Staff Writer -- The Timeshare Beat
October 10, 2000
Auberge Resorts, which owns and manages a trio of elegant resorts throughout California known as "the string
of pearls," is selling a new luxury resort near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico-- its first resort in that country.
Called The Villas at Esperanza, it is an 80-villa, fractional ownership condominium resort adjacent to a 50-suite
and seven-villa luxury Auberge hotel and spa.
The Villas at Esperanza offers for the first time the opportunity to own a private two or three bedroom villa with all of the amenities, services and dining experiences of an Auberge Resort on a spectacular site about 4 miles out of town at Punta Ballena (Whale Point).
A master planned community of the highest ecological and architectural standards, Punta Ballena consists of 174 acres with 70 acres designated as open area. Surrounded by breathtaking natural views and overlooking the Sea of Cortez, Punta Ballena offers its own private swimming coves and secluded beaches. The Villas at Esperanza, a part of the larger Esperanza Resort which includes the hotel and spa, is located in a premier spot within the master planned community.
In an unusual move, the property is being marketed and sold offsite from Avon, Colorado. The Vail-based principals
include the real estate developer John Fair and his Fair Enterprises. In addition, the resort is now represented
onsite in Los Cabos by Ms. Tex Asanti.
Fair Enterprises is working with Auberge Resorts, which also owns and manages the Auberge du Soleil in the Napa
Valley, Rancho Valencia near San Diego and the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito. Owned by the Harmon family and Claude
Rouas, Auberge designs each of its resorts to cater to the discriminating connoisseur. Three Auberge properties
are listed in the Harper's list of 20 top international resort hotels. Esperanza, the Cabo San Lucas property,
promises to continue the Auberge tradition.
Like many of Auberge's resorts, Esperanza is a community within itself. Situated on a secluded seaside enclave
encompassing 17 acres, Esperanza is a land of palm-lined walkways, pristine beaches and enchanting sea views. The
main building houses such traditional hotel amenities as check-in facilities, gourmet restaurant and bar, several
boutiques as well as a unique and exotic spa, salon and fitness center.
The 80 Villas at Esperanza offer fractional ownership, with the fractions being 1/12th or greater, undivided interests
in individual condominium villas. The villas are clustered above their own private, crescent shaped beach and feature
the designs of architects Howard Backen and Jim Gillam. Among this team's other credits are Sundance Resort, the
Jordan Winery and many other well-known resorts, wineries and restaurants.
Ownerships in the Esperanza Villas range from one month, which can be divided in a variety of ways throughout the
year, to whole ownership, with prices for 1/12 ownerships beginning at $88,000 to the mid $200,000s (the latter
for Christmas/News Year's peak weeks). Purchasers of the villas are eligible to participate in the trade programs
of Private Residence Club.Com, which boasts numerous luxury properties throughout the world. Their Colorado members
include Telluride's Franz Klammer Lodge and Vail Village's Austria Haus.
Amenities at the Esperanza Villas include:
In addition, the amenities of the Hotel are available for use by the villa owners except for the Hotel Pools.
Owners will have access to two of Cabo's most dramatic beaches, the clubhouse restaurant bar & grill, health
club and spa membership, beach club, swimming pools, two Hotel restaurants, a Mediterranean-style market, salon
and boutique and private storage lockers. Other services include daily maid service, complete concierge services,
pre-arrival grocery shopping, limited room service, all landscaping, maintenance inside the villa and outside,
and airport and town transportation. Other activities include tennis, golf, sport fishing, kayaking, snorkeling,
and full business services including fax, e-mail and copying.
An especially appreciated feature is the activities concierge, who will arrange golf at any of the five courses
in Los Cabos and fishing excursions with our expert operators. There is also club storage and private transportation
to and from the courses or the port for all owners.
Corporate ownership is also available. Villas may be acquired in the name of any legal entity, such as a partnership,
corporation or trust. The entity will then designate one representative for the Villa. Or you may purchase a villa
and own it entirely for your exclusive use.
Owners and their guests may use the Villas throughout the year, without any daily charges. However, a per-usage
Housekeeping Charge will be assessed for each stay outside of the deeded ownership. Daily cleaning services are
also available upon request, at a daily charge.
Ground breaking occured in January of this year, and construction on the villas is progressing rapidly, with Villas 20, 21, 22, and 23 being structurally complete up to the third floor by the middle of September, and construction on Villas 17, 18, and 19 having recently begun. The Esperanza model will open this winter.
The resort will be having an exclusive event specifically for current owners and their friends the weekend of November 9th through 12th in Los Cabos. If you are an owner interested in attending, rooms are being held at the Twin Dolphin Hotel for your convenience and you can call Kathy Sheridan (in the US) for reservations. Highlights will include a sunset cruise, dinner by the light of the full moon, and a golf tournament. In addition to serving as a magical getaway, this event is also a great opportunity to see your villa in mid-construction. If you would like to start planning your trip now, email Tex at Esperanza@cabotel.com.mx, or call her toll free, at 1-877-615-7187 (in Los Cabos).
Auberge Resorts is a Co-Owner of Esperanza as well as manager of the hotel, the villas and the owners' association.
The Fair Enterprises umbrella also includes GRAVI construction and the Stewart Title Company of Houston, Texas.
GRAVI Construction is responsible for some of the finest resorts in the Cabo San Lucas and San Jose del Cabo. Stewart
Title, the fourth largest title insurance company in the United States, is insuring the title to each villa, subject
to the terms, conditions and stipulations of the Owner's title policy. This means Stewart Title insures individual
ownership. Title to each villa is held in a trust. The initial trust term is 50 years and is renewable in perpetuity.
Each fractional owner within a specific villa is a deeded beneficiary of the trust and the ownership interest is
fully transferable.
For more information about Esperanza, call 970-949-1500 or toll free at 877-915-1500. Or visit their website at
www.esperanzaresort.com