SHELTON, CT – Feb. 14, 2011 – William Welch and Michelle E. Kosztala have been appointed area director of sales and marketing, and area sales manager, respectively, for two properties operated by New Castle Hotels & Resorts, a leading third-party manager and hotel owner/developer, in Shelton, Conn. Kosztala and Welch will steer and support sales teams at the Hilton Garden Inn and the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is currently under development.

Welch has most recently operated his own consultancy serving hotel owners and managers such as The Generation Companies and The Saunders Hotel Group. He launched his hospitality industry management career in 1996 as GSO officer with New World Renaissance Hotels by Marriott in Hong Kong. Welch has also held positions as corporate national sales manager with Cooper Hotels, regional sales manager for the Panos Hotel Group and guest services coordinator for Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Hong Kong.

Kosztala joins the New Castle team from the Holiday Inn in North Haven, Conn., where she served as catering sales manager. A hospitality industry professional for five years, her previous industry experience includes service and sales management for the Mystic Hilton in Mystic, Conn.

“Mr. Welch and Ms. Kosztala will play key roles in providing training and support, and fostering innovation and excellence for the sales teams at these two key properties in the New Castle portfolio,” said Gerald P. Chase, president and chief operating officer of New Castle. “We’re excited to have them on board as the Hilton Garden Inn continues its role as a market leader in the Shelton area, and as the Hampton Inn & Suites emerges from renovations.”

New Castle owns and operates the Hilton Garden Inn in Shelton. In 2010, the company acquired the former Holiday Inn Express, also in Shelton, and is repositioning the property as a Hampton Inn & Suites.

New Castle Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes 30 hotels the company manages, owns or is developing in the United States and Canada.  The privately held hotel management company consistently ranks in the country’s top 100 hotel management and development companies in hospitality industry trade publications.  New Castle celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2010.  For more information on New Castle Hotels & Resorts, please contact Gerald P. Chase, president, chief operating officer, at (203) 925-8370, or visit the corporate website at www.newcastlehotels.com.