Latest News

Keeping Data Safe During Business Expansion

Sunday, September 12, 2021

When considering expansion to the U.S., it’s essential to prioritize technology and cybersecurity infrastructure and protecting personally identifiable information. Even more important than designing the physical layout while planning office space is determining how potentially sensitive and proprietary data will be stored and accessed. Whether critical data is stored internally or in cloud-based platforms will affect how that information is accessed, reviewed, and used for business functions. The customization and complexity of wireless infrastructure and cloud-based data centers allow various businesses to operate optimally. Medical technology companies characteristically need to factor in regulatory compliance and patient confidentiality associated with accessing data fro...

There’s Something Special About Gyutan Ramen in Irvine

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

(Orange County Register) Food critic Brad Johnson reports on Gyutan Ramen. Here's what he said about the new ramen restaurant in Irvine: The great ramen swarm continues. More than a half dozen additional ramen shops have opened in Orange County in the past six months, and the most impressive of this new crop is Gyutan Ramen in Irvine’s University Center. “Gyutan” is the Japanese term for beef tongue, and that’s the house specialty here — available in limited quantities. The broth for the gyutan ramen is made with a bright, wonderfully aromatic consommé-like beef broth, which is punctuated with a custardy boiled eg...

Irvine Restaurant Porch & Swing Featured in Westways Magazine

Monday, August 30, 2021

The fall 2021 issue of Westways Magazine included a feature of Porch & Swing in Irvine. Here’s what reporter Miles Clement wrote: This Southern-leaning restaurant is a case study of hard-won success. Despite launching at the outset of the lockdowns, Porch & Swing still managed to become one of Orange County’s most lauded new dining rooms. That feat might at first seem improbable. Porch & Swing occupies the bottom corner of an office tower in a palm tree-lined corporate courtyard. The setting is pleasant but sterile, the kind of space that’s barren by dusk. But that same emptiness allows Porch & Swing to tak...

Renovated Great Park Carousel Reopens to Public August 12

Tuesday, August 10, 2021

The City of Irvine is excited to announce the reopening of the Great Park Carousel after undergoing renovations. Improvements to this family-favorite attraction at the Great Park in Irvine include the repainting of 12 animals; replacement of the decking, mirrors, and artwork; re-polished brass; and new coats of polyurethane to keep the carousel in optimal shape for years to come. Members of the public are invited to an official reopening ribbon-cutting event on Aug. 12, 10 a.m. to view the updated Carousel. The renovation project began in 2020, with work performed mostly during pandemic-related closure. Work will continue on the remaining carousel animals...

Palm Court Arts Complex at the Orange County Great Park Celebrates its 10th Anniversary

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

The Palm Court Arts Complex at the Orange County Great Park will celebrate its 10th anniversary during a reception for the Great Park Gallery’s summer exhibition, Chuck Jones: Season of Creativity. The Palm Court Arts Complex first opened to the public in 2011, and the community is invited to a special exhibition reception Sunday, August 1 at noon to honor a decade of art, creativity, and community. The Palm Court Arts Complex comprises: historic Hangar 244, a 10,000-square-foot events and gallery space; the Great Park Gallery featuring rotating exhibitions; the Artist Studios, a gathering and programs space; and the Palm Court, wit...

UCI Beall Applied Innovation is Helping Make Irvine a Growing Startup Hub

Monday, July 26, 2021

An award-winning innovator who started an agricultural technology company. A University of California, Irvine alumnus who founded a medical device company. A UCI professor who’s producing rapid tests for COVID-19 and other diseases. Their backgrounds are as different as their companies, but they all launched their ventures at UCI Beall Applied Innovation. The City of Irvine recently landed on WalletHub’s list of the best big cities in which to start a business and was ranked first for access to related resources. That’s no accident. Irvine’s success is part of a concerted effort that kicked into high gear in 2014 when Applied Innovation opene...

