What The Chanler at Cliff Walk does

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a privately held, woman-owned luxury boutique hotel situated on Newport's Cliff Walk in Rhode Island, operating 20 individually designed guest rooms and villas themed around distinct historical periods and design influences (Regency, Louis XVI, Renaissance, Moroccan, Victorian, Federal, and others). The property is a historic Gilded Age mansion reimagined through a contemporary design lens, with direct ocean frontage and access to the Cliff Walk. The hotel supports multiple on-site dining venues: Cara (a Michelin-recognized fine-dining restaurant offering a blind-tasting experience curated daily by Executive Chef Jacob Jasinski using a custom French Bonnet cooking suite), Remy's Loose (French-inspired cuisine), The Living Room bar/lounge, and a seasonal Summer Wine Garden.

The business model combines luxury overnight accommodations (20 keys across Ocean Villas, Garden Villas, Signature Rooms, Estate Rooms, and Manor Rooms), fine and casual dining, and high-margin full-property buyout events — primarily weddings (fewer than 10 per year, starting at $300,000+) and corporate retreats accommodating up to 200 guests on Cliff Lawn and Meadow Lawn. Pricing is sharply seasonal: peak season (May–October) requires a 100% deposit at booking, while off-peak (November–April) requires a 50% deposit, with a 14-day cancellation forfeiture policy. Distribution combines direct booking via the SynXis-powered website, phone reservations, the Virtuoso luxury travel advisor network, Booking.com (Proud Certified), and OpenTable for dining. Ancillary revenue streams include in-room spa services (Salt Micro Spa), curated experiences through partnerships with Wings Air Helicopters, Sea Newport, and a Cadillac house car, plus gift cards.

The property has earned Forbes Five Star recognition for both the hotel and Cara restaurant (a rare Double Five-Star for a fully woman-owned property), Two Michelin Keys, and consistent placement on Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure best-of lists since 2010. Owner Lani Shufelt operates the property independently with no disclosed private equity, venture backing, or parent company.

Name

The Chanler at Cliff Walk

Legal name

The Chanler at Cliff Walk

Website

https://thechanler.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a 20-room luxury boutique hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, serving affluent travelers, wedding couples, and corporate groups with individually designed historic accommodations, Michelin-recognized dining, and full-property buyout event experiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Boutique Hotel

NAICS

Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (72111)

SIC

Hotels & Motels (7011), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury Boutique & Lifestyle Resorts (THAGACAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Heritage & Palace Luxury Hotels (THAGACAF), Luxury Wellness & Spa Resorts (THAGACAG), Luxury Villas & Residences Resorts (THAGACAM)

Keywords

• Luxury boutique hotel
• Historic mansion accommodations
• Fine dining restaurants
• Destination wedding venue
• Corporate retreat venue

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport, Rhode Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Overnight Accommodations: Room revenue from 20 individually designed guest rooms and villas including Ocean Villas, Garden Villas, Signature Rooms, Estate Rooms, and Manor Rooms. Seasonal pricing with peak season (May-October) requiring 100% deposit at booking
2. Dining Venues: Revenue from Cara fine dining restaurant (Michelin-recognized), Remy's Loose French-inspired cuisine, The Living Room bar/lounge, and Summer Wine Garden seasonal outdoor venue
3. Private Events and Weddings: Full property buyout weddings and corporate events including rehearsal dinners, welcome receptions, ceremonies, receptions, and farewell brunches. Estimated starting investment of $300,000+ for full wedding weekend experience
4. In-Room Amenities and Services: Aromatherapy baths, in-room massage services by Salt Micro Spa, pre-arrival amenities, room service dining, and Nespresso machine access
5. Gift Cards: Gift cards redeemable for overnight stays, dining at all venues, private Newport excursions, and luxurious in-room services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a 20-room luxury boutique hotel set in a historic Gilded Age mansion on Newport's Cliff Walk, offering individually designed rooms and villas across five categories (Ocean Villas, Garden Villas, Signature Rooms, Estate Rooms, Manor Rooms). The property operates multiple dining venues including Cara (blind-tasting fine dining), Remy's Loose (French-inspired), and The Living Room, and sells full-property buyout experiences for weddings (starting at $300,000+) and corporate retreats. In-room spa services by Salt Micro Spa and gift cards extend the offering.

