New York, NY (February 21, 2012)--Co-chairs John Pritzker and Jason Pomeranc and CEO Stephen Brandman announced that the lifestyle hotel company provisionally known as JT Hospitality is now Commune Hotels & Resorts. Formed in October 2011, the new parent company represents the merger of the luxury lifestyle Thompson Hotels brand and Joie de Vivre, an eclectic collection of more than 30 independently branded hotels.

"Our ethos is about individuality, community, locations that are authentic to their environment, and the kind of service that exceeds guests' expectations and makes travel exciting again," the three executives wrote in a statement. "We believe celebrating individuality is the best way to elevate the guest experience."

The company is focused on global expansion, targeting locations in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the United States. Since the merger Commune Hotels has debuted three high-profile projects: Thompson's Belgraves in London, The Saguaro Scottsdale and The Saguaro Palm Springs. The company has also signed management contracts for hotels currently under development, including Thompson properties in Chicago and Miami, and Joie de Vivre hotels in Honolulu and Palo Alto, California. A redesigned jdvhotels.com website will launch this summer, along with Joie de Vivre's new name, JDV Collection. In addition, a design-driven, value-oriented brand that combines attributes of Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre will be introduced later this year.

About Thompson Hotels
Thompson Hotels is a hospitality company with a portfolio of luxury lifestyle hotels, including the famed Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and Thompson Beverly Hills in Los Angeles; 60 Thompson, Gild Hall, Six Columbus, Thompson LES and Smyth Tribeca in New York City; Sax Chicago and Sutton Place (soon to be rechristened Thompson Chicago) in Chicago; Donovan House in Washington D.C.; Thompson Toronto in Toronto and Belgraves in London.

About Joie de Vivre Hotels
Joie de Vivre Hotels embarked on its mission to “create joy” for guests and employees in 1987, when Chip Conley founded the innovative hospitality company in San Francisco. Each one of Joie de Vivre’s more than 30 hotels is an original concept designed to reflect the local community and engage the five senses so that guests enjoy authentic, memorable experiences. Today Joie de Vivre manages the largest collection of boutique hotels and resorts in California and is expanding outside the state with openings in Scottsdale, Ariz., Chicago and Honolulu.