Irvine Ranch Landmarks Reopen Wilderness Access Days

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

(Times OC) Nature lovers can now return to the natural landmarks of Irvine Ranch with Wilderness Access Days, which had been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Irvine Ranch Conservancy, along with OC Parks and the city of Irvine, reopened the free public events last weekend with a public hike in Black Star Canyon. “Irvine Ranch Conservancy staff, volunteers and partners are excited to welcome visitors back to experience the beauty of the Landmarks,” Dave Raetz, the conservancy’s vice president and chief operating officer, said in a press release. “Throughout the pandemic, IRC staff and landowners worked diligently to restore and preserv...

Travel Industry Poised to Boost California’s Recovery

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

(CalChamber) Summer is traditionally the most popular time for travel in California and with vaccination counts climbing and restrictions being lifted, 2021’s summer travel season is well underway. The state’s official re-opening June 15 kicked California’s economic recovery into high gear with restaurants, hotels, and attractions able to operate without imposed limits. From restaurants to resorts and theme parks to wineries, California’s tourism industry is beginning to witness a much-needed increase in activity and some pent-up demand for travel across the state. Statewide, hotels saw occupancy exceed 70% in June for the first time since March 2020. With virtually no restrictions remaining, California’...

Waste Management Renews as Greater Irvine Chamber Gold-Level Leaders Circle Partner

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Waste Management has renewed as a gold-level Leaders Circle partner of the Greater Irvine Chamber. A Chamber member since 1979, Waste Management is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management, offering services such as garbage collection and disposal, recycling, and dumpster rental. Waste Management has been listed on the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for North America and the World. This distinction marks a recognition of the company’s corporate sustainability leadership within the industry. Leaders Circle members of the Greater Irvine Chamber are among the most influential companies and organizations in Irvine and Orange County. They take a proactive role in supporting the region’s business community at the highest level. For information on ho...

Irvine, Orange County Among Best Places To Live In US Reports Say

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

(Patch) Irvine is among the top 100 best places to live in the U.S., according to a recent report from Niche. The towns on the list are known in general for their low crime rates, proximity to good jobs, and strong school systems. Niche—that connects people to their future schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces—analyzes and ranks factors such as livability, crime rates, the housing market and trends, schools, employment, and access to other amenities and resources. Rankings are based on city data from the U.S. Census, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Centers for Disease Control and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Irvine is #11 on the list...

Irvine officials Discuss Renaming Orange County Great Park to include City Name

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

(Orange County Register) The Orange County Great Park has sports fields, ice rinks and other facilities used by athletes from around the county and beyond, and plans are in the works to add other regional attractions including a water park, children’s museum and Marine Corps aviation museum. But the park’s roughly 1,300 acres lie within Irvine city limits, and the city funds and operates the park. So what’s in a name? Irvine city leaders planned to discuss renaming the recreation mecca as the Irvine Great Park during a July 13 City Council meeting. “I think we’ve been working very hard on branding Irvine and really highlightin...

Destination Irvine Finishes Fiscal Year Strong

Monday, July 12, 2021

Destination Irvine (DI) saw a measurable increase in the number of leads sent and room nights booked for future group business during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. Between April and June, the DI sales team sent 101 leads and booked 3,208 room nights worth nearly $750,500 in economic impact. Two major sporting events booked for the new fiscal year include Curling Night in America, scheduled for August 2021, and USA Synchro Championships in April 2022. Combined economic impact worth is estimated to be $290,000. “As soon as the state reopened on June 15, we received 17 leads for future busines...

Irvine is the Best City for an Active Lifestyle

Tuesday, July 06, 2021

The cities that provide the necessary infrastructure as well as integrate nature into the built environment can better support our adoption of healthy and active lifestyles. In that regard, Irvine came out as the best city for leading an active lifestyle. In order to identify the best places in the US for active lifestyles, STORAGECafé compared the 100 largest cities based on a weighted index of 18 key indicators such as venues for exercising, walkability, bike-friendliness and natural conditions. Here are some of our key findings: Irvine ranks as the best city for the composite score of outdoor livability among the 100 larges...

