If you’ve spent any time driving down Jamboree Road or wandering the high-end shops of Newport Center, you know the building. It’s that coastal-chic tower that defines the skyline. For years, everyone called it the Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach. It was the place for high-society weddings, power lunches for Irvine Company execs, and that specific brand of Orange County luxury that feels both breezy and incredibly expensive. But if you try to book a room there today under that name, you’re gonna run into a bit of a dead end.
Things changed. Fast.
The hospitality world in Southern California is pretty cutthroat, honestly. One day you’re the crown jewel of the Irvine Company’s portfolio, and the next, there’s a massive rebrand underway that shifts the whole vibe of the property. People still search for the Fashion Island Hotel because, for over a decade, it was the definitive luxury anchor for the Newport Beach area. It wasn't just a hotel; it was a landmark.
The Identity Crisis of a Coastal Giant
Let’s get the facts straight right away. The property formerly known as the Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach is now VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa.
Why does this matter? Because the shift wasn't just a name change on the front door. It was a massive, multi-million dollar "social sanctuary" overhaul. When the Irvine Company decided to step back from the day-to-day operations of their hotel assets, they brought in the big guns at Marriott. This transition happened around 2022, and it completely flipped the script on what that specific plot of land represents.
Before the flip, the Fashion Island Hotel was very... well, corporate-classic. It had that heavy, dark-wood-and-marble luxury feel. It was nice, sure. But it felt a bit like a place where your CPA would hold a conference. Today, as VEA, it’s all about the "pier-inspired" architecture and indoor-outdoor flow. It’s brighter. It’s younger. It’s trying very hard to be the "cool" sibling of the nearby Ritz-Carlton or Montage.
Why Everyone Still Calls it Fashion Island Hotel
Habit is a powerful thing in Orange County.
You’ll still hear locals tell Uber drivers to drop them off at the "Fashion Island Hotel" because the name is synonymous with the location. It sits right across the street from the actual Fashion Island shopping center. You can literally walk from your suite to Neiman Marcus in five minutes. That proximity is the whole reason the hotel existed in the first place.
The hotel originally opened as a Four Seasons back in the late 80s. Then it became the Fashion Island Hotel in 2005. It had a massive run. We’re talking nearly twenty years of being the primary spot for the Newport Beach Film Festival after-parties and those legendary Sunday brunches that cost more than a pair of designer sneakers.
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The "Fashion Island" branding worked because it signaled a lifestyle. It promised that if you stayed there, you were part of the elite shopping set. You were staying at the center of the Newport universe.
What You Get Now vs. What You Got Then
If you’re reminiscing about the old Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach, you probably remember Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge. Those were the staples.
Oak Grill was that classic California-modern restaurant with the huge deck and the flickering fire pits. It was reliable. The sea bass was always good. The service was formal. Aqua Lounge, on the other hand, was the "it" spot for the 40-plus crowd to grab a martini and pretend they were in a Bond movie.
Now? The space has been gutted and reimagined.
- The Pool Scene: The old pool was fine, but the new pool at VEA is a "destination." They added a 15-foot LED screen for "swim-up" movies and a vibe that feels more like Vegas-meets-Laguna.
- The Dining: They swapped the old concepts for Joey Newport Beach and a new signature restaurant called COMMISSARY. It's much more focused on that "see and be seen" energy.
- The Rooms: They took those traditional, slightly stuffy rooms and stripped them down to a minimalist, coastal palette. Gone are the heavy drapes. In are the floor-to-ceiling windows that actually let you see the Pacific.
Honestly, some people miss the old vibe. There was a certain gravitas to the Fashion Island Hotel. It felt established. VEA feels like it's trying to win an Instagram beauty pageant. Both have their merits, but they are fundamentally different experiences.
The Reality of Staying in Newport Center
Whether you call it the Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach or VEA, the logistical reality of staying here is the same. You aren't on the sand. This is a common misconception for people visiting from out of state.
You are on a hill.
You have a view of the ocean, but you’re about a mile and a half from the actual water. You’re looking over the Newport Beach Country Club (which is stunning, by the way) and out toward Catalina Island. If you want to put your toes in the water, you’re hopping in a shuttle or a car.
