Joie de Vivre's First-Ever East Coast Hotel, The Hall, Adds Two Key Hires to South Beach-Based Team

Caroline Dyal to Join as General Manager and Jimmy Blakeslee as Director of Sales and Marketing

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. May 19, 2015

MIAMI BEACH, FL. - May 19, 2015. The Hall—a 163-room boutique hotel from Joie de Vivre debuting late summer 2015 in the heart of South Beach—is pleased to announce the appointment of two key industry players to its team. Effective immediately, Caroline Dyal joins The Hall as General Manager, and Jimmy Blakeslee as the boutique hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing. Both bring senior-level industry expertise, as well as an acute understanding of lifestyle brands, to the team. The Hall is the first East Coast hotel for the San Francisco-based boutique lifestyle hotel brand, which is recognized for its playful design elements and experiences grounded in local discoveries.

Dyal has served as General Manager for successful lifestyle hotels both in Miami and California, including Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara, CA and Hotel La Jolla in La Jolla, CA; and sbe Hotels & Restaurants' SLS Hotel South Beach and Raleigh South Beach. With more than 10 years of industry expertise, Dyal's ability to positively influence employees, elevate guest experiences and impact local communities have proffered her numerous professional accolades, including CH&LA WIL Connect Leader of the Year (2013) and Hotel GM Creativity Award for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants (2013).

"I am delighted to be part of the team that is bringing a truly original and thoughtful concept to South Beach," stated Dyal. "The Joie de Vivre approach to hospitality, which is firmly rooted in curating authentically local and eclectic experiences, is one I am passionate about. We could not be more excited to introduce The Hall to the South Beach community later this summer."

The Hall's newly appointed Director of Sales and Marketing, Jimmy Blakeslee, has been part of the Joie de Vivre team since 2013, serving as Director of Sales and Marketing for the brand's Washington, DC based hotels. With over nine years of hospitality sales experience all in the lifestyle segment, Blakeslee brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a keen brand appreciation to The Hall's opening team. Prior to joining Joie de Vivre, Blakeslee held sales leadership positions with Kimpton Hotels' Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA properties, including Hotel Monaco DC, Hotel Monaco Alexandria, Lorien Hotel & Spa, Morrison House and Hotel George.

"The Hall is fresh, fun, playful and social - it's exactly what South Beach needs," explained Blakeslee. "The community hasn't seen something quite like this yet, and I'm eager to share this concept, and the experiences it will offer, with our clients."

Set on a lush and verdant 1.4-acre playground, enviably nestled between the charming and historic Española Way and 16th Street, The Hall will feature an Olympic-sized pool flanked by chic cabanas, and a backyard bar and outdoor lounge with a colossal banyan tree as its centerpiece. To bring its lively and distinctly bohemian personality to life, The Hall has collaborated with multi-talented designer Robert McKinley (The Surf Lodge, Ruschmeyer's) to create a hotel immersed in Tropical Modernism, reflective of the brand's relaxed California roots. To convey this same spirit from a culinary perspective, the team has tapped star chef and restaurateur Spike Mendelsohn (Good Stuff Eatery, We, The Pizza, Bearnaise) to shape The Hall's food and bar offerings. The Hall will debut in late summer 2015. For more information please visit www.jdvhotels.com.

About The Hall

Designed by Robert McKinley Creative Services, The Hall is Joie de Vivre's first East Coast hotel - set to open late summer 2015, offering guests and locals a fun and fresh Bohemian outpost in the heart of South Beach. The 163-room boutique hotel, set on a 1.4-acre playground, will be completely revamped to not only uncover and enhance its 1940s Art Deco history, but also create fun, unexpected places and spaces reflective of Joie de Vivre Hotels' relaxed California roots. Located at 1500 Collins Avenue, The Hall is nestled between the charming, colorful Española Way and 16th Street, and will feature a lush garden with an oversized swimming pool and poolside cabanas; Sunny's, a casual courtyard eatery inspired by classic seaside cafes and beach bars from around the world by star chef Spike Mendelsohn of Top Chef fame; and Campton Yard, a backyard bar outfitted with tree-hung string lighting, social games and lounge areas. Robert McKinley drew inspiration from some of the most celebrated and iconic 1960s beach cultures across the Caribbean and Latin America, including Rio, Montego Bay, Havana and of course, The Hall's home -- Miami Beach and its Art Deco age.

About Joie de Vivre Hotels

Since its founding in San Francisco in 1987, Joie de Vivre has made curating authentically local and eclectic experiences its signature. Each one of Joie de Vivre's hotels is an original concept designed to reflect its location and engage the five senses. Today, the company manages the largest collection of boutique hotels and resorts in California and is expanding outside the state with hotels in Honolulu, Chicago, Scottsdale, Arizona, Miami Beach and New York. For more information, please visit www.jdvhotels.com.

About Commune Hotels & Resorts

Formed in October 2011, Commune Hotels & Resorts is an international, multi-brand lifestyle hotel management company which manages and operates Thompson Hotels, a luxury lifestyle brand; Joie de Vivre Hotels, a collection of independently branded boutique hotels; and tommie, a new, micro-lifestyle brand launching in 2015. The San Francisco-based company manages more than 40 hotels and resorts across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and is expanding its portfolio while establishing a presence in Mexico. For more information, please visit www.communehotels.com.