No hotel executive in the world has overseen the development and creation of more boutique hotels than Chip Conley, founder and CEO of Joie de Vivre, California’s largest independent hotel company and America’s second largest boutique hotelier. At the age of 26 with no industry experience, Chip transformed a seedy 1950’s “no-tell motel” into the world-renowned Phoenix Hotel, a legendary rock ‘n roll hotel catering to the likes of David Bowie, Linda Ronstadt and Little Richard. Inspired by the French expression for “joy of life,” Chip created Joie de Vivre with the intention of developing what USA Today has called “the most delightfully schizophrenic collection of hotels in America.”

Recorded April 2, 2011 at TEDxPresidio at The Palace of Fine Arts Theatre, San Francisco, California.