A Bygone Era: Davidson’s unique approach to successfully operating historic hotels

Based on our portfolio of 85+ hotels and resorts, we are fortunate to manage 11 properties that are close to 100 years old or more. As a leading management company, we are well-versed in how much care it takes to operate a historic hotel to ensure the property is true to its historic roots for years to come.

A unique operating approach to historic hotels

• We embrace the historical components of each hotel, along with any tie-ins to the local community. Everything we do is rooted in honoring the original character of old buildings while introducing intentional, elevated moments that resonate with today’s guests. If our historic hotel is important to the community, then it needs to be important to us, the operators.
• We respect the brand narrative and the attributes of each historic hotel and honor the storytelling they deserve.
• We allow the architecture to speak for itself while layering in modern design, curated F&B offerings, and thoughtful programming that align with both our guests’ interests and the building’s original identity.
• We see ourselves as part of the city’s legacy, and our goal is to make sure guests feel that connection too.

How we incorporate the property’s history into the guest experience

• We have in-house historians at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, and The Don CeSar to provide guest tours and walk the artifacts of the hotels and deep-rooted history.
• Known as the legendary “Pink Palace,” The Don CeSar has welcomed travelers since 1928 and is a hallmark of Gatsby-era glamour. From the moment guests arrive, they’re stepping into a story nearly a century in the making. Our name itself is inspired by Don César de Bazan, the lead character in the 19th-century French opera Maritana, a nod to the grand romanticism and drama that defines our spirit. This theme carries through every detail, from the Rowe Bar, named in honor of our original developer Thomas Rowe, to the Gatsby Private Dining Room, a subtle tribute to the 1920s glamour that first brought The Don to life. We’ve carefully curated visual touches, such as antique opera glasses and vintage sheet music in our artwork, that immerse guests in the property’s theatrical roots. Additional guest-facing history efforts include:
  • Permanent History Displays: Archival photos, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia line our History Hall, located near Uncle Andy’s Market, allowing guests to visually explore the resort’s transformation.
  • Immersive Storytelling: Guests learn about The Don’s roles during WWII as a military hospital and later as a Veterans Administration headquarters through in-room welcome materials, online storytelling, and social media features.
  • Cultural Programming: Period-inspired events, vintage cocktails, and historic-themed social media moments all keep The Don’s spirit alive.

• At Barnsley Resort in Georgia, guests can attend a wedding reception or corporate dinner in the ruins of a 19th century manor home built by Godfrey Barnsley for his bride, Julia in the mid-1800s. For guests wanting to learn more, the resort curates interactive Wine & History Tours allowing participants to enjoy an immersive walking tour of the resort’s unique village layout inspired by Andrew Jackson Downing (the early landscape architect whom Godfrey Barnsley admired) before exploring the 19th century namesake Barnsley Manor House Ruins & Gardens. A version of this tour is also customized for corporate groups and retreats which can be enhanced with a bourbon tasting or cocktail class led by a certified Bourbon Steward. Currently, the resort is working through a striking redesign of the resort’s third restaurant, located a 19th century farmhouse. The reimagined interiors celebrate the property’s historic character while updating it with a fresh set of finishes that pair authentic sensibilities with carefully selected contemporary elements.

 

 

• At Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City, located within the iconic Stephen Girard Building, the hotel’s design embraces and preserves the grandeur of the building, showcasing original architectural features like marble finishes, classic molding, and soaring vaulted ceilings that anchor the space in timeless elegance. Throughout our public spaces and guest rooms, you’ll find intentional nods to Philadelphia’s rich legacy, blending tributes to historic Market Street and Stephen Girard’s philanthropic spirit with modern Philly influences like R&B, hip-hop, and urban fashion. At The Wayward, our signature bar and restaurant, we highlight Girard’s French heritage with a modern, French-inspired menu and a standout gin program, subtle but meaningful connections that make the story come alive. Guests also encounter moments of discovery throughout their stay, from curated playlists and local artwork to storytelling signage that bridges the past with the present-day creative energy of the neighborhood.

 

 

• At Emery, history reveals itself in both big and small ways throughout the property. Guests walk into a lobby filled with original marble, brass, and terrazzo details, and those grand architectural elements immediately set a tone. Historic photos of the building in its original state can be found throughout the hotel’s (and formerly the bank’s) lobby. But we’ve also brought the story to life through programming, like Banker’s Hour, our weekday happy hour that nods to the building’s banking past and encourages guests to linger in the lounge like people once did in the lobby of a bustling financial hub, or our private meeting and event spaces located behind 100-year-old vault doors. Our gift shop is even called “The Vault.” We also highlight the property’s history in how we train the team — they’re able to share details with guests who are curious, whether it’s about the architecture, the building’s original function, or how we’ve repurposed old elements (like vault doors and mail chutes) into the design.

 

• At The Mills House in Charleston, guests can immerse themselves in the property’s historic architecture at every turn. From the building’s iconic pink facade and courtyard designed by renowned landscape architect Loutrel Briggs to original features such as wrought iron balconies, The Mills House’s history is carefully woven throughout the guest experience. Additional touchpoints include historic black and white images of The Mills House placed throughout the hotel. For example, The Mills House celebrated its 170th anniversary with a recent renovation, series of creative guest programming including a throwback tasting menu to the original from 1853, a historic gallery in partnership with a local museum, pop up barber shop which celebrated the story of Joseph Rainey, a freeman and local businessman who had a barber shop on the ground floor of The Mills House in the late 1800s, also the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, which allowed guests to celebrate the significant milestone while on property. The Mills House offers a “Old Fashioned Good Time” wine hour, which is a Southern tradition reimagined. This pays homage to our deep Southern roots while we also celebrate innovation, Charleston’s entrepreneurial spirit and serve as a gathering place for the “New South.”

 

• At Asher Adams, Autograph Collection, the preserved architectural details found in the historic spaces are the most obvious example of how we are keeping the history of the building alive; original hand-laid tile, ornate ceilings, and picture-frame molding that can’t be easily or authentically recreated. We’ve preserved and elevated these features to offer a visual richness that makes the guest experience instantly memorable and infinitely intriguing. Our art program continues that story visually, with gallery walls that showcase vintage postcards from along the Union Pacific Railroad, historic portraits of Salt Lake City life in the early 1900s, and archival images of the Depot itself curated in collaboration with the Utah Historical Society. Even our room names pay tribute to the past, with suites named after the original architects and engineers of the building, and meeting rooms named after notable locomotives that once ran through this station. Our name, Asher Adams, honors the two original cartographers who helped map the transcontinental railway, making our identity itself a tribute to history and discovery.

 

Bottom line: we see ourselves as part of the legacy and our goal is to make sure guests feel that connection, too. Whether they’re in town for work, a wedding, or just exploring, we want them to remember not just where they stayed, but how it felt to be there. What a privilege to serve guests and welcome them into a space that’s been welcoming people for over a century.