After an extensive transformation, Hotel Irvine has opened as the newest and only lifestyle hotel of its kind to hit the hospitality scene in Orange County, California, revealing a sleek and vibrant modern look, a reinvented personality and service experience, unique and compelling new value propositions, unsurpassed technological enhancements, as well as an interactive social hub and authentic collection of independently minded culinary offerings for locals and guests alike.
“As an independent brand, our innovative approach provides us with the unique opportunity to reinvent the concept of a lifestyle hotel without the constraints of a brand or chain,” said Ralph Grippo, President of Irvine Company Resort Properties. “Our role has always and continues to be to break new ground. The concept of lifestyle hotels has been around in places like Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and San Francisco, but it is new for the city of Irvine, located in Orange County.”
The way consumers are traveling is changing, including younger generations traveling for business and pleasure who desire unique encounters, diverse experiences, cultural immersions and transformative moments. Hotel Irvine’s “HI” experience is personal at every touch point, with all the usual offerings found in a typical hotel, yet in an entirely new way, that is anything but typical, especially for Orange County. Hotel Irvine is like the friend who knows you and just seems to get things right all the time. Also new are a number of amenities for every guest who stays, with no extra charge, including WiFi access, Chef’s Everyday Breakfast, 24-hour food service room delivery, transportation to and from John Wayne Airport, health and fitness activities and even complimentary water in the guest room.
Irvine has a new 16,000 square foot dining and entertainment hub, which just happens to be at Hotel Irvine. There’s a restaurant called EATS Kitchen & Bar, a bar/lounge called Red Bar and a Marketplace.
In the morning, the day gets started with cheerful melodic music, bright lighting, the smell of coffee permeating the Front Room and fresh pastries and juices squeezed in Marketplace. A person may start out by grabbing a bite in the morning at Marketplace, work on their laptop for a while and then move into EATS Kitchen & Bar for lunch.
The EATS Kitchen & Bar menu has a simple range of American classics with a comfort food/gastro pub approach to each dish, created by Orange County’s locally known Chef Jason Montelibano. The restaurant feels like what you would expect of your favorite comfortable, neighborhood joint serving updated versions of old pub favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner, including killer burgers, craft beers, wine flights and shared plates in a gastro pub style at an affordable price.
At mid-day, Red Bar becomes the place people will come to stay for a while, with cozy lounge furniture, readily available Wi-Fi connectivity and communal areas, including long cushy sofas and small group seating. Happy Hour begins early and the mood shifts to a more energetic style of music and engagement. The staff at EATS cooks nightly dinner specials and the fire pit beckons guests to venture out onto the patio.
When evening arrives, hotel guests, locals and business people from nearby offices can shed their work day, find a comfortable spot at Hotel Irvine to enjoy casual music and unwind. It will be hard to pass Red Bar without stepping into the space, as it is a focal point of the newly renovated lobby, with its jewel box of cut glass and bright colors and unique frosted red bar top. The adjacent TV lounge, with its jumbo multi screen, will televise sporting events and the adjacent outdoor deck will offer live music and weekend DJs to become the hottest social gathering place in Irvine, Orange County.
The downstairs lobby is like the hotel’s “great room,” with places to relax or to link online or for social engagement. Yet, as part of the overall transformation of the hotel, all 536 rooms and suites have been completely renovated. The remodel is not about just paint, carpet and furnishings, but offers a completely different attitude and approach in providing guests with a comfortable retreat from the craziness of their day and thoughtful engagement on how they use the room. The guest rooms are comfortable, private, places to take a load off after the day and lay your head at night. The décor is subtle, sleek and modern with bright color accents and each room has wireless blue tooth connections, as well as fun games and popular magazines.
The hotel is in the heart of Irvine, surrounded by preeminent professional service firms and regional offices of Fortune 500, technology, automotive and other industries. With an updated décor, finishing and overall rejuvenated experience, as well as the largest ballroom in South Orange County, it’s the go to place for meetings and events. An expert catering team presents locally sourced, authentic and memorable culinary offerings created exclusively for events by the hotel’s executive chef.
Coming in January are technology advancements in the meeting spaces and a theater outfitted with a high-tech interactive wall and updated work stations. The Hotel’s expertly designed Backyard will feature a new 6,000 square foot Pavilion, an 8,000 square foot lawn, an upgraded Pool & Wet Bar, and Cabana Room. In the near future the Backyard will become an adult playground hosting a variety of public events in a wide-open outdoor venue.
“Hotel Irvine is destined to make a name for itself as the new hub for business and social events, setting itself apart from the sea of uninspiring and monotonous hotel chains that were previously available in Irvine,” said JD Shafer, General Manager of Hotel Irvine.