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The trade-off is the shopping.
Fashion Island is one of the few outdoor malls in the world that actually feels like a luxury destination rather than a concrete maze. You’ve got the koi ponds, the massive Christmas tree in the winter, and every high-end brand from Chanel to Peloton. For a lot of travelers, being able to walk to dinner at Fig & Olive or Javier’s is worth more than being right on the beach.
The Business Side: Why the Rebrand Happened
Look, the Irvine Company knows land value better than anyone in California. They realized that the "independent hotel" model was getting harder to scale in a world dominated by loyalty points. By partnering with Marriott and rebranding away from the Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach name, they tapped into the Bonvoy ecosystem.
It was a business move, plain and simple.
They wanted to attract the "bleisure" traveler—someone who's in town for a meeting at one of the surrounding law firms or tech hubs but wants to stay through the weekend to play golf. The old branding was a bit too "local shopping" focused. The new branding is "international resort" focused.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Transition
There's this rumor that the hotel was sold because it was struggling. That’s just not true.
The Irvine Company still owns the land and the building. They just changed the management structure. It’s a common move in the luxury space. The hotel was doing just fine, but "fine" isn't what you want when you're sitting on some of the most expensive real estate in the United States. They wanted to maximize the revenue per available room (RevPAR), and you do that by refreshing the product.
Also, some people think the "Fashion Island" name is gone from the hotel scene entirely. While the flagship hotel changed, the area is still the "Fashion Island" district. You’ll still see the name everywhere. It’s just no longer the specific identity of that tower.
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Planning a Visit: How to Approach it Now
If you're looking for that specific Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach experience—the one you remember from five or ten years ago—you have to adjust your expectations.
- The Social Life: It’s louder now. There’s more music in the common areas. If you want a library-quiet stay, this might not be it on a Friday night.
- The Spa: This is one area where the upgrade is undeniable. The new spa is massive—14,000 square feet. It’s a legitimate sanctuary now, whereas before it felt like a nice amenity.
- The Layout: The bones of the building are the same. You still have those great balconies, but the furniture is way more comfortable now.
Critical Takeaways for the Modern Traveler
Newport Beach is changing. The "Old Money" vibe is slowly being layered over with a "New Tech/Influencer" gloss. The transition of the Fashion Island Hotel is the perfect case study for this.
If you are booking a stay, don't look for the old website. It's gone. You’re looking for VEA.
If you’re a local who used to go there for the holiday parties, be prepared for a very different aesthetic. It’s not your grandmother’s Newport anymore. It’s sleek. It’s bright. It’s very, very white-and-blue.
Actionable Advice for Your Next Trip
If you decide to stay at the reimagined property, there are a few ways to do it right:
- Request a High Floor: The building is 20 stories tall. The "coastal views" on the lower floors are mostly views of the parking lot and the golf course. You want to be on floor 15 or higher to really see the Pacific.
- Use the Shuttle: They have a house car/shuttle. Don't try to park your own car at Fashion Island across the street if you're going for a quick dinner; parking there is a nightmare on weekends. Let the hotel drop you off.
- Check the Event Calendar: Because they have so much event space, they often have massive corporate buyouts. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway, call ahead and make sure there isn't a 500-person tech convention happening at the same time.
- Embrace the "Social" Aspect: If you want to sit by the pool and be left alone, this might be the wrong spot. The new design encourages interaction. The bar area is designed for mingling. Go with that energy rather than fighting it.
The Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach served its purpose for a generation of travelers. It was a bridge between the old-school grandeur of Orange County and the modern luxury era. While the name has faded into the history books of Newport Beach, the location remains the absolute best spot for anyone who wants to experience the intersection of high-end commerce and coastal relaxation.
Check the current rates through the Marriott Bonvoy portal rather than third-party sites. Since the rebrand, they’ve been very aggressive with member-only deals to get people back into the building. You can often find a "grand opening" style rate if you book mid-week, even though the rebrand is a couple of years old now.