Why People Stay: A Thanksgiving Reflection on Loyalty, Longevity, and Living Hospitality

Every November, Thanksgiving gives us an opportunity to reflect on the people who make a difference in our lives. For me, that reflection inevitably leads to the remarkable individuals who have chosen to make Newport Hospitality Group their professional home, many for decades.

In an industry where employee turnover is often accepted as an unavoidable cost of doing business, I find myself asking a different question: Why do our people stay?

It's a question worth exploring, particularly at a time when hospitality continues to face challenges attracting, developing, and retaining talent. While much of the industry's attention is understandably focused on recruitment, I believe an equally important conversation should center on retention. After all, attracting someone to a company is one thing. Creating an environment where that person wants to build a career is something entirely different.

At Newport, our employees are providing some compelling answers.

The Numbers Tell a Story

Recently, I had an opportunity to review employee tenure statistics across our organization. While I have always appreciated the loyalty of our team, seeing that dedication expressed in years of service was both humbling and gratifying.

• At our corporate office, 16 of 37 employees (or 43%) have been with us for 10+ years, including Director of Payroll & Benefits Cindy Browning who celebrated her 35th anniversary in October.  

• The average tenure among our corporate team is an impressive 11.8 years.

• The average tenure of our 952 employees is 3 years, 2 months.

• Across the entire organization, 74 employees have reached the 10-year milestone, 30 have served for at least 15 years, and 14 have dedicated 20 years or more to Newport.

• Co-Founder and Chairman Michael Pleninger has been engaged in our 36-year journey and continues to maintain the values and relationships that guide our company today.

The commitment extends well beyond our corporate office. Six employees working at our hotels have surpassed 20 years of service, including General Manager Kenny Rogers with 24 years, Night Auditor Barbara Phillips with 21 years, and Director of Payroll & Benefits Cindy Browning celebrated her 35th anniversary with Newport last month.  

These aren't simply employment statistics. They represent thousands of guest interactions, countless challenges overcome, friendships formed, careers developed, and lives touched. Behind every number is someone who has chosen, year after year, to remain part of our Newport family. And that choice means more to me than any financial performance metric ever could.

People Stay Where They Feel They Belong

I don't believe employees remain with an organization for decades simply because they enjoy their jobs. They stay because they feel respected, supported, appreciated, and connected to something meaningful.

We call that connection Living Hospitality.

Our philosophy is grounded in a simple belief: When people's lives get better, everything else follows. We strive to create an environment where employees are encouraged to grow professionally, contribute their ideas, support one another, and take pride in the difference they make.

But culture cannot be created through a mission statement or an annual employee appreciation event. It is shaped by how leaders respond when someone makes a mistake, how colleagues support one another during difficult times, whether employees feel comfortable sharing concerns, and whether their contributions are recognized when no one is expecting recognition.

It also requires leadership to listen. People want to know that their opinions matter, their personal circumstances are understood, and their future is important to the organization. They want opportunities to advance without feeling they must leave the company to achieve their professional goals.

This is why we continue investing in mentorship, leadership development, and initiatives that connect employees across our portfolio. Programs such as our Leadership Excellence Advancement Program (LEAP), Compass Council, and annual leadership gatherings help reinforce the relationships and shared purpose that define Newport.

Our responsibility as leaders is not simply to manage performance. It is to create an environment where people can succeed, feel fulfilled, and envision a future.

Longevity Is a Competitive Advantage

There is also an important business lesson in employee loyalty, particularly for hotel owners and operators. When experienced employees stay, institutional knowledge stays with them. They understand the nuances of their properties, the expectations of ownership, the needs of returning guests, and the relationships that make a hotel successful.

A longtime general manager knows the history behind operational decisions and understands how to navigate challenges before they become crises. A veteran night auditor brings consistency, confidence, and familiarity to a position that requires tremendous independence and trust. Experienced corporate team members provide continuity as properties change ownership, brands evolve, and market conditions fluctuate.

Equally important, these individuals become mentors to the next generation of hospitality professionals. They pass along lessons that cannot be learned from an employee handbook or training module.

Employee longevity creates stability, and stability creates confidence. Guests benefit from familiar faces and consistent service. Owners benefit from knowledgeable teams who understand their investments. New employees benefit from experienced colleagues who can help them succeed.

None of this happens automatically. Loyalty must be earned and continually reinforced. It requires organizations to remain attentive to employee needs, recognize changing expectations, and understand that the workplace of tomorrow may look very different from the one we know today.

We cannot expect people to remain loyal to a company that is unwilling to evolve with them.

Gratitude Is More Than Saying Thank You

As Thanksgiving approaches, I am especially mindful that our success has never been the accomplishment of any one individual. It is the collective achievement of people who show up every day, often behind the scenes, determined to do their best for their colleagues, our guests, and our business partners.

Some have been with us for a few months. Others have been with us for decades. Every one of them has an opportunity to make a lasting difference, and every contribution matters.

To our longtime employees, thank you for believing in Newport, for sharing your experience, and for helping shape the company we have become. To our newer team members, thank you for bringing fresh perspectives, enthusiasm, and ideas that will help define our future.

I am equally grateful to our hotel owners, brand partners, lenders, vendors, and business associates whose confidence and collaboration make our work possible. Your loyalty, trust, and willingness to grow alongside us are never taken for granted.

And to the guests who choose our hotels, return year after year, and entrust us with their travels, celebrations, and important moments, thank you. Your loyalty gives purpose to everything we do.

Thanksgiving reminds us to appreciate what we have. For me, that appreciation begins with the people who have helped build Newport Hospitality Group into the organization it is today.

Thirty-five years of service. Twenty-four years. Twenty-one years. Ten years. Each milestone represents a relationship built on mutual commitment and trust.

When I consider why people stay with Newport, I hope the answer is simple: They know they matter.

And as long as we continue making people our priority, I believe we will keep giving them reasons to stay. That, to me, is the true meaning of Living Hospitality. And it is something for which I will always be thankful.