Maki Nakamura Bara, Oxford Lodging Advisory
Company: Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC, San Francisco, California
Entry Submitted By: X Public Relations
Company Description: Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC, is an advisory and investment firm focused on the investment, asset management, property management and renovation of high-quality lodging assets.
Nomination Category: Individual Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Executive – Service Businesses – up to 100 Employees
Nomination Title: Maki Nakamura Bara, Managing Partner and Co-founder, Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment Group, LLC
during the eligibility period (up to 500 words):
In 2002, Maki Nakamura Bara co-founded Oxford Lodging Advisory & Investment
Group, LLC, and serves as its managing partner and co-founder. Ranked today as
the 5th largest hotel ownership company in the United States, the firm has grown
to become a preeminent domestic and international leader in the hotel industry,
and is responsible for more than $5 billion of luxury hotels comprising
19,000-rooms located throughout the United States and Japan. Since its
inception, Oxford Lodging has achieved an impressive return on its hotel
investments of over 80 percent per annum.
Focused on acquisition, renovation and development of lodging assets, Maki’s
recent professional accomplishments include the completion of six large hotel
acquisitions with a combined value of $715 million, and five more pending that
total $800 million.
The completed transactions include securing approvals to develop the $130-milion
Mondrian Hotel & Residences in Downtown Palm Springs, Calif. This development
will play a vital role in the City’s resurgence.
Maki also led the repositioning of the $175-million Hyatt Regency Jacksonville,
Fla., transforming the property into one of Florida’s most elegant waterfront
convention resort properties.
She also completed the $110-million acquisition of the historic Allerton Hotel
Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ill., with a $10-million renovation intended to update
and preserve its architecturally significant presence at the Chicago’s famed
shopping district.
Also in Chicago, Maki led the $85-million redevelopment of the 357-room Inn of
Chicago and the $105-million redevelopment of the 495-room Chicago City Centre
Hotel & Sports Club.
Additionally, Maki managed and completed the $20-million renovation to the
landmark Sir Francis Drake Hotel, San Francisco. This $95-million 417-room
historic hotel was restored to its original San Francisco glory reflecting the
European Renaissance of its namesake English explorer.
In her role as the firm’s managing partner, Maki oversaw her firm’s operations
and growth from two founders to 21 employees, zero hotels to 31 luxury
properties, and to five offices in San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago
and Tokyo. (Maki also grew her family during this time by having two children!)
Her latest achievement at Oxford Lodging also includes the establishment of
Kokua Hospitality, an innovative hotel management firm she formed in 2007.
Maki also established a policy of providing all Oxford Lodging employees,
including the administrative staff, the opportunity to invest in the hotels she
acquired. This practice is unique and innovative in the industry and has
enabled her firm to attract the "best in class" employees.
Internationally, Maki is recognized for pioneering modern hotel asset management
practices in Japan by launching Oxford Lodging’s Tokyo office and becoming one
of the country’s largest hotel investors with 15 hotel acquisitions in four years.
Maki has been honored as a top Woman of Influence in 2007 by Real Estate
Southern California magazine. She also received industry recognition as a
speaker at the Meet the Money 2006 investment conference. Her charitable
contributions include support for various cause-related programs, including
Rebuild New Orleans, NYU Child Study Center and Center for Mind-Body Medicine.
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/HotelInteractive_HolidayInnCityCenter.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/ChicagoSunTimes_Allerton.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/CommInvest_RealEstateMayJune06.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/HotelInteractive_MakiProfile.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/BayAreaFundraiser.PDF
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/HotelBusiness_Top100_2006.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/SFChronicle_70105.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/WSJ_20060909.pdf
http://www.oxfordlodging.com/PR_Articles/BestWesternIOC.pdf
Maki Nakamura Bara is the managing partner and co-founder of Oxford Lodging
Advisory & Investment Group, LLC, and oversees the asset management and
advisory responsibilities. During the past 13 years, Mrs. Bara has developed
extensive experience in lodging acquisitions, valuation, operational and financial
analysis, and asset management oversight. Having worked on more than 100
properties, she is a leading expert in redeveloping and repositioning luxury
resorts, urban hotels, convention hotels and conference centers. Mrs. Bara
gained this experience while participating in the formation and growth of the
lodging activities of Lend Lease Real Estate, Strategic Hotel Capital and Oxford
Lodging.