Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa Appoints New F&B Director
Veteran hospitality executive and celebrity chef joins award-winning Tucson resort
TUCSON, AZ - June 6, 2012 - Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa today announced the appointment of Jonathan Kastner to the position of Food & Beverage Director. Kastner brings over 36 years of extensive food, beverage and hospitality experience to his new role managing all dining operations at the award-winning Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa.
In this position, Kastner will be responsible for the coordination and supervision of all on-property food and beverage operations, ensuring consistent high-quality products and service levels at the resort's two on-site restaurants - the award-winning GOLD and the Lookout Bar & Grille - as well as the Monsoon Cafe, which serves coffee and light fare; Oasis, the resort's poolside bar; banquets and meetings; and room service. Kastner will work with the resort's executive team to develop restaurant, beverage and banquet menus and will lead the food and beverage team's efforts to continually improve guest satisfaction and grow the department's performance.
Kastner comes to Tucson most recently from Kingston, Jamaica, where he worked as Director of Food and Beverage at the Wyndham Kingston Jamaica, a 303-room upscale hotel located in the heart of the city's financial district.
Kastner studied the restaurant and hospitality industry in the U.S. and internationally, working his way from the back of the house to the front. He owned his own restaurant in Virginia Beach, Va., for three years. In 1995, Kastner became regional food and beverage director for Sunburst Hospitality and established the Golden Pheasant, a catering and special event company.
Kastner's background also includes working as a private chef for celebrities and notable families, developing forward-thinking restaurant concepts and opening upscale dining establishments across the United States, many in conjunction with luxury resorts and independent hotels.
As a result of his breadth of experience and reputation for implementing into his work the highest food and beverage standards, Kastner was selected to attend the invitation-only Greystone Flavor Summit in 2009 and 2010, co-presented by the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone and Food Arts magazine. The Greystone Flavor Summit brings together a select group of top food and beverage executives, corporate and executive chefs and other experts in American foodservice and hospitality to explore, discuss and taste their way through a stimulating, critical set of flavor and related kitchen and dining management issues.
“We're very pleased to have Jonathan as part of our team, and we look forward to the new and exciting ideas he'll bring to the table,” said Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa General Manager David Yamada.
For more information about Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa, GOLD or Lookout Bar & Grille, please visit www.westwardlook.com.
ABOUT WESTWARD LOOK WYNDHAM GRAND RESORT & SPA
Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa is set in the foothills of Tucson's Santa Catalina Mountains on 80 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert. It offers 241 guestrooms, two award-winning restaurants, a chef's garden, the Sonoran Spa, eight tennis courts, desert hiking trails, on-site stables for horseback riding and multiple pools. Since 2010, the resort has been named an AAA Four Diamond Award® recipient each year, which honors the hotel for its commitment to excellence throughout the entire property, including GOLD restaurant, the resort's extensive array of amenities, guest services and its attention to detail. More information is available by calling (800) 722-2500 or visiting www.westwardlook.com.
ABOUT WYNDHAM HOTELS AND RESORTS, LLC
Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), offers upscale hotel and resort accommodations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, China and the Caribbean. All Wyndham® hotels are either franchised by the company or managed by Wyndham Hotel Management, Inc., one of its affiliates or through a joint-venture partner. Additional information and reservations for all Wyndham hotels are available by calling (800) WYNDHAM - (800) 996-3426 - or visiting www.wyndham.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Alejandra Cardenas
McFadden/Gavender
O: (520) 882-6262
M: (520) 440-0618
[email protected]
Karen Gavender
McFadden/Gavender
O: (520) 882-6262
M: (520) 603-4200
[email protected]
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
