About Bali Group
Over the past 35 years, Balendra worked with several prominent multinational hotel management companies, such as Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, and Accor, which is the parent company of the Raffles, Fairmont, Sofitel and the SLS brands. During his time at Accor, Balendra held various senior leadership roles, including serving as the General Manager of the flagship Sofitel Luxury Hotel in New York City and the Vice President of Operations for North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. During his tenure at Accor, he was the driving force in increasing brand awareness throughout the U.S. with Sofitel and Pullman being named in top awards including, Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, Social Media in Travel + Tourism (“SMITTY”) Awards, US News & World Report Best Hotels, and industry awards including AAA Four Diamond Awards, TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and Expedia Insiders’ Select which has increased the amount of travelers to the brand’s hotels in the U.S. Balendra’s focus on enhancing company culture through a high performing team with great comradery while creating value for company shareholders and owners and leveraging innovation for future growth has earned him the illustrious Bernarche Award from Accor for recognition, professionalism, and diversity in the industry.
Subsequently, Balendra joined Grupo Eco, one of Mexico’s largest real estate development companies, as the Chief Operating Officer. During this role, he helped to significantly increase all asset management, restructure the company, and institutionalize business practices for success, including maintaining the company’s commitment to providing unparalleled customer service.
Balendra combines his knowledge and skill set from 35 years in the hospitality industry and 20 years as a licensed real estate professional in Florida to provide his clients with advice on hospitality valuation, operational, and development services. His clients range from those on a corporate level to individual investors. Balendra’s multifaceted expertise in North America, Central America, South America, Asia and the Caribbean managing hotels, residential units, malls and office buildings would be a great asset for partners looking to diversify and strengthen their business.
Balendra received his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Massachusetts, attended various Cornell University Executive Programs over the years, and earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the prestigious Glion Institute in Switzerland. As an active member in the South Florida hospitality sector, Balendra previously served as a board member of the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association (“GMBHA”) where he won numerous diversity awards and served as a founding member of the external advisory board at Florida International University’s Hospitality Department.
Balendra Nagesvaran
President and CEO