Product overview

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a historic 20-room luxury hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, offering individually designed accommodations across five room categories: Ocean Villas, Garden Villas, Signature Rooms, Estate Rooms, and Manor Rooms. The property features multiple dining venues including the fine-dining Cara restaurant (blind-tasting experience), Remy's Loose (French-inspired cuisine), The Living Room bar, and Summer Wine Garden. The hotel provides comprehensive event services including full-property wedding buyouts and corporate retreats. Wellness offerings include in-room aromatherapy baths and massage services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cara: Fine dining restaurant at The Chanler featuring Atlantic Ocean views and a custom French Bonnet cooking suite, offering blind-tasting experiences
• Remy's Loose
• The Living Room

Products and services

• Ocean Villas Oceanfront villa accommodations with themes inspired by Martha's Vineyard, Block Island, and Nantucket, featuring private hot tubs and direct ocean views; intended for luxury travelers seeking premium villa-style stays.
• Garden Villas Garden-inspired villa accommodations featuring themes including Briar Rose, English Trellis, and Peonies & Ivy, with private hot tubs and some with dry saunas.
• Signature Rooms Luxury guest rooms themed after Regency, Louis XVI, Renaissance, and English Tudor design periods.
• Estate Rooms Ornate guest rooms inspired by Georgian, Mediterranean, Moroccan, and Empire architectural styles.
• Manor Rooms Stylish guest rooms reflecting Colonial, Greek Revival, Federal, Williamsburg, Victorian, and French Provincial design influences.
• Cara Restaurant Fine dining restaurant offering blind-tasting experiences with dishes crafted daily by Executive Chef Jacob Jasinski. Features a custom French Bonnet cooking suite and Atlantic Ocean views.
• Remy's Loose French-inspired dining venue blending Parisian flair with Rhode Island's coastal spirit, offering a stylish, relaxed atmosphere with garden cocktails and ocean views.
• The Living Room Hotel bar and lounge offering garden-inspired cocktails in a relaxed setting.
• Summer Wine Garden Seasonal outdoor wine garden with curated cocktails, wine, and beverages, featuring Adirondack seating on the lawn.
• Private Events & Weddings Full-property buyout wedding experiences and corporate event hosting for up to 200 guests, with venues including the Terrace (up to 80), Meadow Lawn (up to 140), and Cliff Lawn (up to 200). Wedding weekend experiences start at $300,000+ inclusive of food and beverage.
• Executive Meetings & Retreats Private boardroom hosting for up to 10 attendees plus full property buyout options for corporate retreats, team-building workshops, and strategic planning sessions.
• In-Room Spa Services Personalized aromatherapy baths (Aromatherapy Associates products) and 60 or 90-minute massage services delivered by Salt Micro Spa therapists in guest rooms.
• Gift Cards Gift cards redeemable for overnight stays, dining at Cara, Remy's Loose, and The Living Room, private Newport excursions, and in-room services.

