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Are You Sitting Down? JDV Hotels and Thompson Hotels Have Merged.

What do you get when you merge The Custom Hotel with The Hollywood Roosevelt? JT HOSPITALITY. Note: JT is not actually involved in this one.

When we got an email in our inboxes a short while ago with the subject heading, "JOIE DE VIVRE HOSPITALITY AND THOMPSON HOTELS MERGE" we thought for sure someone was playing a prank on us. Or maybe that someone was celebrating April Fools Day six months early.

But given that the news came from JDV's director of public relations, we knew that this was no joke. So now let's get into the details of this seemingly unholy merger.

The merger took effect on October 1st and it is purely a management partnership involving only hotel management operations but not real estate assets. Together, the company will now be known as JT Hospitality (did anyone just think of Justin Timberlake? We did.) and will manage 45 properties under the Thompson and JDV brands. The company is set to be officially announced/rebranded in early 2012 when the global branding strategy is rolled out.

Thompson's CEO and co-owner Stephen Brandman has been named CEO of JT Hospitality and the company will be headquartered in NYC. John Pritzker, whose private equity firm, Geolo Capital, took a majority stake in JDV last year, will serve as co-chairman as will Jason Pomeranc, Thompson Hotel's other co-owner and poster boy.

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Joie de Vivre to Expand Outside of California, Thanks (Sorta) to Hyatt

JDV founder and CEO Chip Conley with new partner, John Pritzker of Geolo Capital.

There's some major news in the hotel world today. JDV Hotels--a California-based boutique chain that we love for their free WiFi, quirky promotions and most importantly, geek amenities--recently partnered up with a big new investor, John Pritzker, heir to the Hyatt Hotels chain.

Pritzker's Geolo Capital private equity firm has bought a majority stake in JDV, which was started by hotelier Chip Conley who will remain on board as CEO. Geolo Capital will now have about 60 percent stake in JDV but will also funnel $150 million into the company for expansion plans.

And that's the really big news here--JDV will start to expand outside of California.

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Thompson Tosses Gaige and Leaves It, JDV Pulls Up Quick To Retrieve It

Where: 3540 Arnold Drive [map], Glen Ellen, CA, United States, 95442

The zen hideaway Gaige House in Sonoma Valley, Calif. has shifted management hands again and is now a JDV Hotel. Previously Thompson Hotels ran this joint, even earning a spot on the Conde Nast Traveler "Gold List."

But now instead of Jason Pomeranc's influence, the hotel will get NorCal native Chip Conley's sensitive touch. As you recall, JDV Hotels is a California-only Collection. So far, there doesn't look like any major changes will take place in the property aside from logo-swapping. And to announce their newest hotel additon, JDV has put together (what else?) a package.

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Quickest Way to Earn a $100? Stay at a JDV Hotel

Where: CA, United States

JDV's Galleria Park Hotel.

Ok so that headline is a little misleading but the California-only chain, JDV Hotels, has put together a cheery package for these rough economic times. From now through April 30, guests who stay two or more nights at a JDV Hotel will get $100 "Joy Bucks", essentially a room credit that can be applied to on-property spa treatments, restaurant dining, hotel amenities or get this--the room rate.

“We don’t see our hotel rooms as commodities; we see them as canvases for guests’ individual experiences,” said Chip Conley, founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre. ”Our ‘What Would You Do with $100 and a Hotel Room?’ campaign is intended to be provocative and experience-driven. We hope people will be reminded of what they love about hotels and California travel and be inspired to celebrate whatever the occasion may be, perhaps a birthday, an anniversary or some celebration from the ordinary.”

We can certainly get down with that. Even better, we can share our experiences on Facebook at the Joie de Vivre Hotels Facebook page. Our only decision would be whether we want to apply that room credit towards a massage (we have a bad case of blogger's back) or towards an evening of fine dining and some wine (again, this job makes us thirsty) or towards the room rate to please our inner cheapskate. Hmmm...we think good food and wine will relax us sufficiently enough. Our wallet will just have to deal. Thanks, Chip!

Use code JOYBUCKS to book. Two-night minimum is required except at the Good Hotel, the Hotel Carlton and the Wild Palms Hotel, where a three-night minimum stay is required. Guests will receive the $100 credit on their hotel bill upon check out.

