Joie de Vivre Ranked #2 Best Place to Work in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, May 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Winning out against the big law firms of Fenwick & West and Bingham McCutchen and the tech firms of CNET Networks and Advent Software, Joie de Vivre Hospitality announced today that it was ranked #2 best place to work in the Bay area in the 501-1,500 employees category.

"We have a mantra at Joie de Vivre: People Matter Here," said Jane Howard, Chief People Officer. "We practice this at all organizational levels, illustrating our commitment to 'people first' in everything we do ... from our workplace to the communities we operate in throughout California. This allegiance has gained us the highest employee retention levels in the industry."

In the hospitality sector, the industry employee turnover rate is about 70%. Joie de Vivre has consistently been about a third of the industry average, coming in at around 25%. Joie de Vivre's seat in the 2nd spot was the highest among its closest competitors Larkspur and Kimpton, awarded the 6th and 7th best places to work, respectively.

There are a number of factors contributing to the higher-than-usual tenure of employees. Recognition of employees and a respect for individuals as 'whole' contributors are some of the most compelling reasons people stay. Additionally:

    --  After three years and every three years thereafter, salaried managers
        receive a four-week, paid sabbatical; a benefit Joie de Vivre paved
        the way to create in the hospitality industry;
    --  An extensive learning and development umbrella, JdV University, that
        offers opportunities for personal growth like surfing, card-making and
        hiking in the California redwoods along with extensive professional
        development of ESL courses and Front Desk Host Academies. Joie de
        Vivre will invest over $70,000 in employees to learn English as a
        Second Language in 2008.

This is the third time that Joie de Vivre is ranked within the top 10 best places to work for the greater Bay Area. Previously, the company has been ranked as the 6th and the 7th best amongst the top 100. This year, the number two designation is a significant testament to how Joie de Vivre has made it a top priority to uphold the unique culture during intense growth at the company.

By March 2009, Joie de Vivre will open and brand more than 11 hotels and eight restaurants throughout California, each with its own distinct identity. Already the state's largest independent boutique hotelier with 37 properties, the commitment to employees and to sound expansion in California has allowed Joie de Vivre to remain amongst the most successful in its competitive set. To learn more about the company and to seek out the growing employment opportunities, visit (http://www.jdv.jobs)

About Joie de Vivre

Based in San Francisco, Joie de Vivre (http://www.jdvhotels.com) is a creative collection of lifestyle businesses. As California's largest independent boutique hotelier, Joie de Vivre encompasses other hospitality businesses such as restaurants and spas. Celebrating 20 years of creating dreams, Joie de Vivre is expanding its California presence in Sacramento, Oakland, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Sunnyvale, Huntington Beach and beyond.