California hotel chain picks Arizona for first out-of-state opening

Californian hotel favorite Joie de Vivre has announced Arizona is to be its first destination outside of its home state.

The boutique hotel chain, which operates over 30 properties in California, confirmed last year that it was to spread its wings and said last week that it had selected Scottsdale, Arizona for its next opening, where it will compete with the likes of Fairmont, Four Seasons and W Hotels.

As of fall this year, The Drinkwater, a 195-room property in the popular town described by the New York Times as "a desert version of Miami's South Beach," will join the Joie de Vivre fold of properties as its easternmost outpost.

It is currently undergoing a considerable renovation and is expected to boast two pools, several bars and a restaurant, which Joie de Vivre says will be in partnership with a "high-profile chef," when it reopens.

The hotel is just steps from the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts, which welcomes over 200,000 visitors annually to events that include classical and world music, dance, jazz, theater, and festivals.

Joie de Vivre's chief Chip Conley described the move last week as a "milestone step" for the brand, which is working with another developer called The Sydell Group (the name behind the Ace Hotel New York and its Michelin-starred restaurant) on the project.

The first opening is likely to be the first of a sweep across the US, with Joie de Vivre promising last year that it would aim to open hotels in popular cities such as NYC, Chicago, Miami and Seattle as it began to spread its wings.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/