As corporate director of food and beverage, Mr. Zappatelli will lead the overall food and beverage programming for the 25 properties in Benchmark Hospitality�s portfolio.  His responsibilities will include system-wide food and beverage communications, operating procedures, kitchen and outlet design, as well as food and beverage resource planning.  

In addition to his new role as corporate director of food and beverage, Mr. Zappatelli will continue to serve as director of hotel operations for The Founders Inn, a Benchmark Hospitality property located in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mr. Zappatelli originally joined The Founders Inn as executive chef in 1999.

Bob Zappatelli�s professional experience with Benchmark spans seven years, including serving as executive chef and director of food & beverage for The Council House, an exclusive international conference center for SC Johnson, a Family Company, and Wingspread, a private conference center for the Johnson Foundation.  Both properties are located in Racine, Wisconsin. He also previously served as director of food and beverage for The Founders Inn.  

For a time, Mr. Zappatelli owned and operated his own restaurant, Zappas, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He is the recipient of numerous culinary gold medals and has been named �Chef of the Year� by the American Culinary Institute.

Benchmark Hospitality, an international hospitality management company based in The Woodlands, Texas, operates luxury resorts, hotels, spas, golf clubs and conference centers throughout the United States, in Canada, and Japan.