Hotel Openings / JDV Hospitality / Chip Conley / Sacramento Hotels / Political Hotels / → All Tags

Ultimate Political Geek Hotel Open in Sacramento

Where: 926 J Street [map], Sacramento, CA, United States, 95814

Political cartoons on your hotel room wall are here. And we sure know you've been waiting for them! JDV's The Citizen is now up and running and yes, the unique selling point here is 40 different political cartoons spread across the 198 rooms.

Luxist agrees with the hotel's advertising pitch that it's a boutique hotel, although we think almost 200 rooms makes the boutique label a bit misleading. Similarly, we're still not sure about the name. Chip Conley promised us a very unique name but we're already mixing up this Sacramento newbie with the European CitizenM chain--perhaps Conley was just going for the "unique on this continent" tag.

Our small grumbles aside, The Citizen is a central spot for any business you might be doing in Sacramento and if you're a vacationer, then it gets a whole lot cheaper on weekends: weeknight rates are $249 and weekends sink to $149.

Oh, and if the political cartoons thing is what's attracting you to The Citizen right now, then there's even more. The lampshades are covered in text from the Californian constitution. Doesn't turn us on, but perhaps we're just not politically hip enough.

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The Good Hotel in San Francisco is Trying To Be, Well, Good

Where: 112 7th Street [map], San Francisco, CA, United States, 94103

JDV Hospitality and their California-only hotels have always been in our eyes a good hotel brand. For starters, they have free WiFi in all their hotels. They also have great rates and are in touch with today's modern traveler (free yoga classes anyone?) Plus, they have an eclectic collection of htoels so that any guests--budget, business, high-end- can find a hotel that suits them the most.

With their latest property, JDV is doing something a little bit different that is sure to please the charitable nature in you. It's The Good Hotel near the city's new green Federal Building.

The Good Hotel is a hip 117-room property that practices philanthropy and believes in ‘doing good' in every facet of the business. Not to be confused with 'green' or 'sustainable,' elements of this SOMA property will support environmental sustenance, but will go to an even deeper level by re-using items for everyday products and incorporating reclaimed materials for its construction.

The hotel’s décor features eco-friendly materials such as beds made from reclaimed wood and lamps made of recycled Voss water bottles and there is even a lobby vending machine that is stocked with items from ReadyMade Magazine (reused materials).

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Chip Conley and JDV Move Into Lauren Conrad's Territory, Laguna Beach

Where: 647 South Coast Highway [map], Laguna Beach, CA, United States, 92651

Chip Conley and his JDV Hospitality Group have taken over managing the 130-room beachfront Vacation Village in Laguna Beach, just five blocks from the city's downtown.

The OC Biz Journal reports:

The move is part of the company's plan to double its hotels in the next five years.

Joie de Vivre now has 35 hotels and expects most of its growth to be in Southern California.

It already has hotels in the Brentwood-Westwood area, Studio City and Long Beach and will manage the Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach slated to open early next year.

Vacation Village just underwent a $2 million room renovation last year so we doubt that it will need much sprucing up. But it will of course, need the complimentary JDV WiFi.

The hotel also two pools, a whirlpool and a 4,000-square-foot private residence, Pacific Edge, available for groups of up to 65 for events. So like, kids can hold their after-prom parties here or their "we just wanna party because we can" parties.

And we really hope that Chip and co. have a hotel-naming contest here. What would you call this place? The Real O.C. Hotel?

[Photo: Vacation Village]

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JDV's Newest Hotel in Santa Cruz to Open June 1

Where: Santa Cruz, CA, United States

Hotelier Chip Conley of JDV Hospitality, has a new hotel opening on June 1 in Santa Cruz.

Originally known as the Central Coast Hotel, JDV wanted to re-christen the place, The Dream Inn which was once the hotel's name in a former lifetime. Unfortunately, there were some trademark issues there. (Hmm...Vikram Chatwal perhaps?)

But JDV managed to work out an agreement so that the property will be called The Santa Cruz Dream Inn. You can read all about the "Naming Contest" the hotel held with locals here.

According to Good Times Weekly, the hotel will open in phases. On June 1 the renovated 100-room tower will open. On July 1, a secondary low-rise building will open.

So what's inside? Pretty standard JDV stuff, which we don't mind really.

The new guest rooms and suites will be furnished with such amenities as designer linens, down duvets and pillows, in-room binoculars, ergonomic chairs, extra-large flat screen HDTVs, CAT-5 Internet connectivity, surfboard and bicycle storage and, of course, iPod docking stations.

JDV is hoping to get a four-star luxury rating out of the renovation and will seek both business, leisure and surfer travelers a like.

