Bradford Zak – Founder and CEO

Mr. Zak is a graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. Hotel Administration Degree, 1980, and has over thirty years of operational, financial, development and entrepreneurial experience in complex resorts, hotels and clubs in Africa, China, Costa Rica, Hawaii, India, Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, and West Cost USA. Zak grew up in Tokyo, Japan. His extensive experience in luxury hospitality includes ten years with Westin Hotels & Resort, and five years with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. He has created, designed and implemented trend setting new products, facilities and concepts and specialize in resort and destination spa development, operations, financial control and marketing.

In 2002 Zak founded New Tourism & the Harmony Project LLC. It manages resort destination experiential development and operation. The Project aims to launch a family of truly unique world-class destination boutique luxury resorts, lodges or estates – each built, modified and nurtured according to a proprietary concept and business model. Where the resort is located in a large mixed-used estate, such as Dominical Costa Rica, the experiential aspects of the entire estate are developed and managed as well through a newly established property management firm. The project is being launched with three initial locations: Africa, China and Central America.

1. The first Harmony Project commenced in Tanzania, East Africa at Gibb’s Farm in 2003.  After a year of staff and produce development the average rate has climbed from $100, to $350 today with an on-track goal of $800 after the five year conversion project has completed by 2010.  Revenues have more than doubles since the project began and is on target to double owner's equity annually 2010.
   

2. He managed the opening of Mandarin Oriental, Ananda the Himalayas, India in 2001, South Asia’s first destination spa Resort of 100 acres, 75 rooms, 21,000 square foot spa with 75 spa therapies and treatments specializing in ayurveda, yoga and meditation rejuvenation delivered by a staff of 40. 
   

3. As General Manager Hotel Majapahit, Mandarin Oriental, Surabaya, Indonesia, 1998 to 2001, historic 150 boutique all-suite hotel, he reopened the landmark hotel after national riots without ownership equity assistance in a hyper-competitive, over-capacity depressed market; producing first-ever net operating profit quarter within 2 months of hotel re-opening and achieved three annual operating profits.  He was awarded Mandarin Oriental’s Individual Achievement Award 2000 and Best Public Relations Department Award 1999 and 2000 for innovative Art & Cultural Open House.
   

4. As Resident Manager of Mandarin Oriental Macau, China, 1997 to 1998, designed and launched resort addition to the waterfront property.
   

5. When he was Executive Assistant Manger of China Hotel, New World Hotels, Guangzhou, China from 1996 to 1997, he managed 850 employees, 10 outlets, 2000 seat banquet and off-site operation in 1000 room 3000 staff city hotel/office/apartment complex and charged with the implementation of five star quality standards, systems and products.
   

6. He ran Food and Beverage operations at the Tokyo American Club, 1993 to mid 1996. The 90-year-old club is the largest expatriate club in Asia with 3000 members.
   

7. As start up Business Manager for Tours and Attractions, the Westin Kauai At Kauai Lagoons, Kauai, Hawaii in 1991, he managed the turnaround of exotic wildlife park, boat, draft horse and carriage transportation attractions within 40 acres of waterways and trails.
   

8. Earlier he was Project Manager from 1988 to 1990 at the same resort Westin Kauai At Kauai Lagoons - a $350M project. This was the age of ‘mega-resorts’ and Westin’s largest destination resort and spa at the time with 600 acres, 2 gulf courses, clubhouse, 12 outlets, vast recreation and wild life activity program and facilities.
   

9. Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Westin Kauai & Westin Maui Resorts, corporate offices Seattle WA, 1986 to 1987.
   

10. Financial Operations Analyst – Century Plaza, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Los Angeles, CA 1981 to 1986.

Dale Jensen – Co-Founder,

Sales & Marketing Gibb’s Farm

Dale Jensen is a, graduate of Western Washington University, 1977. He holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Business Administration and Accounting and has 18 years of resort managerial experience. He is the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Harmony Project. He directed operations as General Manager of Gibb’s Farm, an 80-year-old Safari Lodge situated on the border of Ngorongoro Conservation Area outside the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania from 1999 to 2006. He also managed the Luxury Safari Tent operation for two years, building sales 30% and improving operating profits. During his tenure lodging operations gross sales increased 50% and the average room rate increased 80% during the last three years. The destination was recognized as the Best Safari Hotel 2011 by the Safari Awards.

He and Bradford Zak met 20 years ago while working together on the development of the Westin Kauai.