In 1927, Irish immigrant Benjamin Denihan, who had arrived in the United States several years earlier, opened a dry cleaning storefront in Manhattan.
In the 1950s, Bud Denihan made his first venture into the real estate market, acquiring several residential apartment buildings in New York.
In 1963, the family's first hotel, Lyden Gardens, opened on the site of their former dry cleaning plant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.
In May 2008, Affinia launched their MyAffinia program, the industry's first service that allows guests to customize their stays in advance of check-in with a variety of amenities, most of which are complimentary.
That same year, Denihan began a $60 million renovation of The Surrey, a historic residential property less than a block from Central Park on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
[2] The program teaches Affinia associates a variety of skills, including how to read guests' body language to better anticipate their needs and improve a connection with them.
[3] In January 2012, Denihan promoted former CFO David Duncan to president of the company, marking the first time a non-family member has held the position.
That March, DHG signed management contracts with Ark Partners for two additional boutique hotels in Manhattan: The Mansfield in Midtown and The Franklin on the Upper East Side,[4] bringing the company's New York City portfolio to 11 properties.
In April 2012, Denihan announced that they hoped to expand to the West Coast, opening a development office in San Francisco.