Karen Chastain has been appointed General Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in Dana Point
Southern California's premier coastal resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, proudly announces the appointment of a new General Manager Karen Chastain, who joins the oceanfront resort from Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino where she served as Complex General Manager. She returns to California, overseeing The Ritz-Carlton's flagship just as the resort unveils a captivating guestroom, suite, and Club Level renovation. With over 28 years of industry experience, she brings a strong leadership foundation with expertise in finance, operations, strategic management, and career development.
In her recent role in Aruba, Chastain oversaw the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and the two Marriott Vacations Worldwide properties - Marriott's Aruba Surf Club and Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club. During her time in Aruba, she achieved excellent results, including winning Hotel of the Year in 2018 and becoming the first female General Manager on the island.
Chastain began her career as a CPA and held financial roles at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco and Santa Clara Marriott before joining the Marriott Western Regional Team as the Regional Director of Finance and Accounting. She then moved to Arizona to become the Director of Room Operations and Sales Manager of the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, and soon after, she became Area General Manager for Revenue of the San Ramon Marriott Hotel in 2006. By 2010, she held the role of Multi-Property General Manager for the Scottsdale Marriott at McDowell Mountains and the Scottsdale Marriott Old Town Suites. She later served as General Manager of the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa for over four years, achieving outstanding results in house profit and guest satisfaction. Chastain graduated from Ball State University in Indiana and holds a B.S. in accounting.
