Development since 2010
In 2010, a majority stake of Joie de Vivre was purchased by Geolo Capital, the private equity firm founded by Hyatt Hotels heir John Pritzker. A $150 million fund to acquire additional hotels was established as part of the deal, with plans to acquire $300 million to $500 million in hotels over a three-to-five-year period.[2] In September 2010, Joie de Vivre announced Gary M. Beasley, a partner at Geolo Capital, as its interim chief executive officer. With this appointment, founder Chip Conley became executive chairman and chief creative officer.[18]
In 2011, Joie de Vivre expanded outside of California converting the Hotel Theodore in Scottsdale, Arizona into The Saguaro.[19] The following year in March, Joie de Vivre opened the Hotel Lincoln in Chicago.[20] In October 2011, Joie de Vivre merged with Thompson Hotels, an international luxury hotel chain based in New York, with the two brands operating under a newly created parent company, Commune Hotels & Resorts. One of Thompson Hotels' founders, Stephen Brandman, was named CEO of the new company. Another Thompson founder, Jason Pomeranc, was named co-chairman along with John Pritzker.[21] Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre's founder, retained equity in the new company and remained involved as a strategic advisor.[22]
The company expanded to Hawaii in June 2012 with the Coconut Waikiki Hotel and the Seaside Hotel Waikiki (rebranded as the Shoreline Hotel Waikiki in 2013), both in Honolulu.[23] In November 2012, Commune appointed Niki Leondakis, previously president and chief operating officer of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, as CEO of the company. [24][25] In May 2013, Commune Hotels & Resorts announced the launch of tommie, a value-oriented brand of hotels, with the first two hotels planned to debut in 2015 in New York City.[26] In August 2013, John Pritzker purchased the rest of Commune's stake from Jason Pomeranc through Geolo Capital, for an undisclosed sum, thereby gaining full control of the company.[27] In March 2014, the company opened The Epiphany Hotel in Palo Alto, California.[28] In 2016, Joie de Vivre no longer managed the Saguaro hotels both Scottsdale and Palm Springs, with management turning over to the Sydell Group.[29]
As of 2019, stays at the chain can earn points in the Hyatt loyalty program.[30] In October 2019, the first Joie de Vivre branded hotel outside of US, BEI Zhaolong Hotel, opened in Beijing.[31]
In 2022, German hotel chain Lindner Hotels & Resorts and its subsidiary me and all Hotels signed a franchise and cooperation agreement, rebranding its hotels as part of JdV by Hyatt and expanding the Joie de Vivre portfolio with over 30 European properties.[32]
