THE PIONEER

Edwin H. 'Ed' McMullen, Sr., RRP
Senior Partner

Recognized as one of the industry's most prolific visionaries, Ed McMullen, Sr. has been a leading force in the resort development and vacation ownership industry since 1977 when he founded the American Resorts Group of Companies.

He and his team have pioneered some of the most innovative design, marketing, sales, financing and operational systems employed by the vacation ownership industry worldwide. Under his guidance, The American Resorts Group merged with Marriott Corporation in 1984 to form Marriott Ownership Resorts, Inc., bringing the first international hospitality company into the vacation ownership business. From 1984 to 1991, Ed served as Executive Vice President of Marriott (MORI) and was responsible for strategic planning, product development, marketing, and sales. During this time, MORI developed resorts in the U.S., the Bahamas, and Spain, and became the world's leader in vacation ownership sales. MORI's leadership position continues today with vacation ownership and private residence clubs with annual sales exceeding 2.1 billion dollars in 2007 and even 1.4 billion dollars in 2008.

In 1992 Ed, and his company E.H. McMullen and Associates, along with the Mariner Group formed Hilton Grand Vacations Company, a 50/50 joint venture with Hilton Hotels Corporation. From 1992 to 1996, he served as Managing Director of Hilton Grand Vacations Company (HGVC) and developed a system of seventeen resorts. Ed sold his interest in HGVC to Hilton Hotels Corp. in June 1996.

In 1997 Ed and E.H. McMullen and Associates created a 50/50 partnership with Shell Vacations LLC. With Ed as a Managing Director, this organization developed mixed use resorts in Hawaii, California, Arizona, and Canada. E.H. McMullen and Associates sold its interest in Shell Vacations in August 2000.

 

From 2001- 2004, E.H. McMullen and Associates, was engaged by the Ginn companies to aid in their marketing and sales planning efforts including the design creation of Fractional and Timeshare Club products to be developed within their master planned communities. At the time, Ginn chose not to execute our recommended plan because their whole ownership sales and marketing efforts were going along so successfully and the fractional plans were more capital and labor intensive.

In late 2004 through 2009, E.H. McMullen and Associates partnered with Legendary, Inc. to develop the Emerald Grande at Harbor Walk Village in Destin, FL. It is the largest and most successful single site High End Fractional project, to date.

In late 2009, Ed rebranded his company, McMullen Development, and is currently focusing on three main areas including (Mixed Use Resort Lifestyle Real Estate, Fractional, Private Residence Club and Vacation Ownership Projects), (Active Adult Resort Lifestyle Retirement Communities) and (brokering unique real estate properties and projects). McMullen Development is also assisting various resort developers and their debt holders on workout strategies, worldwide.

Ed is Past Chairman of the American Resort Development Assn. (ARDA), and serves as a Founding Director and Vice President of the ARDA International Research foundation. Currently Ed is active in the leadership of the American Hotel and Lodging Assn. and is a member of the Urban Land Institute, serving on its Recreational Development Council as well. He is also past Vice Chair of the International Committee of the Urban Land Institute. Ed is a board member of the African Collection, Ltd., a safari and lodging company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with resorts in 26 game parks throughout Africa. He is a frequent speaker at both national and international conferences and events.

Among Ed's numerous national and international awards is ARDA's coveted "Lifetime Achievement Award," ARDA's highest recognition, bestowed in honor of Ed's long distinguished service and accomplishments in the resort development industry.