Home » About » Denihan Story Denihan Story Denihan’s core values—instilled by the company’s founder, Benjamin ‘Bud’ Denihan—continue to be the foundation of its culture. Mutual respect, hard work and a relentless focus on superior customer service are principles reflected in the company’s day to day business, as well as in the people it hires and the partners with whom it does business. Since acquiring the company from other family members and becoming sole owners in 2006, Brooke Denihan Barrett and Benjamin ‘Patrick’ Denihan have expanded the portfolio to cities outside of New York, acquired and evolved The James into one of the industry’s most coveted boutique brands, and invested over $450 million in acquisitions and redevelopment projects. In 2009, Denihan redeveloped The Surrey into one of the most luxurious hotels on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Three years after re-opening, The Surrey became the only Relais & Châteaux hotel in Manhattan in 20 years, in 2016, voted #1 in NYC & #3 in the U.S. by the readers of Travel + Leisure and in 2015, was named the #1 New York City hotel in the Condé Nast Traveler annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Denihan is committed to thoughtfully growing its real estate portfolio through joint ventures and management contracts. The company’s unique operating platform, with strong repositioning, renovation and operating expertise, allows Denihan to compete for nontraditional assets to drive profit and create value-added opportunities, giving it a competitive edge over others seeking conventional and branded hotels. Acquisitions and Development drive Denihan’s growth. The team’s extensive relationships within the real estate and hospitality industries provide early access to potential deals. Focused underwriting, driven by appropriate market positioning and supported by a highly-experienced operations team, ensures that new additions perform as envisioned to earn attractive, risk-adjusted returns. While actively seeking opportunities in key U.S. urban markets across the portfolio, the company is focused on the growth of The James, named one of America’s most trusted brands by Entrepreneur magazine. Today the Denihan portfolio includes hotels located throughout New York City, as well as an impressive list of chef-driven restaurants and bars.