Wild Rivers Water Park Groundbreaking July 7 at the Orange County Great Park

Tuesday, July 06, 2021

Construction on the Wild Rivers Water Park at the Orange County Great Park will begin July 7. In April 2020, the Irvine City Council approved a location and lease for the water park. In November, the Irvine Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit for the 20-acre project at the southeast corner of Great Park Blvd. and Skyhawk. Wild River’s plans include multiple components including in-ground slides, pools, and thrill slides. As currently proposed, there will be 20 attractions available on opening day, with additional attractions planned for the future, including a potential 3-acre expansion. “I’m beyond thrilled to brin...

The Travel & Tourism Industry Plays a Critical Role in Restoring the Economy

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

By Bryan Starr, President & CEO, Greater Irvine Chamber As published in the Orange County Business Journal, June 29, 2021 The COVID-19 pandemic caused global economic hardship with the travel industry being the hardest hit, even more so than it was during the Great Recession. Prior to the pandemic, travel spending in Irvine contributed nearly $781 million to the city’s economy, supporting nearly 6,000 jobs, and generating nearly $50 million in state and local tax revenue. In 2020 there was a nearly 57% decline in travel spending and a loss of approximately 1,570 jobs, proving just how important the economic impact o...

Irvine Ranked in Survey as California’s Best Place to Start a Business

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

(Orange County Register) Irvine was ranked California’s best big city to start a business, in a recent survey by WalletHub. WalletHub’s review of 21 economic and demographic metrics for 100 large U.S. cities created an overall national ranking from breakdowns for each locale’s business environment; access to resources; and business costs. Seventeen California cities made the 100-city scorecard: Irvine: No. 20 overall in the U.S.— No. 6 environment; No. 1 resources; and No. 97 in costs. Long Beach: No. 26 overall — from No. 14 environment; No. 32 resources; and No. 82 in costs. Fresno: No. 27 overall — No. 47 environment; No. 56 resources; and No. 35 in costs. Oakland: No. 30 overall &mdash...

Host Your Group Meeting in Irvine

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Irvine is home to 22 hotels ranging from full-service and all-suite properties to boutique and economy with nearly 4,900 sleeping rooms and thousands of square feet of flexible meeting space to accommodate 10 to 1,200 people, with safety measures in place. The Greater Irvine Chamber's Destination Irvine team can assist you with planning just about every detail of your event. From proposal requests to site selection, itinerary planning to activity arrangements, we are dedicated to ensuring your meeting or event in Irvine is a success. Conveniently located in the center of Orange County, Irvine is a premiere Southern California meeting and event destination that is affordable and easil...

11 Great Things About Living in Irvine

Monday, February 08, 2021

Irvine residents already what makes it a great city in which to live, play, and work. And there are well beyond 11 reasons. But to help those who are interested in moving to Irvine, Extra Space Storage has put together a list of 11 of the master-planned city's desirable qualities. Recognized as one of the happiest cities in America and one of the best U.S. cities for raising a family, this California city is incredibly safe, offers a rapidly growing job market, and has an abundance of family-friendly activities. Here are 11 things you need to know about living in Irvine! Plant Roots in America’s Safest City Phot...

Irvine is Safest City of its Size for 15th Year

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

For the 15th consecutive year, Irvine is the Safest City of its size for violent crime, according to FBI data for 2019. Information released on Sept. 28 shows Irvine has the lowest rate of violent crime per capita of any city in the nation with a population of 250,000 or more. Irvine is also the Safest City of its size for violent crime for the first half of 2020, according to preliminary FBI data released earlier this month. The FBI’s Annual Uniform Crime Report measures crime, which includes murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, auto theft, and arson. Irvine Mayor Christina Shea congratulated the Irvine Police Departmen...

Latest News

Back to Portal