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OC Destination Marketing Organizations Join Together to Form OC Sports Commission

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Destination Irvine, the destination marketing organization of the Greater Irvine Chamber, in partnership with Visit Anaheim, Travel Costa Mesa, Visit Dana Point, Visit Huntington Beach, and Visit Laguna Beach, has formed the Orange County Sports Commission (OCSC). OSCS is a collection of Orange County destinations partnering together to improve the vitality of the Orange County economy and to enrich the community by attracting, creating, managing, and enhancing significant sporting and competitive events. “Our partnership with the OC Sports Commission will further enhance our director of sports sales’ efforts, increasing our capacity to host national and international sporting events. In addition, the partnershi...

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Roamaroo, a popular travel blog, featured Irvine’s diverse dining portfolio and ample parks and open space. The post highlights writers Collette and Scott Stohler’s adventures in the city which included hikes on the miles of trails throughout Quail Hill, San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, and Bommer Canyon. “If you’re looking for a great place to go hiking and/or mountain biking, Bommer Canyon is the place for you! This beautiful trail allows hikers and bikers to enjoy the great outdoors of Irvine. While you’re close to the action of Irvine, Bommer Canyon is far enough away that it’s the perfect place to enjoy peac...

Sonesta Hotel Brand Now in Irvine

Tuesday, November 05, 2019

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has expanded the brand’s national footprint to include Sonesta Irvine – Orange County Airport, formerly the Wyndham Irvine. Sonesta Irvine offers 335 rooms and suites and 11 venues totaling 7,500 square feet of flexible meeting space. Sonesta Irvine is set in the Irvine business district near Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, and with easy access to local corporate headquarters, iconic California attractions, and some of the West Coast's most idyllic beaches. Guests have access to the hotel's state-of-the-art fitness center and indoor pool as well as Copper Chef Kitchen & Bar featuring farm-to-table Californian cuisine. “The Sonesta bran...

Destination Irvine Winner in the 2019 MarCom Awards Competition

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Destination Irvine received a Platinum Award in the MarCom 2019 Competition for the organization’s 2019-2020 Official Irvine Visitors Guide and a Gold Award for the video “Irvine, The Sports Center of Orange County;” the video “Meet in Irvine, CA” received an Honorable Mention. The MarCom Awards recognize outstanding achievement by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design, and production of marketing and communication materials and programs. Entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies, and freelancers. More than 6,500 entries from throughout the United States, Canada, and 17 other countries were submitte...

Destination Irvine Recognizes Hotel Employee as part of the Spirit of Hospitality Award

Monday, October 28, 2019

Debbie Godoy Masaya, guest services representative, Irvine Marriott, is the first quarter recipient of Destination Irvine’s hospitality employee recognition program. Masaya was nominated for being a true team player and motivator in her department and for always going above and beyond for guests with great empathy, a genuine smile, and a calm, positive demeanor. Her efforts have resulted in enhanced team communication and collaboration. The Spirit of Hospitality Award recognizes back of house and front of house hospitality professionals who deliver exceptional experiences daily. Winners in this category are those who exhibit exemplary behavior in workplace knowledge, customer service, problem-solving, relationship buildin...

American Research Center in Egypt Chooses Irvine for 2022 Annual Meeting

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

The American Research Center in Egypt (ACRE) will host its April 2022 Annual Meeting in Irvine, bringing to the city a total of 730 room nights with an anticipated economic impact of nearly $270,000. The booking is a result of the sales efforts of Destination Irvine, the destination marketing organization of the Greater Irvine Chamber and the participation of select Irvine hotels. “I had a splendid time during my site visit to Irvine! Being as it was my first visit to the area, I went from knowing next to nothing about Irvine to being able to confidently discuss the area and it...

FivePoint to Keep Great Park Balloon Aloft and Free for Riders

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

In an Oct. 22 decision, FivePoint entered into a sponsorship agreement with the City of Irvine to support the operation and maintenance of the Great Park Balloon—originally a gift from the developer to the city—for the next five fiscal years, and drop the $10 admission charge for riders. The balloon has been at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine since before there even was a park. During this time, more than 500,000 riders have actively enjoyed the balloon, which has become a widely recognizable attraction at the Great Park. Until Irvine struck the sponsorship deal with FivePoint, city leaders worrie...

Home for USA Water Polo to Make a Splash at Orange County Great Park

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Irvine officials have agreed to move ahead with plans for a top-shelf water polo complex at the Orange County Great Park. Under a partnership with developer FivePoint Holdings, which created many of the park’s existing features, the city will build an aquatics facility where the U.S. Olympic team will train as well as a field house for basketball and volleyball and a parking garage to serve those and the park’s other sports facilities. “I think we’ll finally be able to call Irvine our home,” two-time Olympian Maggie Steffens said in celebrating the facility where the U.S. men’s and women’s water polo teams will b...

