Sergio Baños Escalante

throughout my 30-year career, I have been at the helm of some of the world’s premiere luxury resort 
properties, where I have overseen budgets in the multi-milliondollar range and led teams of more than 500 people. I guided 5-star residential resort properties from construction handover to full 
occupancy at the head of hand-selected, high-performance executive teams, and managed all operational and strategic planning elements necessary to exceed business objectives and drive top and bottom-line growth. I have multinational experience and a wealth of expertise in crafting incredible customer journeys at properties across the world. I now bring to bear this experience of helping properties find efficient, tailored property management solutions as the leader of a team of expert hospitality advisors.

Co-Founder and CEO, 01/2019 – Present

Momentum Property Management & Rentals - Los Cabos, BCS, México 

Full-service property management and vacation rental company located in Cabo San Lucas, BCS, México. Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to providing exceptional service and maximizing the value of our client's real estate assets.

We specialize in property management services that include rental property marketing, leasing, tenant screening, rent collection, property maintenance, and financial reporting. Our team has extensive experience managing a wide range of residential and commercial properties, from single-family homes to luxury estates.

In addition to property management, we offer fully furnished vacation rental properties with our preferred partners that are carefully selected and maintained to ensure an exceptional guest experience. Our team provides comprehensive concierge services to help guests with transportation, restaurant reservations, and other vacation needs.

At MOMENTUM Property Management and Rentals, our mission is to help our clients achieve their real estate goals and maximize the value of their investments. With our dedication to exceptional service and our comprehensive range of services, we are committed to being the premier property management and vacation rental company in Cabo San Lucas 

Founder and CEO, 01/2013 – Present

Momentum Hospitality Advisors - Los Cabos, BCS, México 

In this role I direct my consulting firm with a talented team of hospitality experts in delivering a range of high-impact property management solutions.  Our team of industry specialists offers services ranging in scope from strategic advisory to full property management contracts across a broad cross-section of the tourism and hospitality industry. Our primary focus is the delivery of expert guidance to hoteliers, resort owners, restaurateurs, and luxury travel service providers at all stages of the project timeline including implementation support. We thrive in mandates ranging from tactical to strategic and are always ready to bring to bear a wealth of multi-disciplinary expertise to both short and long-term projects. 

Our areas of specialization include:

• Integrated PROPERTY & PROJECT MANAGEMENT solutions for hotels and resorts, timeshares, HOAs, vacation ownership projects, and luxury villas to drive improvements in asset performance and efficiency.

• Buyer advisory services for INVESTMENT & DEVELOPMENT, including site selection, land use, and planning oversight.

• FOOD & BEVERAGE conceptualization and operations management consultancy for hotels and resorts.

• CONCEPT Design and development of boutique hotel and condo-hotel projects

• Tailor-made end-to-end HOSPITALITY ADVISORY solutions driven by deep industry expertise.

 VP of Hospitality 06/2021 – 05/2023 ( Board Advisor)

Cabo San Lucas, BCS, México 

Hotel & Condo Hotel Development, Operations Management, Vacation Club Sales & Marketing, Real Estate Developer.

Project Manager, 11/2019 – 11/2020

Danzante Bay, at the islands of Loreto - Loreto, BCS, México 

I headed coordination of Full Ownership Product services development for the real estate division of the Danzante Bay project, an ultra-high end master development covering over 300 hectares of stunning cliffside in Loreto. The development incorporated a five-star and business class hotel totaling 300 guest rooms, three restaurants, a spa, a residential subdivision of 165 lots, an 18-hole TPC golf course, private airport, and beachside villas ranging in price from $2.5-7MM USD.

What that entailed: I drove the conceptualization and development of the Residential Products division, oversaw its daily operations, and formalized the Common Standards and Services structure to be put in place by the HOA and its administrators. 

My special project roles included spearheading the creation of an "à la carte" luxury property management services menu for high-end homeowners, and I was the driving force behind the coordination and management of biosecurity for more than 700 employees as Chief COVID-19 Compliance Officer; a designation I received at the start of the pandemic. 

The resort was awarded in 2019 with (3) World Travel Awards:

• México´s Leading Beach Resort
• México and Central Americas Leading Resort
• México and Central Americas Leading Family Resort

The Golf Course was awarded in 2019 World Golf Awards:

• México´s best Golf Course
• Latin America´s Best Golf Course
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Asset Manager, Jan 2014 – Sept 2019

Cabo Villas Beach Resort & Spa,Cabo San Lucas, BCS, México 

This role involved both asset management and project direction responsibilities. In terms of asset management, I was responsible for a wide scope including the determination of annual operational phases and plans, the establishment of SOPs and QA standards, the optimization of marketing mix and distribution approaches and our overall channel strategy. 

At its core, my role was to maximize asset values through careful strategic management and continual identification of opportunities to improve efficiency, top line, and profitability. 

In addition to the establishment of annual operating budgets, CAPEX/OPEX and flow projections, I produced a range of detailed financial and operating reports as well as P&L reviews. Using these projections, I executed key annual deliverables on time and within budget. 

