Irvine Co. Seeks New Operator for Hotels

The Irvine Company said Tuesday that it plans to seek a new hotel operator for two of its local properties: Fashion Island Hotel and Hotel Irvine. 

The 536-room Hotel Irvine and the 295-room Fashion Island Hotel have been shuttered throughout the pandemic. During that time, the Newport Beach-based real estate owner and operator said it “began exploring potential options to reimagine these properties.”

“Our research has revealed an opportunity to strengthen the future success of the hotels by partnering with a world-class hotelier to reopen and operate the properties,” the company said in a statement. 

Irvine Co. said it is still finalizing details of its plans, and is preparing to launch a search for an operator.

Irvine Co. said it will retain ownership of the land and enter into a long-term lease with “a premier hotel brand with national and international expertise.”

The company’s third local hotel property, the Resort at Pelican Hill, has remained open throughout the pandemic and will not be impacted by these changes.