“There's something we've always told people we aspire to, which was we wanted it to be a microcosm of the best of this region, right? So we travel a ton to this day and the food in the Pacific Northwest is unmatched. The coffee is unmatched. And we did the design ourselves, the architecture was there, the energy efficiency is unmatched. And so I do think that the things that our region is known for, which is mainly food and craft, it's a little bit of a microcosm of those values in the building.”
We’re in great company with Jonathan Cohen & Jessie Burke, the husband and wife duo behind The Society Hotel, a collection of experience-focused boutique hotels built with unique reclaimed buildings in Portland, Oregon and Bingen, Washington, calling all travelers, wild spirits and creative minds to encounter a stay unlike any other.
For world travelers looking to experience the intersection of the past, present and future Portland, The Society Hotel is tucked away in the historic neighborhood of Old Town Chinatown. For locals looking for a city escape, The Society Hotel Bingen, with surprises around every corner in its converted schoolhouse, is nestled within the Columbia River Gorge.
In this episode, Jonathan and Jessie share how their career paths and personal travels took many twists and turns to bring them to where they are today - creating social spaces that encourage people from all walks of life to convene and connect.
Top Takeaways
[1:50] Jonathan & Jessie pursued many careers before finding their calling in creating The Society Hotel - from aerospace engineering to environmental education, from Olympic fencing to investment banking, from owning a solar energy business and a family-friendly coffee shop to finally building a business case for a hotel concept.
[8:30] A real life “fake it till you make it” story is behind the beginnings of The Society Hotel and Jonathan & Jessie to this day are proud of the community they wrangled together behind their cause.
[17:25] Jonathan saw Portland, Oregon as an up-and-coming place for young people to have a voice. Jessie saw Portland as too small a town…until she realized that it left open space for her to make an impact here.
[21:50] How one of the first buildings in Portland’s historic port town built in 1881, was a safe haven for sailors, a time capsule of old newspapers, and in serious need of some TLC when Jessie discovered it.
[38:00] Maya Angelo said it best, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
[40:25] The Society Hotel in Portland is often in transition, evolving with the same energy as the historic Chinatown and Japantown it is nestled in. It is also home to the best cup of coffee in America, according to Jonathan that is…
[45:55] The Society Hotel in Bingen is unlike any other nature escape, picture a schoolhouse setting meets summer camp sleepover, with original chalkboards intact and s’mores over campfire included.
Notable Mentions
L’Angolo Estate Wine
Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail
