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Long-time friends and collaborators , Mark Harmon , founder of Auberge Resorts Collection , and Jonathan McManus , Honolulu-based founder of the Private Label Collection , are officially teaming up . Harmon has joined McManus as the new chairman and partner of the Private Label Collection to selectively develop with and manage for astute owners who only focus on quality , relaxed luxury projects that potentially create outstanding upside value .
Harmon recently completed a four-year consulting arrangement with Auberge after selling his interest in 2018 , while Hawaiiborn McManus got his start in the 1990s developing condominiums in San Francisco
HAVING GONE THROUGH OUR RESPECTIVE JOURNEYS , HAVING MANAGED THE NUANCES OF OWNERSHIP , WE CAN SHARE IT WITH OWNERSHIP GROUPS AS THEY GO THROUGH THEIRS . AND IF WE KEEP IT VERY EXCLUSIVE AND SMALL IN NUMBERS , I THINK WE MAY HAVE SOMETHING QUITE SPECIAL . – MARK HARMON before rediscovering the hospitality business and eventually acquiring what is now one of the top ultra-luxury hotels on Maui , the Relais & Châteaux-affiliated Hotel Wailea . McManus also remains a partner in Springboard Hotels & Resorts , a management company with 38 hotels across 10 states .
“ What I think I can bring to the table is that complementary set of skills around entrepreneurial development , understanding design and the marketplace ,” Harmon says . “ With Jon ’ s business acumen and [ Managing Director ] Markus Schale ’ s operational expertise , the mix will help us do just a few deals because we ’ re not looking to create a large growth platform . We ’ ve all been there and done that . We want to be very selective in the opportunities that we pursue .”
Currently , the Private Label Collection includes the McManus-owned , 72-suite Hotel Wailea in Maui , which he says is running at 90 % occupancy these days as well as a US $ 1,000 ADR . It also has the 122-room Kaimana Beach Hotel and Hau Tree restaurant in Waikiki , which it has managed and successfully repositioned over the past year for BlackSand Capital , and it recently acquired a six-suite villa in San Miguel de Allende , Mexico , where there are plans to reposition the project as well as potentially acquire adjacent real estate to expand the business .
In addition , in March the team was getting close to announcing a new mixeduse , ultra-luxury project in Hawaii where it will take a small equity position . The team also has designs on the West Coast of the U . S . and has been in discussion with some
May 2022 hotelsmag . com 39