Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre Hospitality have merged, forming a multi-brand lifestyle hotel group to be called JT Hospitality. The boutique hotel operators are equal partners in the merger; with the consolidation, they manage 45 properties.
The company, which will be based in New York City, has named Thompson Hotels CEO and co-owner Stephen Brandman as the parent company’s CEO. Hospitality veteran John Pritzker, whose private equity firm Geolo Capital acquired a majority stake in Joie de Vivre in June 2010, will serve as co-chairman alongside Jason Pomeranc, the creative vision behind Thompson Hotels and one of its co-owners. Gary Beasley, who has been serving as interim CEO of Joie de Vivre since September 2010, will return to Geolo Capital to focus on business development for JT Hospitality. The Joie de Vivre brand will continue to be run day-to-day out of San Francisco by Joie de Vivre President and COO Ingrid Summerfield. Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre’s founder, will retain a significant equity stake in the new company and remain involved as a strategic advisor. Thompson Hotels co-founders Michael and Lawrence Pomeranc will each be significant owners in JT Hospitality and continue to develop properties for JT Hospitality as well as sit on the company’s advisory board.
JT Hospitality plans to further expand the two brands domestically and internationally through management contracts, acquisitions and joint ventures. The company will also add additional luxury resorts and introduce a resort brand.
