Our business model is based on the overarching principle that we strive to make people’s lives better. This corporate essence is borne from our time-honored history, our cultural underpinnings, and our hiring of only the best candidates.
CULTURE
AND VALUES
OUR STORY
The Newport story reaches all the way back to the 1850s. During that time, S.M. Swenson, a Swedish immigrant and a successful merchant, began purchasing vast tracks of untouched land, amassing a large land holding in West Texas. S.M.’s sons leased the land from their father and founded the Swenson Land and Cattle Company which continued to operate for the next 140 years.
In the early 90s, Bill Carey, a great grandson of S.M. Swenson as well as a successful entrepreneur and rancher, began searching for new business opportunities. He only had to look to his cousin, Mike Pleninger, for the answer. Mike had spent his entire career building and managing hotels, and was ready to launch a new business.
Starting in a small office in Newport News, Virginia (hence the name) in 1990, Bill and Mike laid out a vision for their fledgling venture. They set out to become the preferred hotel management company in the Eastern United States by bringing the key principles of a successful and enduring ranch company to the hospitality industry, specifically hard work, individual reliance, community support and moral integrity.
In the early 90s, Bill Carey, the great grandson of S.M. Swenson as well as a successful entrepreneur and rancher, began searching for new business opportunities. He only had to look to his cousin, Mike Pleninger, for the answer. Mike had spent his entire career building and managing hotels.
Starting in a small office in Newport News, Virginia (hence the name) in 1990, Bill and Mike laid out a vision for their fledgling venture. They set out to become the preferred hotel management company in the Eastern United States by bringing the key principles of a successful and enduring ranch company to the hospitality industry, specifically hard work, individual reliance, community support and moral integrity.
Shortly after starting, Newport Hospitality Group took over management of a series of hotels in Williamsburg, Virginia, and then moved its offices to be closer to those properties. Since then, NHG has grown and evolved to include regional offices in Florida, Massachusetts and North Carolina. In spite of this growth, our primary mission has never wavered; we continue to provide unique work experiences, remarkable guest stays and superior owner returns.
CULTURE
Our focus on corporate culture and core values are what set us apart from other hotel management companies and what allow us to excel with every property we operate. This starts by respecting all associates, managers and executives in the NHG family. Our people are our lifeblood, and we nurture an environment where each individual is able to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Our philosophy is embodied in five key operating principles:
Act with integrity and communicate honestly.
Exhibit a passion for results.
Extend trust, respect and support.
Demonstrate ‘one team’ attitude.
Make every day enjoyable.
The Keys to Our Success
We want each and every NHG team member to flourish because once when we are all doing our best will we fulfill our mission. To this end, we nurture and reward hardworking team players who have a passion for proactive problem solving.
We look for employees who exhibit the following traits:
1
Maturity
People who have a variety of career and life experiences as well as those who have a clear vision of ‘what they want to be when they grow up’, which happens to include playing critical roles in running superb hotels.
2
Balanced Lifestyle
People who work hard to balance the most important parts of their lives – family, health, work and soul.
3
Leadership, charisma & personality
At its core, hospitality is a people business. As such, we seek energetic leaders who breathe life into the idea of a great guest experience.
4
Entrepreneurs & risk-takers
People who will take the tools we give them, take risks to build their business and take responsibility for the outcomes.
5
A Bias For Action
People who understand that solving problems rather than ignoring them is always the preferable course of action in the hotel business.
6
Tough-mindedness
While we are in the people business, we are still a business! We seek individuals who can balance the soft heart required to lead others with the shrewd intellect necessary to grow a business.