IRVINE, Calif. (September 28, 2017) – Debuting as the only full-service hotel in the Irvine Spectrum area, Marriott Irvine Spectrum is excited to announce the appointment of Chris Harrison as General Manager. Opening December 2017, Marriott Irvine Spectrum is set to be the community’s business and entertainment hub, and serve as the sleek, new centerpiece of the Irvine skyline.
Representing a forward thinking, next-gen mindset, General Manager Chris Harrison brings 11 years of experience with Marriott to the soon-to-open Marriott Irvine Spectrum. Harrison will oversee all aspects of the full-service, dynamic hotel with 271 guest rooms including 50 Extended Stay suites, its farm-fresh restaurant Heirloom, Hive & Honey Rooftop Bar, and more than 13,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. Equal parts business hotel and community social hub, Marriott Irvine Spectrum will break convention with impressive technology upgrades, elevated sound systems, inventive guest rooms, inspiring meeting spaces, all geared toward the new millennia.
While rising through the Marriott ranks in Washington DC and Boston, Harrison’s previous role was Director of Hotel Operations at Irvine Marriott. Here, he was bestowed the inaugural hotel award in 2014 for best Marriott Hosting Culture for championing Marriott’s core values across the company.
Harrison earned his MBA from Harvard Business School with an emphasis in innovation and service operations. He is a key leader in Marriott’s Emerging Leaders Program and has been appointed Co-Chair of the Innovation team of the Western Region for Marriott. Active in the community, Harrison currently serves as Co-Chair of the Orange County Business Council and newly appointed member of the board of Children’s Hospital of Orange County. He resides in Ladera Ranch, CA with his wife Jessie, and three young children.
Harrison is passionate about translating the needs of today’s business traveler into tomorrow’s hotel design philosophy. Under his leadership, he is building an opening team with a millennial mindset to attract and retain likeminded associates and guests.
A key part of the opening team will be Marriott Irvine Spectrum’s Destination Sales Executive Corey Lombard, who will be responsible for leading the dynamic hotel’s sales efforts and initiatives through community relations. Lombard began his career with Marriott International as a Group Sales Manager in the Greater Chicago area, where he oversaw six different properties in downtown Chicago. Lombard later relocated to San Diego, finding warmer winters and a promotion to Destination Sales Executive for the Marriott Del Mar. Most recently, Lombard was a member of executive pre-opening team as Destination Sales Executive for the SpringHill Suites & Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Bayfront.