I analyzed all investment strategy and new business proposals for feasibility and ensured that any new work fell within CAPEX budget and met necessary income and ROI thresholds.

As project director - I oversaw the execution of a $100MM master plan, which included a full rebrand of the property, an overhaul of 77 guest rooms, expansion of guest rooms via a new 204 room tower, and the securing of a $52MM bank loan. 

The syndication of the loan at 50% was achieved after I presented the opportunity to five lenders over the course of a day, obtaining automatic approval in three cases.

General Manager, Oct 2009 - Oct 2014

Cabo Villas Beach Resort & Spa,Cabo San Lucas, BCS, México 

• Lifestyle Resort & Residences (142 villas with 2 and 3 bedrooms), 3 restaurants, 5 bars and Spa.
• Responsible for the daily hotel operations and attention to homeowners as well as the establishment of procedures, standards, services, and staff training.
• Establishment and administration of the Homeowners Association (HOA)
• Development, implementation and launch of the Rental Program for Time Share Members and Homeowners. Responsible for the marketing of the Resort.
• Elaborating Budgets and Projections.
• Responsible for the Conceptualization of the Resort

VP of Operations Jan2008 -Sept2009

(Soft &Grand Opening)

Paraíso del Mar - La Paz, BCS, México 

As VP Ops for the Paraíso del Mar residential resort, a mixed condo/hotel property covering more than 1700 acres, I administered all operational elements for 94 luxury residences, 204 condominiums, a beach club, and 18-hole golf course & clubhouse. 

Core administrative responsibilities entailed supervision of transport, F&B, and golf-related functions as well as oversight of HOA, condo-hotel sales and marketing program, the rooms division, security, and maintenance. I also set overall sales, marketing, and recruitment strategy and built a high-performance operational executive team from the ground up.

General Manager, Dec 2003 -Dec 2007

(Soft & Grand Opening)

Villa La Estancia - Los Cabos, BCS, México. 

My overall scope in this role focused mainly on the improvement of operational functionality in a newly opened luxury resort property and involved a high level of collaboration with the development and design team for our sister property in Nuevo Vallarta.

The property included 156 high-end five-star villas with full-time and fractional ownership, as well as two restaurants & two bars. 

Under my guidance, the resort was awarded the 2006 Golden Apple Award for outstanding quality, as well as the 2007 Travel Age West Wave Editor's Pick for "Best AI Resort, Mexico".

As leader of our highly successful rental program and the primary manager of homeowner recruitment, I was able to achieve 50% occupancy for the project in two years, exceeding Real Estate division sales objectives and contributing to full occupancy ($400MM USD) within five years.

In addition to sourcing executive talent and assembling a management team, I established career plans for my team, set yearly ops budgets, CAPEX plans, and retained full P&L control over the property. 

I ensured that our standards of quality for homeowner and guest experience were maintained flawlessly and built on that standard to commercialize and grow the VLE brand. 

As part of brand footprint development, our team secured and Exchange Program Certification by Four Seasons and began to welcome Four Seasons Residences homeowners at the property. The program allowed our homeowners to exchange their condo across four different Four Seasons developments (Scottsdale, Aviara, Jackson Hole and Austin).

Managing Director, Jan2001 - Dec 2003

Sol Club Río de Luna Sol Club Río de Mares - Holguín, Cuba 

Led a team of more than 500 employees operating a 464-room resort complex featuring 8 restaurants, 10 bars, and a spa. Managed the merger of two hotels into a single complex and drove the reconceptualization of the overall product offering as well as changeover requirements for the PMS and back-office systems.

I facilitated a full conversion and remodel of two properties into a single new complex while guiding the merger of two executive teams. 

The revamped organizational chart to reflect new operational realities and pushed capital improvement projects to expand the business scope and push topline growth. 

I charted budgetary forecasts, identified key trends and opportunities to develop operations, and focused on developing an agile, proactive organizational culture. 

Broadly, I maintained managerial control of Budgets, Marketing, P&L, and overseas commercial promotional efforts, leaving the property in 2003 with accumulated annual occupancy rates of 93%. 

Hotel Manager & Interim GM Oct 1999 – Jan 2001

(Soft and Grand Opening),

Meliá Panamá Canal Hotel, Casino & Conference Center - Panamá 

Oversaw handover from development to operational teams. Handled all pre-opening purchase requirements and formed operational and executive teams for a five-star luxury hotel and "Royal Service" entertainment complex.

Managed all budgeting, marketing, and business planning tasks.

Hosted former Panamanian President Mrs. Mireya Moscoso at the grand opening.

Hotel Real Estate Investments & Asset Management Certification 2024 (currently studying) 

Cornell University – ithaca, New York.

TEAT Certification: Business & Tourism, 1997

Official School of Tourism,  Madrid, Spain 

TEAT Graduated : Business& Tourism, 1993

University of Málaga, Spain