Irvine Extends its Run as Host City for NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship Through 2021

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Irvine was the host city the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Soccer National Championship in 2018 and will again host the tournament this year in November. The NAIA announced on Oct. 4 that the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) has reached an agreement to extend its contract as the host of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship through the 2020 and 2021 seasons in Irvine. “We are happy to continue to have Irvine as the home of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship. With the support of the Anaheim Ducks and Destination Irvine, the GSAC is able to provide a tremendous championship experience fo...

Irvine’s Exclusive Attractions Featured in Popular Blog

Wednesday, October 09, 2019

A taste of the modern, Mexican cuisine at Puesto, a premier shopping experience at Irvine Spectrum Center, a full-moon hike in Bommer Canyon, and a Pedego electric bike ride to the Orange County Great Park were among the Irvine-exclusive activities featured by Michelle Robinson on her blog, Modern Day Moguls. “Every city I go to from here on out I plan on finding a Pedego nearby to take a tour via bike. These were so fun and give you a great way to view the city,” said Robinson. “Irvine has bike trails everywhere!” Robinson’s visit to Irvine was a result of ...

Destination Irvine Generates a Record $18.5 Million in Hotel Revenue

Wednesday, September 04, 2019

Destination Irvine generated $18.5 million in hotel revenue for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, a 117% increase from the previous year, and the greatest revenue generated in a single year for the organization. The total revenue is a combination of direct group sales and marketing campaigns conducted by the Greater Irvine Chamber’s destination marketing organization. Direct group sales efforts brought in more than $7.7 million in revenue and daily spend, compared to $6.8 million the previous year, and filled more than 31,800 room nights for meetings groups, sports events, leisure visitors, and business travelers. Destination Irvine’s marketing campaigns, including a CBS social influence...

Destination Irvine Winner in the 2019 Videographer Awards

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Destination Irvine recently received an Award of Distinction in the 2019 Videographer Awards for the organization’s “Irvine, The Sports Center of Orange County” video, and an Honorable Mention for its “Meet In Irvine, CA” video. The award comes after numerous others that the Chamber’s destination sales and marketing division has garnered this and previous years. Wendy Haase, vice president of Destination Irvine, worked with Lyons Studios on production of the video. “Our video content is an important component of our marketing strategy,” Haase said, “Video is an excellent mode to convey the many attractive aspects of Irvine and it is highly effectiv...

Irvine Featured in Gentry Destinations Magazine

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Irvine’s miles of hiking and biking trails and premier shopping and dining options were featured in the June/July 2019 issue of Gentry Destinations, a quarterly luxury travel publication. The feature was a result of travel writer Carolyn McCusker’s visit to Irvine, during which she was hosted by Destination Irvine for a one-day itinerary as part of the OC Visitors Association North America initiative. “Irvine provides a wealth of family-friendly activities. Whether you are a day-packer, a bike-rider, or just desire a peaceful stroll, with its 16,000 acres of open space and 50 miles of off-road trails, Irvine has a trail for ever...

Greater Irvine Chamber Named a Best Place to Work for the Second Year by OCBJ

Monday, July 01, 2019

The Greater Irvine Chamber has been named a Best Places to Work in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal, for the second consecutive year. “The Board of Directors congratulates the professional staff at the Greater Irvine Chamber for being named a 2019 Best Place to Work,” said Kate Klimow, chief administrative officer and director of external relations, UCI Beall Applied Innovation, and chair, Greater Irvine Chamber Board of Directors. “The Chamber staff has cultivated a winning workplace as it works to advance economic vitality in the region.” The professional staff at the Chamber benefits from a work culture that encourage...

Destination Irvine Releases 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Destination Irvine has released its 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide, a resource that visitors use when looking for where to stay, play, meet, and eat in Irvine. Destination Irvine distributes 35,000 copies of the guide to locations throughout Irvine, including hotels, the Orange County Great Park Visitors Center, Irvine Metrolink/Amtrak Station, John Wayne and Ontario airports, California Welcome Centers throughout the state, University of California, Irvine, and the Irvine Spectrum Center visitor kiosk. The annually updated promotional publication is also distributed in key markets like Arizona, Seattle, and Texas. The guide is utilized at tradeshows and media marketplaces. View the 2019-2020 Irvine Visitors Guide digita...

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