LUXE Serendipity magazine

By Donna Richardson

Amin Momen is the architect of unforgettable Alpine experiences, where adventure, refinement, and culinary artistry converge. As founder of Momentum Experiences, he transforms the Alps into a playground for the discerning elite – whether it’s racing London’s financial leaders down the slopes at the City Ski Championships or navigating breathtaking Alpine roads alongside Formula 1 icon Damon Hill and supermodel Jodie Kidd. In collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Heston Blumenthal, Momen curates the Mountain Gourmet Ski Experience, bringing together the world’s finest chefs, including Emily Le Roux, Marcus Wareing, Jean-Philippe Blondet, and Tom Kerridge, for a weekend of unparalleled gastronomic indulgence in Courmayeur. As we step into 2026, the company looks set to celebrate its 30th year, and Amin has grand plans.

A Vision Forged in the Mountains

Momen’s connection to the mountains was forged early. Born in Italy and brought up in Tehran before the revolution, he grew up with the Elburz range inspiring him. Family drives along the Caspian coast meant long stretches of road framed by peaks, and he found himself transfixed by skiers threading down the slopes.

When his sister began skiing, Momen knew he wanted in. He negotiated his first real bargain with his father: better school results in exchange for a pair of skis. The deal worked. By the age of eight, his weekends were spent high in the mountains, food packed in his pockets, wholly absorbed in the freedom and intensity of the sport.

Skiing eventually carried him west to the Alps, where he built a career as a ski guide before stepping out on his own. At the time, he was working for a tour operator that was being sold to Inghams. “I pulled over on the Milan motorway,” he remembers, “called Companies House, and registered my business on the spot. It was a leap of faith.”

The final piece fell into place over drinks with journalist Alistair Scott. It was Scott who suggested the name Momentum – a word that echoed Momen’s own name while capturing his instinct to keep moving forward. “That,” he says, “was the moment it all clicked.”

The Evolution of Momentum

What began as a bespoke ski travel company soon became something far greater. In 1996, Momen founded the City Ski Championships, an event that has since become a cornerstone of London’s financial community. Initially held in Courmayeur before moving to Crans Montana, it combines world-class ski racing with an atmosphere of camaraderie and high-level networking. Sponsored by The Financial Times, the event has drawn Olympians, business titans, and celebrities, with British skiing legend Graham Bell and Formula One Champ Damon Hill among the regulars as well as comedians like Marcus Brigstocke.

Sensing a growing desire for experiences that went beyond the ski run, Momen began to broaden Momentum’s horizons. His next move took him into gastronomy, partnering with Blumenthal to create a standout alpine weekend in which Michelin-starred chefs temporarily take over Courmayeur’s most celebrated restaurants. The result is an elevated après-ski affair—whether guests spend their days carving turns, trekking by snowshoe, or racing across the snow by dog sled.

That spirit of reinvention continued with another lifelong passion: cars. Momen introduced the Grand Tour, an invitation-only driving experience that winds through the Alps and attracts motorsport legends along the way. Last year, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Goldfinger, the journey followed the film’s iconic Swiss route, with Damon Hill, his son Josh, and super model-turned-racing-driver Jodie Kidd among those behind the wheel.

“This is about more than five-star hotels and fine dining,”  he says. “It’s about access to experiences that money alone can’t buy.”

A New Chapter

With Momentum now encompassing ski, gastronomy, and motoring, the company has shed its original moniker to become Momentum Experiences  “When we started in 1996, our mission was to offer expert travel advice and unforgettable adventures,” says Momen. “Our clients have inspired us to expand beyond winter sports. This rebrand reflects our evolution and our ambition.”

From day one, the ideology has remained the same – everyone is treated like a friend. As Amin puts it: “I was lucky enough to get to know the Alps and have some incredible ski experiences over 30 years. I met some wonderful locals, and I wanted others to have the same experience.”

Amin recognised that city workers needed an escape from their hectic jobs, leading him to found The City Ski Championships in Courmayeur, which later moved to Crans Montana. This event, tailored for stockbrokers, combines ski racing with networking opportunities for London’s financial community. Originally, Amin aimed to provide bespoke holidays for high-net-worth individuals, but the events have attracted celebrities, showcasing their growing appeal.

The inaugural City Championships in 2000 featured British Olympian Graham Bell and, each year, more celebrities joined the festivities. At the 2022 event, Damon Hill, Marcus Wareing, Eddie ‘the Eagle’ Edwards and Emily Sarsfield participated, along with James Stewart, the son of F1 legend Jackie Stewart.

Amin explained: “When the event moved to Crans Montana during the last financial crisis in 2009, we created a mini Davos with an exciting event calendar. My goal was to foster a festival atmosphere that combined networking with competitions.”

Momentum Music is also hosting events with DJ sets from former England rugby star James Haskell and others, ensuring guests feel the excitement of the racetrack!

Speaking about his clients, Amin said: “Our clients are either individuals, couples or families who are looking for a bespoke trip for their holidays or clients and corporate groups who are entertaining people who are important to them, be it their clients, their team, media and so on.

“They put their trust in us, and we filter our knowledge and experience from years of working in the Alps.  We go the extra mile to do the extraordinary and not the ordinary and being able to facilitate these exceptional experiences for our clients, as well as building a community for like-minded people and creating friendships.

“I am lucky enough to have skied in many places in Europe, North and South America but my dream is to ski in Alaska, stay in a hotel on a lake, Heli-ski in the morning and go fishing in the afternoon. I have been privileged to get to know so many great clients from all walks of life.”

Yet, for all the grand-scale productions, Momen remains committed to the personal touch. “From day one, I wanted to treat everyone like a friend. I’ve been lucky to ski the Alps for over 30 years, to build relationships with incredible people, and to create something about more than just a holiday.” His ambition? To keep pushing boundaries, whether that’s heli-skiing in Alaska before an afternoon of fishing or crafting events that transcend the usual definitions of luxury. This is about more than five-star hotels and fine dining,”  he says. “It’s about access to experiences that money alone can’t buy.”