Joie de Vivre Announces “Your California” Photo Contest Winners

San Francisco, October 7, 2008 - Joie de Vivre Hospitality, with travel partner Southwest Airlines, announces the winners of its first-ever "Your California" Photo Contest.  More than two thousand photographs from amateur and professional photographers were uploaded to "California Connect" - Joie de Vivre's online community. The amateur and professional winners submitting the most captivating shots celebrating their California are Laurel Vollmert, Anthony Deak, Jessie Soto, Peter Lyons, and Rebecca Novotny (www.jdvhotels.com/photocontest). 

Joie de Vivre's "Your California" Photo Contest was designed to encourage people to get creative and express in a single photo what California means to them.  The contest also introduced people to Joie de Vivre's online community, California Connect (http://www.jdvhotels.com), which allows locals and travelers to meet others, share information and California-centric experiences year-round.  

Laurel Vollmert, of Scottsdale, Arizona, won the "People's Choice Grand Prize" by popular vote in the amateur photographer category for her photo of her daughter leaning against a colorful mural in Balmy Alley in San Francisco's Mission District. Vollmert will receive a year of free hotel stays at Joie de Vivre's collection of California boutique hotels, a choice of any Joy of Life Club reward at the 2,500 level, and six tickets from Southwest Airlines for travel within California. Her winning photo is featured on Joie de Vivre's website.  Anthony Deak and Jessie Soto each took two runner's up in the people's choice categories and will enjoy two nights at Joie de Vivre hotels and two tickets on Southwest flights within California.   

In the professional photographer category, Peter Lyons, of Lyons Imaging in San Francisco, won for his photograph of a pirate ship sailing in the San Francisco Bay. Lyons successful shot, "The Privateer," was taken in August when the Tall Ships came to San Francisco.  He wins a $500 gift certificate to his favorite California camera shop, two tickets on Southwest Airlines, and a two-night stay at the Joie de Vivre hotel of his choice.    

Winning in the Joie de Vivre's Staff Pick category is Rebecca Novotny.  Novotny, of Seaside, California, receives two nights at Joie de Vivre hotels and two tickets on Southwest Airlines flights within California.  Her image, titled "Beauty of the Coast," was well received for its serene and gorgeous expression of California's Big Sur coastline.  

Joie de Vivre and Southwest Airlines' employees also participated and awarded prizes selected by popular vote respectively to Nancy Tawfik of Joie de Vivre's Venice Beach location and John Bahu of Southwest in San Diego.  

About Joie de Vivre

Based in San Francisco, Joie de Vivre is a creative collection of lifestyle businesses.  As California's largest boutique hotel collection, Joie de Vivre encompasses other hospitality businesses such as restaurants and spas.  Celebrating over 20 years of creating joy, Joie de Vivre is expanding its California presence in Sacramento, Huntington Beach, Sunnyvale and Santa Cruz. For more information, visit http://www.jdvhotels.com.

Partnering in the contest, Southwest Airlines celebrates 100 nonstop daily departures within California. 

Contact:           Lori Lincoln
                          415.773.1067
                          llincoln@jdvhospitality.com

                          Alexis Evans
                         415.248.5951
                         aevans@jdvhospitality.com