The center of California's celebrated Orange County, Irvine is where natural beauty, perfect weather and a rich business climate serve to enhance a sophisticated community. Irvine event venues offer an enticing package for meeting planners: state-of-the-art meeting facilities alongside an eclectic blend of outdoor recreation, culture, incredible shopping, diverse dining and historical points-of-interest.
Widely considered the business capital of Orange County, Irvine is the world headquarters for Fortune 1000 companies Broadcom, Allergan, Group International, Gateway Inc., Blizzard Entertainment, Western Digital, and Vizio. It is also the headquarters for LA Fitness and the regional headquarters for Google. Institutes of higher education include the University of California, Irvine (UCI), Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California (USC) and a branch of Pepperdine University. This combination of high tech, medical and lifestyle industry professionals, coupled with a large academic population, provides access to speakers and group activities, as well as ensuring a lively mix of culture, dining and nightlife.
While John Wayne/Orange County Airport is less than five miles from the city center, Long Beach Airport and Los Angeles International are also within close proximity allowing for multiple travel choices. Once in the city, attractions are easily accessible by car, or visitors can utilize the county's public transportation network which includes iShuttle, a fixed-route bus system with stops within the Irvine business sector (as well as John Wayne Airport).
There are 14 hotels in Irvine, including three major hotels with impressive meeting facilities: the Hyatt Regency Irvine, which boasts 36,000 square feet of meeting space, the Irvine Marriott with 27,000 square feet of space and the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport, with 23,000 square feet.
For off-site facilities, planners can take their pick from a wide selection of diverse properties. Some of the facilities are specialized, like the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Center of the National Academies of Sciences and Engineering, which offers 45,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, as well as a 200-seat auditorium, for meetings in the medical, technology and science fields. Others, like the versatile, 22,000-square-foot Bren Events Center, can be adapted for concerts, large meetings, small conferences or sporting events.
Thanks to Disney (and, to a lesser degree, Knott's Berry Farm), Orange County is known the world over for its family-friendliness. Family-friendly sites that are particular to Irvine include the Orange County Great Park - with its free (and safe) helium balloon ride that takes guests of all ages 400 feet above Orange County; the Pretend City Children's Museum, where children use props and amenities to "play grown-up"; and Irvine Regional Park, which hosts the Orange County Zoo and where outdoor event areas can be reached by foot or by miniature train. Each of these attractions also doubles as an event space, allowing attendees to enjoy the great California outdoors - and to get in touch with their inner child.
For longer meetings or an enjoyable extended stay, Irvine is only nine miles from Orange County beaches and 45 miles south from downtown Los Angeles.
