Hotel Maya in Long Beach to Unveil $20 Million Renovation July 1

Joie de Vivre's Third Southern California Property is an Exotic, Latin-Flavored Urban Oasis

San Francisco (March 24, 2009) - Joie de Vivre, California's largest boutique hotel company, is transforming the former Coast Long Beach Hotel into a four-star urban oasis for rejuvenation and inspiration. Approximately $20 million is being spent on the renovation of the newly named Hotel Maya to create Long Beach's most exotic boutique hotel. The 11-acre waterfront property's metamorphosis will be complete July 1, 2009.

The hotel, which is located on lush tropical grounds next to the historic Queen Mary and directly across the bay from downtown Long Beach, reopened as Hotel Maya in February following the renovation of its 199 guestrooms. The property is a resort-style complex with five separate buildings, and the ongoing renovation is being executed in semi-isolated phases to ensure guest privacy and minimum disruption.

The newly refurbished guestrooms and suites offer bay, ocean and garden views and most have private balconies. The renovation also includes the addition of a full-size heated lap pool, a Jacuzzi and a water canal that will support private floating cabanas, plus a new restaurant, lobby design, meeting and event space, fitness center and tropical landscaping.

"Hotel Maya has a Latin American-flavored design that is very modern, with deep, emotional colors and textures framing spectacular indoor-outdoor spaces," said Joie de Vivre Creative Director Matt Harvey. "With its vast grounds, secluded location and spectacular waterfront views, the Maya is a surprising, unexpected exotic resort right in the heart of southern California."

The restaurant - Fuego at Hotel Maya - will have 146 seats, including 80 set on an expansive outdoor patio with views of the adjacent marina and downtown Long Beach, plus a 20-seat lounge. Dining at Fuego will be reminiscent of beach town vacations experienced in Mexico. As guests enter the restaurant, they will enjoy a lively "grotto" bar featuring a menu of modern Latin cocktails, margaritas, and the region's finest selection of tequila. The restaurant will serve three meals, with lunch and dinner menus featuring coastal Mexican cuisine. The focus will be on marisco (fresh seafood) platters featuring shrimp, oysters, mussels, lobster and ceviche. An extensive selection of antojitos, ensaladas, tacos, tortas and entrees also will be offered. Each Sunday afternoon, the grounds of Hotel Maya will come alive with a weekly Maya Fiesta Domingo - an outdoor brunch celebration of music, dancing and food featuring roasted Baja-style lobster and savory barbacoa.

Hotel Maya's 15 newly created or renovated venues for weddings, events and meetings include Long Beach's only waterfront ballroom and executive meeting rooms with ocean views. The more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space will have a resort ambiance and accommodate groups of five to 500.

Rates at Hotel Maya start from $159. For more information, visit www.jdvhotels.com or call the hotel directly at 562.435.7676.

The Hotel Maya will be Joie de Vivre's third boutique property in Southern California, opening shortly after the debut of the Shorebreak Hotel in Huntington Beach. This summer, the company is also opening the Hotel Erwin Venice Beach and the Pacific Edge Hotel at Laguna Beach. Joie de Vivre's first hotel in southern California was the Hotel Angeleno in Brentwood, Los Angeles, which landed on Condé Nast Traveler's 2007 "Hot List" shortly after opening.

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, Laguna Beach and Santa Clara.

Images of Hotel Maya are available for download at www.jdvhotels.com/press/imagegallery

Media Contact:
Lori Lincoln, Director of Public Relations, Joie de Vivre
T: 415.773.1067/ Email: llincoln@jdvhospitality.com