Manuel Castro

Hotel & Property Management Services

Performance-driven and highly accomplished hotel consultant and luxury vacation rental expert with over a decade of multi-property management experience, specializing in client relationship development and business growth. Passionate about creating exceptional guest experiences, developing high-performing teams, and helping properties reach their full potential.

Proven success in identifying and implementing transformative business strategies, optimize costs and profitability, and strengthen market share in highly competitive environments.

Recognized for a global outlook and a multicultural, lead-by-example approach to overcoming challenges, with a proven track record of enhancing operational standards (SOPs) and improving NOI.  

 

Extensive local and international experience across 10+ multi-brand hotels and property management companies, including Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Carlson-Radisson, Wyndham, Leading Hotels, Choice Hotels, VACASA–Home Luxury Vacation Rentals, Extended Stay America, Sentral, and South End Hospitality. 

Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA). Repeatedly honored with prestigious awards, including “Hotelier of the Year, Hotel Manager of the Year, and Top Business Development of the Year”.

EXPERTISE

  • Expert in full-service hotel operation and new opening of multi-unit properties and resorts
  • Real estate vacation rental development
  • Luxury property management for STR, LTR, and MF operations
  • Skilled in B2B and B2C relations
  • Procurement, Capex management 
  • New product development and repositioning
  • Franchise agreement and contract negotiation
  • Revenue growth and reputation management 
  • Team building, development, coaching, and training
  • Online marketing and sales positioning 
  • Food and beverage management
  • Excellent leadership & customer service skills
  • Proven business optimization management
  • Fully Bilingual: English & Spanish

SOUTH END HOSPITALITY, Boston, MA  

2025

(Full-service management company, operating high-end home vacation rentals and boutique hotels across Massachusetts)

  • Provided full consulting services on the development of operational strategies, data-driven pricing models, and market positioning for six boutique hotels, more than 150 managed units, and a portfolio of over 80 vacation rentals.

SENTRAL, Nashville, TN  

2024 –2025

(Leading hospitality operator to a network of high-end connected communities in the heart of the world’s best cities across the USA)

Task Force General Manager, directed the hotel operation of Sentral SoBro 299 mixed hotel and high-end Residence community, located in the heart of the Country Music Capital of the World, Nashville, Tennessee

VACASA, Houston, Texas

2022 – 2024

(Property Management and Home Vacation rental management platform providing full-service care to more than 45,000 vacation homes across 400 destinations in North America, Belize, and Costa Rica)

Regional Operations Director for the South/Central Region, responsible to supervise a portfolio of over 3,500 luxury home vacation rentals across Texas.

OYO HOTELS, Dallas, Houston, Texas

2019-2022

(Global hospitality company that offers a technology platform for hotels and living spaces. It partners with hotel owners, providing booking services, revenue management, and technology to support their operations)

  • Business Development Manager, signed the highest number of hotel acquisitions for operations under franchise agreements, and was later recognized in 2022 as “Top USA Business Development of the Year.”

HMS-Hospitality Management Solution, Dominican Republic, Panama City, Panama

2003 – 2019

(HMS is a leading company in condominium management, real estate, and boutique hotel operations in the Dominican Republic, Panamá, and Mexico.)

  • Managing Director, directed the opening and managing Yoo Panama (76-story high-rise luxury condominiums-hotel with 554 loft-style apartments and penthouses designed by the world-renowned firm of Yoo by Philippe Stark).
  • Successfully restructured the Radisson Panama Hotel, making all the operations cost-effective and gaining a competitive advantage with the highest customer loyalty and guest satisfaction level, which led to the hotel receiving the 2013 President’s Award from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.
  • Led the opening of 10+ hotels and resorts and the execution of multi-million Capex projects, including full-service hotels and restaurant refurbishments.

Coral By Hilton, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

2000 – 2003

(An All-Inclusive Hotel & Resort chain part of the Hilton network of hotels)

Vice-president of Operations 

  • Responsible for the operations of four All-Inclusive Hilton hotels with 2,150 rooms, including the opening of Hilton Santo Domingo, a five-star business hotel.

EDUCATION

Cornell University, Ithaca, New York   

2000-2003

  • Certifications in Marketing Management, Strategic Marketing, Financial Management, Hotel Planning & Design, Building Competitive Advantage, Hotel Investment and Financial Decisions, Food & Beverage Management.

Houston Community College, Houston, Texas

2000-2003

Real Estate-Property Management: completed all programs in Principles of Real Estate, Real Estate Construction, Property Management, Real Estate Investments, and Real Estate Law.

  • Real Estate-Property Management: completed all programs in Principles of Real Estate, Real Estate Construction, Property Management, Real Estate Investments, and Real Estate Law. 

Universidad Central Del Este Dominican Republic

  • Completed coursework towards a Bachelor of Business Administration 

SYSTEMS

  • Microsoft Office Suite, Salesforce CRM, PMS: Opera, StayNTouch, Guesty, Revenue: Price Labs, Guest reviews: Revinate, Reputation, Back-office-others: SynXis, Tableau, UKG, Yardi, Asana, Breezeway