Joie de Vivre Hospitality Announces The New Hotel Adagio

San Francisco, CA (JUNE 6, 2003)-JOIE DE VIVRE HOSPITALITY(www.jdvhospitality.com), known for its creative collection of lifestyle businesses in the Bay Area, announced today the July 1, 2003, grand opening of the highly-anticipated Hotel Adagio in San Francisco's Union Square/Theatre District. Formerly known as the Shannon Court, the 171-room Hotel Adagio was originally constructed in 1929 and has just completed a dramatic $11 million renovation. The 16-floor luxury boutique hotel will feature an interior by San Francisco designer Colum McCartan; penthouse suites and spectacular event spaces; a state-of-the-art fitness center and a new Mediterranean restaurant by acclaimed Bay Area restaurateur, Pascal Rigo. The Hotel Adagio is one of only two new hotels that will open in San Francisco this year.

Each aspect of the Adagio's development has focused around quality, comfort and livable design. Hotel designer McCartan explains: "In the design and hospitality business today there is too much effort made in trying to be new and hip with little connection to what it is that makes us comfortable. The first goal in designing the Adagio is not to impress, but rather to provide a sense of comfort, making guests feel relaxed and at ease."

The Hotel Adagio features a fresh design that bridges its Spanish Colonial Revival architectural roots to a clean and modern design-marrying old and new in a way that defines the contemporary San Francisco aesthetic. The ornate details of the building's prominent exterior have been unified using a single soft color, while the street level windows and public entrance are finely trimmed in contrasting highlights. Inside the lobby, which will also be home to the restaurant and bar, an open space plan and dramatic ceiling heights emphasize the beautiful scale of the first floor. Rich woods, graceful lines, original artwork and a sensuous color palette create an environment that is relaxed, debonair and timeless.

Every room at the hotel is both high-design and high-function. McCartan says, "Upon entering the guestrooms it is clear they are places for sleeping with natural materials and a restful color palette, while an array of original furniture and lighting fixtures add that freshness that distinguishes this hotel from all others in the city." These beautiful spaces are made livable with a combination of modern comforts and high-tech features including: cordless speaker phones, voice mail, complimentary high-speed Internet access, CD players, 24" Sony Wega high-density TV's with premium channels, Pay-Per-View movies, Nintendo gaming systems, remote controlled ceiling fans, gourmet refrigerated honor bars, Bodum electric water kettles with a selection of gourmet coffee and black and herbal teas and Aveda bath amenities.

Hotel Adagio's celebration of San Francisco style is also reflected in world class service standards. Unique services include: "enRoute" lunch boxes;"I Left My Bag in San Francisco" executive luggage storage program; town car service to the Financial District; same day laundry and valet service; expert concierges and valet parking.

Furthering the Adagio's commitment to quality, in late summer 2003 Pascal Rigo will open the hotel's 120-seat restaurant, Cortez, as part of his Panissimo Group, a family of fine San Francisco restaurants and boulangeries, which include the award-winning La Table, Chez Nous, Le Petit Robert, Galette, Bay Bread and Boulanges de Polk and Cole Valley. Rigo will create a Mediterranean-inspired menu focusing on small plates, fusing flavors from Southern France, Spain and Italy. San Francisco artist, Michael Brennan will design the interior.

All of these elements make the Adagio a perfect place for meetings and special events. It features 1,700 square feet of event space, which accommodates up to 150 people. Special attributes of this space include a dramatic original Spanish Colonial Revival-style fireplace; outdoor terraces; wet bar service; sweeping city views; wireless high-speed Internet access and full catering services.

Hotel Adagio is owned by Atlanta-based Hardin Capital. The architectural renovation was completed by Overway, Larsson, Pedersen Architects, a San-Francisco-based architectural firm. Other creative collaborators include Oberon Design and Wingard.