So how does it work? Submit your photograph of any and everything in California, from the Napa vineyards and the pier in Santa Monica to surfers, deserts, and modern homes in Palm Springs, the sky's the limit -- to the hotel's online social network, California Connect.
The contest is accepting submissions now through August 31. Just opt in, and you can submit as many photos as you want. A jury of your peers will vote on their favorite image, with a winner chosen in September.
And the prizes? That entirely depends on how you categorize yourself when you submit.
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 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?
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.
JDV Hospitality has opened a new hotel in the technology capital of the U.S.--Silicon Valley. And as an ode to the tech culture, the hotel's name is Domain Hotel. And the restaurant on-site is called Bytes Restaurant and Lounge.
As with all JDV properties, there's free wireless throughout the hotel but interesting the hotel's guestrooms don't really cater to the go-go-go mentality of the tech world.
The 136 guestrooms and suites are decorated in two themes: Tranquility and Awakening, which can be customized to each guest’s individual preference and mood. Guestrooms feature flat-panel televisions, iPod docking stations, and simple, honest office workspaces that you can sleep in.
The tranquility rooms have a serene blue color scheme and are scented with lavendar. Get the tranquility executive suite which has a jacuzzi bathtub. The awakening rooms have a green "forest" design and a lemongrass scent designed to invigorate you. Again, get the executive suite with the jacuzzi.
There's also a fitness center and outdoor heated pool on site. Rates start at $219 a night during the week and at $119 on the weekends.
Tonight's the opening party for the Domain Hotel which shows you just how new this place is. But JDV already has a presence in Silicon Valley with the Wild Palms Hotel and the Google Hotel aka Hotel Avante.
We now present you with our VIP Hotel Reviewer Series in which we hand-pick experts in the travel and media worlds and beyond to tell us what are their favorite hotels and why. Once a week, we'll feature a hotel review from said VIPs about their favorite leisure or business hotels. Pay attention: These VIPs are experts at what they do and they don't mess around when it comes to their hotels.
Our next VIP in the series is Ben Lerer, the co-founder of Thrillist.com, a daily e-newsletter for guys detailing the best in food, drinks, events, gear, services and travel. Thrillist just recently launched a San Francisco-centric edition and here's where Ben stayed on his last trip to the City by the Bay. Enjoy.
On my last business trip to San Francisco, I was put up in the Hotel Tomo in Japantown. I can't say I was giddy about the lodgings -- Tomo's essentially a Best Western, and Best Western isn't exactly the sexiest company out there* -- but I was completely blown away by my experience.
The property was cool, with a boutique hotel feel, the service was great, and the price was fantastic.
Last week we made our triumphant return to San Francisco's Hotel Vitale. Long time readers may remember we followed this hotel through most of its ground up construction and opening back in 2005. Soon thereafter, this hotel became one of our all time favorite hotels. So how is Vitale holding up some two and a half years later? Excellent we think.
Last week's stay at Vitale did not involve a circular suite, and yes, staying in one of the non-view rooms is a bit different, however, the hotels service and overall comfort is still easily recognizable. Besides, we ended up just a few doors down from the fifth floor terrace, where WiFi reached, allowing us to work with a bridge view. The terrace ended up feeling like our own personal balcony, so I guess what we are saying is if you can't go circular suite, get a room on the fifth floor near the terrace.
Any disappointments? Yes, actually. The hotels fitness room is tiny. You would expect a hotel that preaches "vitality" not to skimp on the fitness room, especially with the steady group of creative business travelers that grace its halls, however, Vitale could definitely use a fitness room redux. Even the most youthful looking hotels could use a bit of botox after a couple years of wear, don't you think?
Hey, if that is our only complaint you know this place is holding up. Besides, you can always run along the Embarcadero, or just sloth it in SF for a night or two and avoid working out all together.
It's no secret that SFO Media publisher Mark Johnson is in San Francisco. After all, he did get to ride on the virgin Virgin America flight from NY to SF.
So where did Mark rest his travel and Branson-weary head? Why at the Hotel Tomo. If you recall, the Tomo just re-opened in Japantown. In its former life, it was a Best Western but has since been done up in Japanime style by California hotelier--JDV Hospitality.
While the rooms certainly look cool, the thin walls are not. In fact, the crying babe who can be heard at the start of the video actually forced Mark to request a new room. Apparently babies don't like Japanime.
