Joie de Vivre Wins Travel Weekly Magellan Awards

San Francisco (Sept. 28, 2009) – Joie de Vivre, California’s largest boutique hotel collection, has received two 2009 Travel Weekly Magellan Awards for its Summer California marketing campaign and for its eco-friendly Hotel Carlton in San Francisco. The annual awards recognize the best in travel, from hotel design to marketing and advertising campaigns. The Summer California campaign was recognized with a Silver award in the hotels and resorts advertising and marketing category, while the Hotel Carlton received a Gold award in the hotels and resorts category for its eco-friendly achievements.

Joie de Vivre’s Summer California campaign kicked off April 16 with a You Tube message from CEO and founder Chip Conley on SummerCalifornia.com announcing a giveaway of 25 “Explore California Passports” valued at more than $17,000 each. Passport winners were announced May 20 also via You Tube in a grassroots video that was shot by the company’s marketing team. The campaign also launched Joie de Vivre’s popular Twitter Tuesdays and Facebook Fridays promotion, which offers weekly hotel deals to followers and fans of the brand on these social media channels.

“Both of these awards acknowledge different brand initiatives that are important to Joie de Vivre’s mission,” said Conley. “Summer California was designed to provide people with fun, affordable options to help them take a summer vacation despite uncertain economic times. Hotel Carlton’s achievements in greening its operations speak to our commitment to environmental sustainability.”

Anchoring the Summer California campaign, the no-strings-attached Explore California Passports featured two-night stays at each of Joie de Vivre’s 35 hotels (70 room nights). Sweepstakes entrants who registered at SummerCalifornia.com received a guide to 100 Affordable Things to Do in California, and $25 per night credit for amenities if they booked a room online. In addition to the passports, the Summer California website offered “hot deals on cool hotels” and themed pet-friendly, surfing, art and other packages for summer travel at Joie de Vivre’s 35 boutique properties throughout California.

The Hotel Carlton was acknowledged with a Gold award for its environmental sustainability initiatives, with such notable achievements as attaining LEED-Gold certification this year in the existing buildings category from the U.S. Green Building Council, effectively making it the greenest hotel in San Francisco. In 2008, the Carlton was also the first hotel in the city to install solar panels on its roof.

About Joie de Vivre

San Francisco-based Joie de Vivre (http://www.jdvhotels.com) is a collection of creative lifestyle businesses. Founded in 1987 by Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre manages nearly 40 boutique hotels, more than 20 restaurants and four spas, and is recognized for creating some of the most innovative hospitality services and products and designing one-of-a-kind properties. Joie de Vivre also manages residential projects with hotel-style services and amenities.  As California’s largest boutique hotel collection, Joie de Vivre Hotels is becoming the hotel brand synonymous with the California travel experience, offering a wide range of unique urban, suburban and waterfront boutique hotels that cater to leisure and business travelers in all market segments. Joie de Vivre hotels are located in San Francisco, Marin County, Silicon Valley, San Francisco East Bay, Big Sur, Sonoma County, Santa Cruz, Sacramento and Los Angeles. In 2009, Joie de Vivre continues its California expansion with hotels opening in Huntington Beach, Long Beach, Venice Beach, Santa Clara and Laguna Beach.

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MEDIA CONTACT: 

Kristina Hjelsand, Senior Public Relations Manager, Joie de Vivre

Tel. 415.364.5581/ Email:khjelsand@jdvhospitality.com