News for the Hospitality Executive |
The
Woodlands
(Houston), Texas, December 2010 … Last year, Benchmark Hospitality
International
established the Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship in partnership
with The James Beard Foundation,
based in New
York City. The annual scholarship
celebrates
the life of the company’s first vice president food & beverage, the
late
Bob Zappatelli, and serves as a memorial to his unforgettable magnetism
and
enthusiasm for the advancement of the culinary arts. Benchmark
Hospitality is pleased to announce
that Taylor Amara of Chatham, Massachusetts, is the first recipient of
the Bob
Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship.
“Bob was such a remarkable man and set the
standard for Benchmark Hospitality’s food
& beverage programming,” said
Burt Cabañas, chairman and CEO of Benchmark
Hospitality International. “Awarding this
annual scholarship in his name, together with The James Beard
Foundation, is an
important part of Bob’s legacy. We’re
pleased
to be able to present the inaugural scholarship to Taylor Amara, who we
know Bob
would agree is a most worthy recipient.” “The restaurant industry is very exiting and rewarding,” said
Taylor Amara,
“and this is why I have chosen Restaurant Food & Beverage
Management as my
major.” I absolutely love this industry. My ultimate goal is to become one of the
finest Food & Beverage Directors in the country.” Giorgi Di Lemis, Vice President Food
& Beverage; Taylor Amara, Scholarship Recipient,
Burt Cabañas, Chairman & CEO Taylor Amara is a junior at the prestigious Johnson &
Wales University,
located in Providence, Rhode Island, where she is studying food &
beverage management. Ms. Amara applied for
the scholarship that
commemorates Mr. Zappatelli during her sophomore year at the university. While at Johnson & Wales, she has
achieved the Deans List every trimester since her freshman year. Ms. Amara grew up working in her family’s restaurant where she
developed a strong
love for the hospitality industry. Her
excellent academic record at the high school and university level was
just one
aspect of her selection to receive the scholarship.
Ms. Amara also has an impressive history of
volunteering for numerous social service and culinary organizations,
such as Meals
on Wheels, Amos House Feed the Homeless Shelter, local Farmers Markets,
beach
clean-up programs, and more. At such a
young age, she clearly understands the importance of contributing to
one’s
community. The Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund The Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship, established in 2009, is presented annually in partnership with The James Beard Foundation. The scholarship celebrates the passion for the food & beverage profession of the late Bob Zappatelli, Benchmark Hospitality International’s first vice president of food & beverage, and serves as a living memorial to his unforgettable magnetism and enthusiasm in the advancement of the culinary arts. Benchmark Hospitality’s partner in the Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship, The James Beard Foundation, is the definitive culinary arts organization in the United States dedicated to showcasing American chefs' talents. Named for the storied American chef, the late James Beard, the mission of The James Beard Foundation is to celebrate, preserve, nurture and further America's culinary heritage and diversity in order to elevate and advance the appreciation of the nation's culinary excellence. For many years, Bob Zappatelli worked closely with The James Beard Foundation, hosting the immensely popular Benchmark Holiday Dinner each December at the James Beard House in New York City. The James Beard Foundation provides a Scholarship Program as one of its educational pillars www.jamesbeard.org/index.php?q=james_beard_scholarships, to which the Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund has been added. The Fund is included in the Foundation’s catalogue of nearly 80 annual culinary scholarships the organization administers and makes available each spring for students domestically and globally. Each spring, generous scholarships are granted via the James Beard Foundation to students at many schools of note, including the Culinary Institute of America, Johnson & Wales, and Le Cordon Bleu International. The James Beard Foundation distributes resources through the Scholarship Management Services division of Scholarship America, a respected nonprofit organization that has helped award scholarships to over one million students. Contributing to the Bob Zappatelli Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund Details include:
Attn: Marilyn Platzer, CFO 167 West 12th Street New York, NY 10011
http://www.benchmarkhospitality.com/Media_Center/Press_Releases/Tribute_to_Bob_Zappatelli.asp About Benchmark Hospitality International Benchmark Hospitality International is a leader in the management and marketing of resorts, conference centers, hotels, and Personal Luxury Hotels™. The independent company, launched in 1980, is a founding member of the International Association of Conference Centers. Benchmark Hospitality is a worldwide organization operating properties in major metropolitan and resort destinations. Benchmark's international headquarters is located in The Woodlands, Texas, near Houston. The company’s northeast regional office is in New Jersey, with international offices in Tokyo, Japan, and Santiago, Chile. For the location of Benchmark’s properties and additional information, visit www.benchmarkhospitality.com. |
Contact:
Ken Ellens |