A New England Hotel Company with A Visionary Spirit
Jon and Douglas Cohen, the founders of Newport Hotel Group, both developed an interest in real estate from a young age. Their father, Dr. Earle Cohen, was a pediatrician and real estate investor in Providence, Rhode Island. In 1972, Dr. Cohen purchased the Millstone Village Inn, a large restaurant and banquet facility in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. Several years later, Dr. Cohen purchased the historic Hotel Viking in Newport, RI. At ages seven and five respectively, Jon and Douglas began work in the family restaurant before eventually helping at the hotel. By the time they graduated high school, each had gained experience in all facets of hotel operations, working in positions as varied as a dishwasher, prep cook, accounting clerk, and front desk manager.
Jon went on to obtain an undergraduate degree in business economics from Brown University and a law degree from Duke University. Before forming Newport Hotel Group with Douglas, he practiced real estate law in New York City at Schulte Roth & Zabel, LLP. Douglas also pursued economics, obtaining an undergraduate degree from Harvard University. After college, Douglas joined the real estate investment group at Bear Sterns in New York City. He then returned to Cambridge to earn an MBA at Harvard Business School. Throughout this time, the brothers regularly discussed their interest in finding an entrepreneurial business opportunity where they could apply their complementary professional and personal backgrounds.
Unexpectedly, difficult economic times and their father's sudden illness would bring Douglas and Jon that opportunity. The Hotel Viking, still owned by the Cohen family but managed by an outside firm for several years, had suffered due to the commercial real estate downturn of the early 1990s. The property required hands-on operational expertise and management, as well as significant capital investment. Jon and Douglas vowed to make the Hotel Viking their first business venture and took over the day-to-day operations of the hotel. Subsequently, they formed Newport Hotel Group as an umbrella company focused on pursuing additional hospitality investment opportunities.
Jon and Douglas began recruiting top management talent with hospitality experience, the majority of whom are still with the company today. Utilizing hands-on marketing, direct sales, and cultivation of strong repeat business, the Newport Hotel Group team was able to grow annual year-round occupancy at the Hotel Viking from 40% to 76% by 1999. By the time the property was sold to LaSalle Hotel Properties, a publicly traded REIT, in 1999, the Hotel Viking was once again recognized as the premier hotel and conference facility in the Newport area. Newport Hotel Group continued to manage the property for the new owner over the next several years, overseeing the ongoing operations, renovations, and expansion of the hotel.
Meet Our Team
Most of our senior executives have worked side-by-side with the principals of Newport Hotel Group since the early 1990s. Accordingly, they share the principals' detailed approach to management coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit.
In many cases, senior management began their careers with large corporate hotel companies, including Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt, before joining Newport Hotel Group.
Today, our management professionals take a hands-on approach, applying carefully developed controls to track the success of management initiatives at each hotel daily. Each member of our team plays an essential role in our success. To learn more about Newport Hotel Group's leadership, see our management team bios below:
Douglas D. Cohen
Douglas Cohen focuses on the feasibility, financing, design, construction, and overall development strategy for hotel acquisitions and new developments.
Douglas D. Cohen
Douglas Cohen focuses on the feasibility, financing, design, construction, and overall development strategy for hotel acquisitions and new developments.
For existing hotels in NHG's portfolio, Douglas concentrates on renovations, specific value-add strategies, and sales and marketing. Prior to founding Newport Hotel Group in 1993, Douglas worked in the real estate investment banking group of Bear, Stearns, & Co, Inc. in New York City, where he specialized in securitized and conventional debt financing, acquisitions, and other principal transactions for all types of real estate assets.
Douglas earned a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1993. He is also cum laude graduate of Harvard University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1989.
Douglas has served on the Zoning Board of Review and the Zoning Subcommittee of the Planning Board of Newport, Rhode Island. He is a former Trustee of the Newport Art Museum and served on the Board of the Newport County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Newport Harbor Management Plan Commission.
Jon E. Cohen
Jon Cohen is responsible for the general management of Newport Hotel Group, including oversight of all facets of hotel operations, interfacing with management and human resources teams, and development of corporate strategy.
Jon E. Cohen
Jon Cohen is responsible for the general management of Newport Hotel Group, including oversight of all facets of hotel operations, interfacing with management and human resources teams, and development of corporate strategy.
Jon has a valuable combination of legal and business experience. Prior to founding Newport Hotel Group in 1993, he worked as a real estate attorney for the law firm of Schulte, Roth & Zabel, LLP in New York City, where he specialized in restructuring of distressed real estate. He also worked as a financial analyst in the New York office of Merrill Lynch & Co., rotating through the equity analysis, mezzanine finance, and internal corporate profit-modeling groups.
Jon earned a J.D. with Honors from Duke University School of Law in 1992 and is a 1987 graduate of Brown University, where he received his B.A. in Business Economics.
Jon is licensed to practice law in the states of Massachusetts and New York. He served on the Planning Board for the City of Newport and is a former Trustee of the Newport International Film Festival. Jon is an adjunct professor at Brown University, where he teaches a seminar on entrepreneurship to juniors and seniors. He is also a member of the advisory board for the Brown University Entrepreneurship Program.
Don McCall
Don McCall has been the CFO of Newport Hotel Group since 1999. He is responsible for corporate financial reporting, including tax compliance, lending relationships, and investor management correspondence.
Don McCall
Don McCall has been the CFO of Newport Hotel Group since 1999. He is responsible for corporate financial reporting, including tax compliance, lending relationships, and investor management correspondence.
Additionally, Don oversees hotel technology support systems and third-party technology relationships. Prior to joining the Newport Hotel Group, Don was an audit partner at Rooney, Plotkin & Willey, a leading regional accounting firm. Prior to that time, Don worked as a senior manager for Ernst & Young. He is a C.P.A. and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Don is a member of the Board of Newport County Chamber of Commerce and serves as Treasurer for Child and Family Services of Newport County. He received his B.A. in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento.
Linda Nunes
Linda Nunes joined Newport Hotel Group in 1995, serving as Director of Human Resources at The Hotel Viking before assuming her current position.
Linda Nunes
Linda Nunes joined Newport Hotel Group in 1995, serving as Director of Human Resources at The Hotel Viking before assuming her current position.
In her present role, Linda is responsible for policy compliance with regional and federal regulations, implementation and management of employee benefit and compensation plans, managing organizational human resources practices, and overseeing the employee recognition and performance-management process. Linda also oversees all hotel operations, reservations, and group sales in addition to human resources. Linda received a B.A. in Psychology from Catholic University in 1992.
Kristen Martucci
Kristen Martucci is the Senior Lead Human Resources Manager overseeing the Human Resources responsibilities at all of the hotels while managing day-to-day Human Resurces responsibilities at the Bristol Harbor Inn, the Hyannis Harbor Hotel and the Ocean Mist Beach Hotel and Suites. She has been working for Newport Hotel Group since 2000.
Suzanne Buker
Suzanne Buker has been the office manager for Newport Hotel Group since 2001, and prior to that at the Hotel Viking from 1990 to 2001.
Suzanne Buker
Suzanne Buker has been the office manager for Newport Hotel Group since 2001, and prior to that at the Hotel Viking from 1990 to 2001.
Suzanne is responsible for overseeing all sales and marketing systems, updating websites, and placing all advertising for the properties. She is also the executive assistant for the owners.