beverage and the service culture leads the way for us ,” McManus adds . “ We had a great design team and a partnership with BlackSand that allowed us to work quickly and make a 180-degree change in direction that Hawaii hasn ’ t seen … It was really important to let the community feel like they had their own beachfront restaurant again … That is sort of the ethos that we ’ d like to have – finding owners that hold those pillars to be as important as we believe they are .”
LOOKING AHEAD Harmon and McManus maintain that their expansion plans are modest . “ The one thing that I think both Jon and I have learned over the years is to say ‘ no ’ often ,” Harmon says . “ We really want to focus on the right fits from so many different perspectives – that fit with ownership , that fit with a spectacular location , that fit with the opportunity to create value . It takes a lot of patience to continue on that path , and we ’ re not bound to a path where growth is the sole goal .”
That said , the duo believes that is a lot of opportunity in Hawaii , especially in the ultra-luxury space . “ Results in 2021 have proven that out at Auberge de Soleil as it was absolutely a record year ,” Harmon adds . “ That type of approach of indoor-outdoor living , outdoor dining and separate cottagestyle accommodations – I think that ’ s the direction the market is looking at for our segment , which is the high-end of the luxury market .”
When asked to define the Private Label Collection brand , McManus and Harmon say its main focus is to deliver equity for ownership through reimagining properties , development their collective experience . “ We have our management arm that will continue on with the ethos of Private Label Collection , but it isn ’ t trying to be a brand that is guest facing . It ’ s really an ownershipfacing brand ,” McManus says .
WE HAVE OUR MANAGEMENT ARM THAT WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE ETHOS OF PRIVATE LABEL COLLECTION , BUT IT ISN ’ T TRYING TO BE A BRAND THAT IS GUEST FACING . IT ’ S REALLY AN OWNERSHIP-FACING BRAND .
– JONATHAN MCMANUS
May 2022 hotelsmag . com 41