Aspen, Colorado – August 24, 2021 – The Aspen Meadows Resort has named Frank Kastelz general manager.
With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, Kastelz has a diversity of specialized expertise from guest relations to operations and finance.
Most recently he served as hotel manager for The Tremont House, a Wyndham Grand Hotel in Galveston, Texas, as well as the complex director of food and beverage for three Wyndham hotels including the iconic Hotel Galvez & Spa, a Wyndham Grand hotel. Kastelz has worked with a variety of Wyndham brand properties in roles such as general manager at the Wyndham Santa Monica At the Pier, as well as director of operations of the Wyndham San Diego Bayside. So when Aspen Meadows, a Dolce by Wyndham property, needed an interim general manager this spring following the retirement of Jud Hawk, Kastelz was a natural fit to quickly understand the brand culture until a permanent replacement could be found.
“I had zero intentions of moving to Aspen when I took this temporary role, but I rapidly grew attached to the amazing team and to the potential of this special property,” Kastelz said. “As we navigate the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and start to redefine who we are as a brand and a destination, my plan is to lead with empathy. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to take care of each other and embrace power in unity.”
Prior to working in hospitality, Kastelz was a cryptologist for the U.S. Navy for nearly a decade where he learned the importance of constant training and continual process improvement. He considers his leadership training in the Navy to be one of his most valued life lessons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Frank to the Aspen Meadows team,” said Richard Stettner, vice president for Aspen Campus Facilities and Operations for the Aspen Institute. “Frank is a special kind of leader – one that holds his employees accountable while asking how he can help. He’s the kind of general manager who checks in guests when the front desk team is busy. I’ve always said ‘teamwork makes the dream work,’ and Frank will embody that at the resort.”
