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Dorchester Collection UK Properties, The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane and Coworth Park,
Add New Talent in Culinary, Housekeeping and Sales with
Five Executive Appointments

September 24, 2012 (London) - Dorchester Collection UK properties introduce a number of new executive appointments that will shape future success in the diverse operations of its iconic, luxury hotel addresses, including The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane in London and Coworth Park in Ascot. The newest members of Dorchester Collection bring talent and experience to culinary, housekeeping and sales, including:



Stéphane Lafon - Director of Food and Beverage, The Dorchester
With experience earned at some of the finest luxury hotels across the U.S., Stéphane Lafon oversees one of London's most exciting dining destinations as Director of Food and Beverage at The Dorchester. Previously, he was Food and Beverage Operations Manager at the Hilton Group. Lafon spent 20 years in food and beverage management roles through the States, with assignments including Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans, Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach, and Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Along the way, he demonstrated talent for successful management of multiple outlets with different styles of service, cuisine and banquet facilities and has a strong track record for achieving increased industry ratings and raising the bar for unique and memorable dining experiences. Born in France, Lafon graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor's Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management.

Ronan Sayburn MS - Head of Wines UK
As a North Yorkshire native with expertise in wine purchasing, sommelier training and executive wine management, Ronan Sayburn joins Dorchester Collection as Head of Wines UK. Along with training sommeliers, Sayburn is responsible for selecting the exceptional wines and specialty drinks from around the world at The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane and Coworth Park. He reports to Stéphane Lafon. Previously, Sayburn was Director of Wine and Spirits with Hotel du Vin Group, where he oversaw wine selections and managed sommeliers at all the group's properties. Prior assignments included Executive Head Sommelier at the Michelin-starred Greenhouse Restaurant, which had the largest wine list in the UK during Sayburn's tenure, and Executive Head Sommelier for Gordon Ramsay Holdings. With a Master Sommelier Diploma earned from The Court of Master Sommeliers, Sayburn also honed his expertise as a Sommelier at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Restaurant Pied à Terre, and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons. @Ronan_SayburnMS

Brian Hughson - Executive Chef, Coworth Park
Following success as Head Chef at The Grill at The Dorchester, Brian Hughson headed north to Ascot to join Coworth Park as Executive Chef. He oversees all the kitchens at the luxury country house hotel and spa, including Restaurant Coworth Park, The Barn, The Bar, The Drawing Room and The Spatisserie, as well as in-room dining for 70 rooms and banqueting for four private dining rooms and the marquee, which can host up to 300 guests. Hughson brings more than 20 years of culinary experience to Coworth Park, with previous positions including Head Chef at Gary Rhodes' W1 restaurant, which was awarded a Michelin star during his tenure and three AA rosettes within seven months of opening. Hughson has also worked at eminent London restaurants including Pétrus, Rhodes in the Square, Frith Street, 30 St Mary Axe (The Gherkin), and Savoy Grill, as well as at Mirabelle, Belvedere and Wheeler's with Marco Pierre White.

Michelle Stephens - Senior Sales Manager, Coworth Park
Reporting directly to Area Director of Sales Victoria Batten, Michelle Stephens is responsible for the meetings and incentives, corporate and leisure business from the surrounding Southern England territory. Stephens is part of Dorchester Collection's UK area Sales and Marketing team with key focus on Coworth Park, while also supporting sales from this region for The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane. Stephen's career includes in-depth experience in sales, marketing, communications, event planning and customer service processes. She joins from Chic Outlet Shopping by Value Retail PLC as part of the sales and marketing team for the nine Villages, overseeing all pan-European travel and tourism partnerships. Stephens earlier career roles include Director of Sales and Marketing for Blenheim Palace Hospitality where she was later promoted to Catering Services Director, responsible for the production of high profile corporate events and weddings. Previous experience also includes Sales and Marketing Manager for The Feathers and The Lords of the Manor hotels and Bespoke Hotels Ltd.

