AUALA Appoints Tom LeClair as Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President
- AUALA HOLDINGS
- 24 hours ago
- 3 min read
[Global | July 2025] — AUALA Holdings, Inc. a luxury lifestyle brand and investment group focused on leisure and consumer services sectors, is pleased to welcome Tom LeClair as Chief Operating Officer & Senior Vice President.
In this capacity, Mr. LeClair will oversee all assets of AUALA Holdings, providing strategic leadership to the firm’s managed companies, such as Legendary Travel, Scalable Solutions Group, and the AUALA Cares Foundation, where he will also serve as Chair through 2026.
Before this post, Tom served as an AUALA Advisory Board Member and briefly as Interim Vice President of Business Development, stepping in to guide the company through a key phase of its African expansion and subsequent global portfolio alignment.
A recognized business leader, consultant, and speaker in the luxury and hospitality sectors, Tom brings more than 25 years of experience transforming global brands, building operational excellence, and scaling organizations to award-winning levels. Holding past executive roles with such iconic brands as AMAN Resorts, FIJI Water, InterContinental, and Vail Resorts, his career includes repositioning numerous assets and landmark properties across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Tom has held various board positions in the public and private sectors and served on the councils of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
A Six Sigma Black Belt and efficiency expert, Tom has built a career around aligning people, purpose, and performance — a philosophy that mirrors AUALA’s commitment to building enduring enterprises rooted in both excellence and empathy.
“Having been fortunate to explore so much of the world, I’m passionate about strengthening our global communities and AUALA’s incredible portfolio of companies to become the best possible,” said Tom LeClair, COO & SVP of AUALA Holdings.
“Our mission to empower people, protect the environment, and create value that endures, is one I wholeheartedly share. There are always opportunities to thrive and I look forward to helping our teams grow with purpose, scale with precision, and lead with impact.”
About AUALA Holdings
AUALA draws inspiration from its Polynesian roots, where the word speaks to pathways, journeys, and the way forward. In island traditions, the ocean (like the global marketplace) is both a challenge and a connector — a vast expanse that demands resilience, ingenuity, and collaboration to navigate.
At AUALA, this spirit defines our philosophy: we empower people, protect the environment, and create value that endures. Like the Polynesian navigators who charted new horizons with purpose and clarity, AUALA exists to guide organizations and individuals toward growth, excellence, and ingenuity.
The company’s investment portfolio spans Travel & Leisure, Professional Services, AI Optimization, Residential Services, Real Estate, Premium Health & Beauty, and Luxury Consumer Goods. Based in the US,
AUALA has interests in London, Cape Town, Sydney, Bangkok, and Dubai.
About Tom LeClair
Tom LeClair is an award-winning global executive known for building luxury brands, driving transformational growth, and achieving operational excellence across hospitality, leisure, and consumer sectors. Over his career, he has led organizations to global recognition — including earning them coveted Forbes Five-Star Awards, Michelin Stars, and other accolades – while delivering multimillion-dollar equity gains for owners and investors.
Notably, Tom helped launch the ultra-luxury Arrabelle at Vail Square in Colorado, and opened the celebrated AMANERA resort in Dominican Republic - known as the “Caribbean’s Leading Beach Resort” by World Travel Awards. As a Michelin-Starred Restaurateur and leader in agricultural tourism, he transformed a remote California winery into one of the Top 10 Wine Estates in the World, increasing guest spend by 315% through experiential service innovation while rapidly growing the brands global presence.
A recognized Six Sigma Black Belt, Tom specializes in optimizing systems, elevating guest experience, and creating scalable models for sustainable growth. His leadership philosophy centers on service as strategy — transforming businesses not only into profitable enterprises but into brands that inspire loyalty and legacy.
About AUALA Cares Foundation
AUALA Cares: means building stronger companies, stronger people, and a stronger world.
The AUALA Cares Foundation is a company-wide mission, giving back to both the local communities in which AUALA operates, and the larger global community, through several core initiatives: Improving access to safe drinking water; Reducing waste from our oceans; Cultural preservation though employee-run initiatives serving the local community; Fostering entrepreneurship through mentorship in developing communities and nations.
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