Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU is proud to announce the appointment of Jose Martinez as Director of Food & Beverage and Chris Castro as
Executive Chef. The dynamic duo will lead the hotel in introducing four new restaurant and lounge concepts to Tempe’s bustling downtown district upon opening on April 28, 2023.
Jose Martinez, Director of Food & Beverage
Puerto Rico native, Jose Martinez brings over 20 years of experience in food and beverage to his new role. His lifelong passion for cuisine led him to open a restaurant with his father in Luquillo, Puerto Rico before studying international cuisine and restaurant operations. While attending the Florida Culinary Institute in Palm Beach, Florida, Martinez joined the culinary team at PGA National Resort and Spa where he held various leadership positions during a ten-year tenure.
Since then, he has led various leadership roles in luxury hotels and resorts across the country including Waldorf Astoria’s Arizona Biltmore and The Roosevelt Hotel. He has also served as the executive sous chef at The Broadmoor Hotel, the longest-running 5-star 5-diamond hotel in the world, and the Enchantment Resort in Sedona where he led the team to achieve the Forbes 4-star rating.
“Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU presents an incredible opportunity for me,” said Jose Martinez. “I am thrilled to be joining such an innovative team that is dedicated to creating memorable dining experiences for guests.”
Chris Castro, Executive Chef
Chef Chris Castro has over 19 years of dynamic hospitality and cuisine experience. Having worked for the likes of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, the Scott Resort and Spa, and the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Chef Castro brings authentic West Coast ties to the table. While serving as executive chef at Anthem Country Club in Anthem, Arizona, Castro helped rebuild the culinary program before transitioning into the restaurant scene where he assumed the role of corporate executive chef for a restaurant group and opened multiple dining venues across Arizona and Colorado, including one of his own original concepts.
“We are going to introduce something special into this market – something unique that hasn’t been seen before,” said Chris Castro. “We believe that our unique backgrounds will bring customers’ culinary expectations beyond traditional boundaries.”
Martinez and Chef Castro will lead teams behind Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU’s reimagined dining concepts including:
- Lucero Rooftop: Capture iconic sunsets from the rooftop bar and restaurant. Designed for the adventurous and bold, and emulating the starry night sky, sip craft cocktails and savor tantalizing cuisine at Lucero.
- Neighborhood Services: Serving up honest food & drink in the American Tradition, Neighborhood Services, a concept by acclaimed Chef Nick Badovinus, will offer rotating daily favorites, house craft cocktails and more.
- Salt & Gila: Buzzing and lively, the third-floor pool bar is ideal for all day libations or cozy fireside evenings, making Salt & Gila the best place to engage, connect and unwind.
- Library Rules: Start the day with a specialty cup of coffee paired with a sweet morning pastry. And as day transitions to night, indulge in light bites and discover the next favorite varietal from a unique vineyard halfway around the globe.
“As we carve our niche in Tempe, having Jose and Chef Castro’s distinguished expertise on the team is a privilege and a game changer,” said Todd Gagnon, general manager of Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU. “We look forward to watching their visions come to life as they help maximize the potential of our unique dining options.”
