE, Shure, Barco, Avid, Yamaha and Sony.
We work in Carlsbad and across North County San Diego every week, from Encinitas, Oceanside and Del Mar to San Marcos and Rancho Santa Fe.
We build walk-in loops, sponsor slides and award graphics sized to your screens.
Our itemized budgets match what is actually in the room.
We keep you updated clearly and consistently from proposal to strike.
Our proposals are drawn from the hotel's own room specs.
In 16 years and 2,113 events, including 85 concerts, our team has handled everything from early design to show day.
Learn More →We support conferences, galas and weddings, from the Shearwater Ballroom to the Shearwater Lawn.
Learn More →Above the Line, your AV partner at Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort & Spa. Succeed Today →
Send your RFP or event plan for Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, and we'll return an itemized quote.
