Caroline Dyal to Join as General Manager and Jimmy Blakeslee as Director of Sales and Marketing
MIAMI BEACH (May 18, 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, Béarnaise) 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.
