Travel Agent met with Alan Worden, CEO of Scout Real Estate Capital, which in December acquired the Harbor View Hotel & Resort in Martha's Vineyard, a New England summer getaway that caters to a well-to-do clientele. Worden and his group are injecting $77 million into the 124-room property, the money being spread over three enhancement phases. The initial phase, being finalized this week, will transform the lobby, front porch and suites. Next, all the rooms will be redone, the pool will be renovated, as will the 125-seat restaurant (Scout contracted with The Myriad Restaurant Group, which is behind such famed eateries as Tribeca Grill and Nobu, to oversee the hotel's dining options). Lastly, a new spa and fitness center will be put in along with more banquet space. All the renovations will be made in accordance with keeping true to the tenor and integrity of Martha's Vineyard. The venerable property has been around since 1881, but was in need of upkeep. "We love the location," Worden says of the property's spot, perched over a beach in Edgartown," but it was a bit tired." Worden says the hotel is built on customer loyalty, which will translate into lofty travel agent commissions. This fall, Worden says his group will make a big push to "grow agent circles," especially those agents who concentrate on luxury. Agents should look toward more FAM trips during that period. Suites at the Harbor View will run around $1,000 a night during the summer high season, but rooms can be had for $200 during the shoulder seasons. Agents should look at the fall season, which Worden calls his favorite in Martha's Vineyard, to get clients a more palatable rate.
