Bradford Zak – Founder and COO

Mr. Zak is a graduate of Cornell University with a B.S. Hotel Administration Degree, 1980, and has 28 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.

Dale Jensen – Co-Founder, Director, and Sales & Marketing Manager

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 top-ten Travel and Leisure Magazine’s “Best Hotel for Service”, and “Best Hotel for Value” in Africa and the Middle East.

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

The first Harmony Project Zak Bradford created was in Tanzania, East Africa at Gibb’s Farm in 2003. After a year of staff and product 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 doubled since the project began and is on target to double owner's equity annually 2010.

Zak 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.

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 any ownership equity assistance in a hyper-competitive, over-capacity depressed market. He produced the 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.

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

As Executive Assistant Manger of China Hotel, New World Hotels, Guangzhou, China from 1999 to 1997, Zak was charged with the implementation of five star quality standards, systems and products while he successfully managed 850 employees, 10 outlets, 2000 seat banquet and off-site operation in 1000 room, 3000 staff city hotel/office/apartment complex.

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.

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

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 this was Westin’s largest destination resort and spa at the time with 600 acres, 2 golf courses, clubhouse, 12 outlets, vast recreation and wild life activity programs and facilities.

He served as Assistant Director of Food and Beverage Westin Kauai & Westin Maui Resorts, corporate offices Seattle WA, 1986 to 1987 and as Financial Operations Analyst – Century Plaza, Westin Hotels and Resorts, Los Angeles, CA 1981 to 1986.

Dale Jensen was the General Manager Gibb’s Farm, Tanzania, from 1999 to 2006. In those early years he also managed the Luxury Safari Tent operation Gibb’s Farm Safari for two years. He dramatically improved revenues and yields in both business through his skills, dedication and passion for Africa.

As Manager of the Marina and Golf Operations at Resort Semiahmoo, Washington USA, 1991-1999, and Director of Boat Dock LLC formed to jointly market Semiahmoo Resort, Jensen took the marina operations from consistent year-on-year annual losses to a solid profitability NOI of 12% annually. Dale renovated the marine service business and built an extensive retail boutique selling resort apparel and accessories for men and woman. He then took over the Golf Operations and mollified a discordant membership and attained 10% profit improvement in golf operations. As founding director of Boat Dock LLC, complementary business and activities were added to the Resort.

At The Westin Kauai, Hawaii, as Visitor Center Manager, 1987-1990, he opened and ran its 36 acre lagoon wildlife attraction, which included a Venetian launch transportation system and draft horse drawn carriages that transported guests to and from the two shopping venues and four restaurants located within the lagoon as well as doing tours of the lagoons. In 1988 a 40 ft. ultra light ocean sailing catamaran attaining speeds in excess of 26 knots provided thrill rides for guests launching from the beach in front of the hotel. In 1988 Jenson was awarded Manager of the Year.

Working exclusively in the marine industry from 1977-1987 Mr. Jensen opened and operated three retail marine hardware stores for a Seattle based chain, as well as working with two different marinas as project manager of significant expansion projects. He was the first marina manager to earn his CMM (Certified Marina Manager) in Washington State.