How Keo Hornbostel Turned an Accreditation Crisis Into a Stronger Safari West

🎙️ From Five-Star Hotels to an African Savanna in Wine Country: Keo Hornbostel’s Second Act at Safari WestKeo Hornbostel, executive director of Safari West, spent nearly 30 years rising through the Hyatt system — from Denver to Grand Cayman to Maui to Kauai — before a referral and the right moment led him to a 400-acre wildlife preserve in Sonoma County. What looked like a dramatic career pivot turned out to share more with luxury hospitality than anyone expected, and the leadership skills he’d spent decades building were exactly what Safari West needed.✨ Key Insights You’ll Learn:30-year Hyatt career across Puerto Rico, Maui, Grand Cayman, and beyondWhy managing a wildlife preserve and a mega resort are more similar than they lookSafari West’s breeding-first model — over 200 giraffes born on property35 permits to operate, including three federal USDA licensesAZA accreditation denial: choosing radical transparency over spinHiring two on-staff veterinarians and earning ZAA accreditation within monthsCOVID layoffs of 100+ staff in a single morning — and what the next day looked likeSonoma County Tourism Board work and the Wheel of the World accessible travel initiativeAnnouncing the Safari West Zoological Society nonprofit transitionCapital campaign goals: a vet clinic, animal welfare buildings, and long-term preservation🌟 Keo’s Key Mentors:Peter and Nancy Lang (Founders, Safari West): Trusted him with their life’s work and gave him the space to lead it forwardAphrodite (PR Manager, Safari West): Introduced him to the Langs and helped shape Safari West’s public presenceHyatt Leadership Teams: Shaped his belief that great hospitality comes from genuinely meeting people where they areHis Mother: Her experience navigating travel with a prosthetic leg directly inspired his work on accessibilityHis Military School Commanders: Instilled the leadership-first mindset he carried into every role that followed👉 Don’t miss this conversation about leading through fires, a pandemic, and a public accreditation challenge — and why Keo’s answer to every hard day is the same: wake up and go fix it.🔗 Connect with Keo Hornbostel:Website: safariwest.com📎 Transcript Available: How Keo Hornbostel Turned an Accreditation Crisis Into a Stronger Safari West📺 Watch on YouTube: Inspired Stories Podcast🌐 Our Website: The Inspired Stories Podcast📎 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line. Website: addbackbenefits.com