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Aspiring Hotelier Reading List: Chip Conley's Book 'Peak'

Have you ever wondered how great companies get their mojo? No? Well you probably wouldn't be interested in Chip Conley's new book then. But if you're hoping to grow your hotel brand, you'd better listen up.

The book, Peak, explains the hotelier's management strategy, which he attributes to famed psychologist Abraham Maslow. Basically, Maslow argues that people perform well when they're needs are being met and do even better when they're self-fulfilled. What that means for a boutique hotel owner is that your customers can't be happy if the staff isn't happy.

It all sounds a little new age-y to us, but you can't deny that Conley's brand, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, is booming or that his employees don't appreciate his efforts. (To wit: his housekeepers love their brand new vacuum cleaners.) If you find yourself not self-actualized by reading just this book, remember Conley has two others out in paperback: Marketing That Matters and The Rebel Rules.

Related Stories:
· Business 101 Meets Psych 101 [Globe and Mail]
· Hotelier of The Year: Chip Conley [HotelChatter]
· Chip Conley coverage [HotelChatter]

2007 Awards / Hotelier of the Year / Chip Conley / → All Tags

Hotelier of the Year: Chip Conley

Hotelier of the Year: Chip Conley

Chip Conley of Joie De Vivre Hospitality wins this award for 2007 not only because was he the first hotelier to kick-off our new feature, Pitch Your Hotel (although that helped) but also because in 2007 Chip pushed on in expanding JDV to new locations (nothing outside of California though) while at the same time, remaining very true to the philosophy of JDV--the joy of life.

When we asked Chip why there were no JDV hotels outside of California he told us this:

I think that's because we are conscious of what JDV is all about. We describe our hotels as hand-crafted and soulful and we want to make sure they are still close to home.

This past year, Chip opened Hotel Tomo in San Francisco's Japantown (even holding a "Name that Hotel" contest before it opened), weathered two complaints of racial profiling at his hotel by publicly apologizing in a newspaper column for the treatment of a guest by his hotel staff and continued to scope out new locations for JDV Hotels. Coming up next? Sacramento and Santa Cruz.

Not only do we love him but so do his employees. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about how Chip's management techniques have kept his staffers happy by offering sponsoring parties and awards, arranging paid annual retreats for employees, and offering free classes from computer courses to English as a Second Language.

Another example of how Chip tries to keep things fun? For JDV's 20th anniversary party, nearly 10,000 California residents named Joy were invited to the party.

Chip Conley / Eric Goode / Sean MacPherson / Jason Pomeranc / Thompson Hotels / JDV Hotels / Hotel Riverview / Hyatt Hotels / Hot Hotelier News / → All Tags

Hot Hotelier News: Housekeepers Love Chip Conley

· Chip Conley: Housekeepers at the Carlton Hotel in San Francisco love the new vacuum cleaners they get every year. In fact, employee satisfaction ratings took off since Conley's JDV Hospitality firm took over.

· Michael McGray: London's Hotelier of the Year award went to Michael McGray of the Hyatt Regency London.

· Jason Pomeranc: With Thompson Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Roosevelt out on the West Coast, Jason Pomeranc has purchased a home in the Hollywood Hills that was once owned by Bobby Darin. But its not a singing career we think Pomeranc is after. We think once he's done with hotels (or is he already?) he will get into film. It's the Hollywood Way!

· Eric Goode and Sean MacPherson: Regarding the Hotel Riverview the duo appeared before the community board. Some plans for the hotel include restoring its original look, including re-building an octagonal cupola on the roof. Some more good news, apparently a liquor license is expected to be approved.

Hot Hotelier News / Jeff Klein / Ian Schrager / Andre Balazs / Chip Conley / → All Tags

Hot Hotelier News: Trouble's One Lucky Bitch

If you know a wealthy hotelier, you might want to start buttering them up right now. And if you are related to a hotelier, well shoot, you better think of some way to make sure you're in their will. Leona Helmsley left her fortune to her dog Trouble and not to any of her grandkids or great grandkids. We knew she was mean but whoa. That dog is kinda cute though.

Elsewhere in the hotelier universe:
· Andre Balazs gussies up the Bar Marmont [LA Times]
· George Lucas ruined Jeff Klein's hope for a classy dress code at Sunset Tower [NY Post]
· We learn Ian Schrager doesn't use ad agencies in the new book Chasing Cool [Forbes]
· Anybody named Joy invited to Chip Conley's anniversary party for JDV Hospitality on 9/23/07 [Earth Times]