Jutta Asta - Executive Housekeeper, The Dorchester
With clear focus on guest satisfaction, a keen eye for design and interiors, and superb management skills garnered over more than three decades in hospitality, Jutta Asta joined The Dorchester as Executive Housekeeper. Asta arrived at The Dorchester from the Aldon Kempinski Berlin, a 382-bedroom, five-star deluxe address where she was Executive Housekeeper. She held the same role at various properties across London going back to 1998, including Claridge's Hotel, The Savoy, The Berkeley Hotel, The Goring Hotel, and The Howard Hotel. Asta has also worked at Central Middlesex Hospital, Hillside Hospital, Sheraton Heathrow, Sheraton Park Tower, Holiday Inn, Sloan Street, Hyatt Regency in Brussels, and elsewhere. She launched her career with an apprenticeship at Hotel Maritime in Bad Salzuflen

Dorchester Collection
Dorchester Collection is a portfolio of the world's foremost luxury hotels in Europe and the USA, each of which reflects the distinctive culture of its destination. By applying its unrivalled experience and capability in owning and operating some of the greatest individual hotels, the company's mission is to develop an impeccable group of the finest landmark hotels through acquisition as well as management of wholly-owned and part-owned hotels, and to enter into management agreements.

The current portfolio includes the following hotels (in order of them joining the group): The Dorchester, London; The Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Hills; Le Meurice, Paris; Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris; Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan; Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles; Coworth Park, Ascot, UK; 45 Park Lane, London; and Le Richemond, Geneva.

dorchestercollection.com
.
Contact:

Shin-Jung Hong
Hawkins International PR
(212) 255-6541
[email protected]



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Also See: Dorchester Collection Launches Enhancement Projects for Several of its Properties; Upgrades in the Works for Hotels in London, Paris, Switzerland and Beverly Hills, California / June 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints Rachel Angell as Performance Improvement Manager; New Role Created to Analyze Guest Data to Identify Opportunities for Service Improvement for Each Hotel / June 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints Janice Snowden as Area Director of Sales and Marketing for The Beverly Hills Hotel and Hotel Bel-Air in California / June 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints Klaus Kabelitz as General Manager of the 109-room Le Richemond in Geneva, Switzerland / May 2012

Dorchester Collection Names Arabella El Barkouki as Director of Sales and Marketing of the 109-room Le Richemond in Geneva, Switzerland / April 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints Denise Flanders as General Manager of Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, California / April 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints John Scanlon as Hotel Manager for The Dorchester in London, England / February 2012

Dorchester Collection Appoints Eugenio Pirri as Vice President, People and Organizational Development / December 2011

Dorchester Collection Unveils More Plans for 2011 with News from Several Properties; Highlights include the Opening of 45 Park Lane in London and the Newly Renovated Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles / August 2011

Dorchester Collection's Culinary Partners, Chefs, Restaurateurs and Food & Beverage Management Teams Plan for the Future of Hospitality Business at Recent Conference / July 2011

Dorchester Collection Appoints Edward A. Mady General Manager of The Beverly Hills Hotel and West Coast Regional Director, USA; Current GM of The New York Palace to Oversee West Coast Operations of the Luxury Hotel Collection / July 2011

The Dorchester Collection Selected to Manage 109-room Le Richemond in Geneva, Switzerland with the Group's First Third-Party Management Agreement / July 2011

The Dorchester Collection to Open 45 Park Lane in London, England / May 2011

The Dorchester Collection Names New Staff Appointments Through its Collection Including Christophe Saintagne as Head Chef for Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée in Paris and Sally Pedder as Manager for The Dorchester Spa / December 2010

The Dorchester Collection Opens the 70-room Coworth Park Located in Ascot, UK; Hotel Has Several Unique Eco-Initiatives / September 2010

Dorchester Collection Appoints Marie-Laure Akdag as Hotel Manager at the 45 Park Lane, London / June 2010

Dorchester Collection Appoints Zoe Jenkins as General Manager at New Country House Hotel, Coworth Park near Ascot, UK / November 2009

Michelin-Starred Chef John Campbell Named as Food and Beverage Director for Dorchester Collection's New Country House Estate and Spa, Coworth Park, UK / July 2009

The Dorchester Collection Building Coworth Park a New 69 room Country House Hotel near Ascot, Surrey / January 2009
...

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