Quantifiable outcome

• Forbes Five Star Rating for both Hotel and Restaurant - Double Five-Star award
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Wings Air HelicopterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYear-round private helicopter charter partner through Virtuoso Preferred aviation program. Provides private helicopter service from multiple Northeast departure points including New York City, Westchester County, Boston, Connecticut, and New Jersey. Guests arrange charters through The Chanler Guest Services team who coordinate ground transfers from arrival airport to hotel.
• Sea NewportsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrivate charter experience partner providing exclusive boat charters for up to six guests to explore hidden coves, lighthouses, and waterfront mansions only accessible by water. Offered seasonally Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• VirtuosocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLuxury travel advisor network providing preferential visibility and access to high-net-worth travelers seeking exclusive boutique hotel experiences worldwide.
• CadillacsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHouse car partnership providing complimentary Cadillac Escalade for guest transportation to downtown Newport, available 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm first-come first-served. Featured in Ride, Stay & Play luxury travel package.
• Salt Micro SpasupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIn-room massage service provider offering 60 or 90-minute massage treatments available for guest booking during stays.
• Aromatherapy AssociatessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLuxury bath oil collection curated for in-room aromatherapy bath experiences, featuring products selected for guest relaxation and rejuvenation.
• Newport OutsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLGBTQ+ community organization partnered with to foster inclusive environment. The hotel team holds Proud Certified status through Booking.com and participates in community initiatives.
• Forbes Travel GuidecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStar rating and verified rating program providing Five Star recognition for both hotel and Cara restaurant, prominently featured in marketing materials and booking platforms.
• International Tennis Hall of FamesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFitness center partnership providing complimentary passes to The Chanler guests for access to cardio, weight machines, free weights, stretching area, and recently remodeled locker rooms. Located half mile from hotel.
• J Public RelationscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPublic relations agency handling press inquiries, media relationships, and partnership/collaboration communications for The Chanler. Contact: [email protected] Phone: 212.924.3600

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Blantyre: Forbes Five Star and Triple Michelin Key Relais & Châteaux estate in the Berkshires, MA. Comparable intimate-scale restored mansion luxury hospitality with similar gourmet-driven positioning, romance market, and small high-end buyout events.
• The Point: Forbes Five Star Relais & Châteaux resort in Saranac Lake, NY with only ~11 rooms. Comparable ultra-luxury intimate scale, all-inclusive pricing, and private estate-style buyout positioning targeting ultra-high-net-worth travelers.
• Weekapaug Inn: Forbes Five Star boutique inn in Westerly, RI operated under the same Ocean House ownership group. Comparable intimate scale (~20-30 rooms), Rhode Island coastal positioning, and similar high-end wedding/event programming.
• Twin Farms: Forbes Five Star all-inclusive resort in Barnard, VT with ~20 individually decorated rooms/suites. Closest peer by room count, personalization, and award-tier positioning within the small-luxury Northeast segment.
• Ocean House: Forbes Five Star and Triple Michelin Key resort in Watch Hill, RI. Multi-million-dollar restored Victorian oceanfront property with similarly elaborate wedding/event buyouts and a comparable award-driven luxury positioning within the New England summer destination market.
• The Vanderbilt Grace: Small luxury boutique hotel in a restored Newport mansion, directly competing for the same wealthy Newport visitors, corporate retreats, and intimate weddings with individually designed rooms at a similar price tier.
• Cliff House Maine: Historic oceanfront luxury resort in Cape Neddick, ME with a similar Gilded Age heritage property framing, oceanfront lawns, and destination wedding/event model directly comparable to Chanler's Cliff Walk setting and buyout events.
• White Barn Inn: Forbes Five Star Auberge Resorts property in Kennebunk, ME. Comparable small-scale New England luxury boutique with strong Michelin/food reputation and intimate buyout wedding capability targeting the same affluent Northeast seasonal guests.
• Castle Hill Inn: Historic Relais & Châteaux luxury boutique inn on Narragansett Bay in Newport, RI. Direct competitor for the same affluent couples, corporate retreats, and Cliff Walk area destination weddings, with comparable scale (40+ rooms) and similarly high-end pricing.
• Mayflower Inn & Spa: Auberge Resorts property in Washington, CT — small luxury New England countryside hotel at the top tier of the Forbes rating system. Comparable in intimate scale, award positioning, destination wedding/private buyout model, and affluent Northeast guest base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-chanler-at-cliff-walk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Chanler at Cliff Walk