FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Checking in with Rodrigo Esponda Managing Director, Los Cabos Tourism Board

by mary.melnick

Mar 30, 2025

PHOTO: © LOS CABOS TOURISM BOARD

Interviews

PHOTO: © LOS CABOS TOURISM BOARD

THE BASICS
Name: Rodrigo Esponda
Title: Managing director
Company, city: Los Cabos Tourism Board; Los Cabos, Mexico

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
My father was an architect, and I wanted to be an architect like him. I did study architecture and worked in the field before my career pivot.

Fun fact about yourself: I love scuba diving with sharks and learning about them in their natural habitat.

If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
I just returned from my first trip to the Socorro Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a group of islands about 250 miles off the coast of Cabo San Lucas. You remain on the boat for the whole trip and scuba dive all day. I’d go back any time!

A LITTLE BIT MORE
What two nonessential items would you want if you were on a deserted island?
I love to paint watercolors, so I’d take my paint and paper and my Kindle to read.

What person or experience most influenced your choice of career?
My father died when I was young, and I always looked to him as my inspiration. On his desk, he had a sign of “10 Rules for Life,” which was like his personal motto. I still have it and I still read it.

What is your favorite song, and/or who is your favorite musician/band?
Nirvana, and specifically the song “Nevermind” resonated with me when I was younger.

If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past? Why?
I’d go to the future. The past is in the past, and people spend too much time living in the past. I want to move forward.

THE BUSINESS
How would you describe your leadership style?
I like to develop people without micromanaging. If you give people the strategy and guidance, they can grow, and I love seeing people succeed. I encourage innovation and thinking outside the box.

What predictions do you have for the travel industry over the next year?
Travel has been growing, and I think that will continue as travelers look for experiences that add value to and enrich their lives.

What is your or your team’s proudest professional achievement?
The integration we’ve accomplished in Los Cabos between the private and public sector. This close partnership is unique in Mexico and allows us to work together to protect and promote Los Cabos on an international stage. It propelled our growth and allowed us to position Los Cabos across new international markets. I’m proud of the way we’ve united the industry to overcome challenges.

What project are you currently working on?
We recently launched our new digital ecosystem, and it’s truly a gamechanger for the industry. It incorporates the most cutting-edge technology. I started with this idea more than six years ago when I got to Los Cabos. At the beginning, people said no one would participate in an initiative like this that required active participation of all our partners. We launched the system in January 2025 with the participation of more than 1,200 local companies, from taco stands and hotels to tour operators, who actively update their information and contribute to the digital ecosystem. It’s really a digitization of the destination.

AS A TRAVELER
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned about customer service? 
Unfortunately, there is still a lot to learn about customer service. In the whole chain of a process, there are people who don’t understand that even little tokens make a big difference. I think technology and customer service need to better meld moving forward.

What’s the first vacation you can remember taking?
A beach vacation to the Pacific Ocean with my mom and sisters when I was little — we used the wrong sunscreen and all got sunburned. I remember using tomatoes to help the burn.

What are your travel pet peeves?
People are not fully aware of the time and space of others; for example, taking a long time to get situated on a plane and blocking the aisle for other passengers without even trying to speed up.

Share your favorite travel experience: My recent trip to the Soccoro Islands was an incredible experience. I went diving four times per day and experienced the amazing biodiversity of the water.

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Hotels
May 18, 2025

Aman Announces Global Aman Club Expansion

Aman Club continues its global expansion with the introduction of Aman Club at Aman Nai Lert Bangkok. This invitation-only club offers a lifetime of privileged access across Aman’s hotels and resorts as well as Aman’s future 10 properties currently in development in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.

Explore Europe with the Best River Cruise Line this November

Experience Europe from a fresh perspective with AmaWaterways, just awarded Best River Cruise Line by Global Traveler for the third consecutive year. Step aboard, unpack once and embark on a cruise through iconic capital cities and awe-inspiring landscapes. AmaWaterways' ships, which accommodate an average of just 156 guests, offer a spacious yet intimate setting. Throughout your journey, you'll enjoy exquisite farm-to-table dining; unparalleled service; and a variety of included excursions, from city tours for gentle walkers to thrilling bike rides along the rivers.

Cruises
May 17, 2025

Viking Takes Delivery of Newest River Ship in Europe

Officially delivered March 18, Viking’s newest Longship Viking Nerthus was presented at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock Warneműnde, Germany. Accommodating up to 168 guests, Viking Nerthus spans 84 staterooms, all featuring Viking’s signature Scandinavian design.

Daily
May 16, 2025

New Kosovo Philharmonic Opera, Ballet and Theatre Hall to Open This Year

A new opera and ballet theater in Kosovo will house four performance halls and a new public plaza in the capital city of Prishtina. As the first opera house in the Republic of Kosovo, the theater symbolizes the country’s rich and diverse cultural heritage while reflecting a new identity for Prishtina, rooted in creativity and a commitment to the country’s artistic growth.

Seoul: Your Next MICE Destination

Seoul has rapidly become a leading global MICE hub, known for its rich culture, advanced technology and strong economy. As the capital of South Korea, it offers a strategic location in East Asia and a booming cultural influence through K-pop, K-movies, Korean cuisine and K-dramas. With its vibrant atmosphere and business-friendly environment, Seoul is increasingly the top choice for MICE organizers and corporate travelers seeking connection and collaboration.

Daily
May 16, 2025

Inkaterra Hotels Make a Peru Trip Unforgettable

Looking to plan the ultimate trip to Peru, but not sure where to start? Inkaterra is here to help. With properties in multiple cities throughout the country and various immersive itineraries, Inkaterra makes it easy for your dream trip to Peru to come to life.

Daily
May 14, 2025

6 Unforgettable Dining Experiences Around the World

Hungry for adventure? These destinations offer unique dining experiences worth the trip.

Find Your Perfect Escape with Paradisus by Meliá — More Than Just All-Inclusive

Luxury travel today is about more than just beautiful accommodations — it’s about experiencing the destination. Paradisus by Meliá takes traditional all-inclusive resorts to the next level by offering indulgence with immersion, experiences and authenticity. Each resort is shaped by its location, local flavors and curated Destination Inclusive® experiences that bring you closer to the heart of the destination.

eFlyer Reviews
May 14, 2025

Hotel Van Zandt Review

One step onto Austin’s Rainey Street and you’ll feel like you’ve joined the cool kids at the best playground in the city. Just behind the cottage bars, pint-sized skyscrapers soar. One of them, Hotel Van Zandt, the Rainey district's pièce de resistance, beckons with a song-like spirit —apropos because the independently owned property, rife with music motifs, was named after beloved singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. Sixteen stories high, the hotel embodies Austin’s lust for music, manifesting with a vinyl corner; trumpet chandeliers; myriad musical references; replica vintage posters in frames; and its own live music venue, which doubles as its acclaimed restaurant, Geraldine’s. Don’t miss the mesmerizing installation of colorful origami-like birds composed from vinyl records that flitter from an old phonograph.