ANDIAMO - Jason Brown

Co Founder and CEO of Blue Flag Capital

Your initial exposure to hospitality came from interning at the Soho Grand Hotel during high school. How did that experience shape your passion for the industry?

I’m one of those lucky people who knew early on that hospitality is what I wanted to do, from my earliest days getting exposure to the SoHo Grand hotel when I was in high school, to going to the hotel school at Cornell.

Interning at the Soho Grand Hotel, the first boutique hotel in Lower Manhattan, was a game-changer for me. I witnessed firsthand how a unique atmosphere and personalized service could transform a guest's experience. This eye-opening exposure ignited my passion for hospitality and set me on the path I'm on today.

The Faraway brand has been recognized for its distinctive design and guest experience. What inspired its creation, and how do you ensure each location maintains its unique character?

Faraway is grounded in story-driven design. We pride ourselves in attention to detail — from the physical product to scent programs, sound, and operational touches. Faraway was born out of our desire to offer guests more than just a room; we wanted to provide a journey into the heart of each location. By collaborating with local artisans, embracing regional design elements, and tailoring experiences to each community, we ensure that every Faraway property tells its own unique story.

With over $1 billion in assets under management, what criteria do you prioritize when selecting properties for acquisition and development?

When scouting new properties, we prioritize authenticity, community connection, and the potential to craft unique guest experiences. It's about finding places that have a story to tell and opportunities to integrate seamlessly into their surroundings, ensuring our guests feel truly immersed. We do our best to carry on the legacy and bring it into its next iteration while always respecting the history.

What is your favorite Bellino product and why?

Bellino's sheets are a standout favorite. Their luxurious feel and quality elevate any room, making guests feel pampered and at home. It's these little touches that make a big difference in creating memorable stays. We always say if the guest is still dreaming about us long after they’ve left, we’ve done our job.

What trends do you see shaping the future of luxury boutique hotels, and how is Blue Flag Capital adapting to these changes?


Luxury boutique hotels are evolving to meet the desires of a discerning clientele seeking personalized and immersive experiences. At Blue Flag Capital, we're adapting by focusing on authentic design, community engagement, and services that cater to the individual needs of our guests, ensuring each stay feels bespoke.

Outside of work, what activities or hobbies bring you joy and help you recharge? 

Spending quality time traveling with my family is a top priority; our shared experiences create lasting memories. One of our favorite getaways is Estelle Manor in the English countryside.

Who has been your biggest inspiration throughout your career?

My goal has always been to put a little more light into the world. As hotels have become more institutional over the last 25 years, the bigger brands have started to gobble up all of the great boutique brands. As a result, we think there is white space to recreate what our heroes — folks like Ian Schrager, Andre Balaz, and Bill Kimpton — did in the ’90s. But instead of that happening in SoHo, we think the opportunity today is in places like Nantucket or Sag Harbor where, post-pandemic, our guests are now spending most of their time. 

Blue Flag Capital aims to rediscover the soul in hospitality. Can you elaborate on what this means and how it's implemented across your properties?

At Blue Flag Capital, "rediscovering the soul in hospitality" means creating spaces that resonate with authenticity and warmth. We dive deep into each property's local culture, ensuring our guests feel a genuine connection to the destination. This approach fosters memorable experiences that go beyond just a place to stay.

We also are the number one guests at all our hotels, so people have really noticed that we are genuinely interested in creating places that are happy, fun, and approachable while also being very design-forward, high-end, and experiential. We are deeply intertwined with each location’s unique narrative and emotional essence. Inspiration at first sight is crucial for any property we consider. We seek a certain indescribable spark in each location. This profound attention to detail and dedication to local authenticity distinguishes Blue Flag in the fiercely competitive luxury vacation market. The philosophy transcends mere space creation; it’s about weaving an experience that is intrinsically interlaced with the local environment, ensuring each property is not just a place to stay but a destination that resonates with its setting. “We often say, ‘the experience is the souvenir’—and we mean it.”

What do you think modern travelers value most in a luxury boutique hotel experience?

Modern travelers value human interaction and personalized service. They seek authentic experiences that make them feel valued and connected to the destination.


When we think of experience, it’s not just creating signature scents, the right lighting, and music transitions throughout the day, but really providing delight and surprises throughout your stay — like finding out about the letter program at Sister Ship or the coins at the Newes from America pub. But more than anything, we hope that our teams are giving you a true sense that you are being hosted at these beautiful properties and giving you access to great food, an amazing bed, and the home base to then explore the incredible location that you are in.

What advice would you give to someone new to the hospitality industry?

Learn all sides of the business. Understanding every aspect, from operations to guest relations, is crucial for building a successful career in hospitality. Lastly, I’ve learned from some incredible mentors over my career, and the best advice I ever received was “kill your ego before it kills you.”

Looking back at your career, what has been the most rewarding project or investment you’ve worked on?

To have the opportunity to be the next steward of Kelley House which is such an integral part of Edgartown is both an honor and, honestly, pretty surreal as I spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard as a kid. We knew the Edgartown campus had so much untapped potential, and we spent months working on uncovering its true soul. There was a balance that had to be achieved between the historic 1742 building and the Garden House building that was built much more recently — not to mention the other captain’s houses and retail buildings spread across the campus. We didn’t just strive to create an updated, beautiful campus in the heart of town, but rather we really wanted to lean into the next phase of Edgartown, while respecting its history. Because of this, we were very thoughtful in every move we’ve made, always with the goal of breathing new life back into the property. The campus’ design is rooted in the historic backdrop of Edgartown, with mid-century styling, while remaining true to the laid-back island vibe and beautiful botanicals that Martha’s Vineyard is known for.

We also really wanted to finally present the property as one truly cohesive campus, something that we have always thought it deserved long before we had the opportunity to become owners. The idea of being at the forefront of adding our vision to such a key part of town is truly humbling. We did our best to use our attention to detail and focus on storytelling to balance design, hospitality, and access across the site, from both a pedestrian and guest experience perspective.