How important is design to the Denihan brands?
We look at our hotels as places that offer business and leisure travelers an escape from the hustle and bustle of a work trip or vacation, and the design of our properties reflects that. Our objective is enduring design, not chasing the hottest trend that will require change five years from now.
How do you stand out from your competitors?
For over 50 years, everything we have done has been purposefully driven. This approach is the reason we have continued to remain strong and independent for so long. Our founder, Benjamin “Bud” Denihan, made it a priority that all Denihan hotels provide guests with the very best in design, service, and amenities. To him, those were the keys to guest satisfaction and building brand ambassadors, and it is still what differentiates us from our peers today.
What do you look for when developing a new hotel?
We focus on being in places that have a variety of leisure and demand generators. We are one of the most recognizable brands in the luxury boutique segment, and it’s typically the gateway cities where demand for our properties is strongest.
The James New York – NoMad recently opened in the former Carlton Hotel. How did you honor its historical Beaux-Arts heritage?
Our understanding is this hotel was a social refuge for bootleggers during Prohibition, so we opened the Seville cocktail lounge [with LDV Hospitality] as a nod to this history. Thomas Juul-Hansen designed guestrooms with locally crafted and custom-designed furnishings that further evoke the meaningfulness of the past. We view this property as the hallmark in the renaissance of the NoMad area.
Tell us about the upcoming James Washington, DC.
Armature Works is a first-of-its-kind [mixed-used] project that is located at the nexus of two of the most popular retail and entertainment districts in the city, the H Street corridor and Union Market. The hotel has been thoughtfully designed to reflect the culture of this very vibrant community in everything from its artwork, food, furniture, and amenities.
