HOLLYWOOD, FL –
March. 20, 2013 – Continually
recognized for culinary excellence throughout his career, Chef
Christian
Rassinoux has been appointed executive chef at The Westin Diplomat
Resort &
Spa in Hollywood, Florida. Having showcased his talents at some of the
world’s
most prestigious hotels, Rassinoux will be responsible for leading all
food and
beverage operations at the 998-room resort including the opening of a
new
Italian restaurant in summer 2013 as well as infusing SuperFoodsRX®
ingredients into the menus to create great tasting and healthy options
for all
guests. Rassinoux will also oversee the culinary strategy for groups
and events
at the adjacent 209,000-square-foot convention center featuring a
50,000-square-foot unobstructed great hall, four ballrooms and 39
individual
meeting rooms.
Most recently, Rassinoux served as the
executive chef of MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the country’s largest hotel,
since
2009. Previously he held the same title for over 20 years at various
Ritz-Carlton hotels around the world from California to China.
The list
of his culinary achievements is staggering including Chef of the Year,
French
Culinary Association in 1986; Chef of the Year, Le Toques Blanche
International
in 1990; Chevalier in the National Order of Merit by the President of
the
French Republic in 1994; and a Doctor of Culinary Arts, Honoris Causa,
from
Johnson & Wales University in 1995.
“Chef Rassinoux has a pedigree unlike
many others and we are so thrilled he has chosen The Westin Diplomat to
further
showcase his culinary talents,” said Ed Walls, general manager. “We are
eager
to apply his expertise to our new Italian restaurant coming this
summer.”
Rassinoux is also actively involved in
the culinary community having served as member of the Conseiller
Culinaire for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
from 1986 to 2007 and was previously President of the French Chefs
Association.
The beachfront property is ideally
located between Fort Lauderdale and Miami and nestled between the
Atlantic
Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to award-winning
restaurants like
Hollywood Prime, resort amenities include watersports and two marinas,
an
18-hole championship golf course managed by Troon Golf®, a 10-clay
court Tennis
Center, a 30,000-square-foot full-service spa and an additional
14,000-square-foot Heavenly Spa by Westin™ set to open in April 2013.
For more information about The Westin
Diplomat Resort & Spa or to make reservations, call 888-627-9057 or
visit www.diplomatresort.com.
About The Westin Diplomat Resort
& Spa
The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa is conveniently
located on the beach between Fort Lauderdale and the international hub
of
Miami. With 998 rejuvenating guest rooms, The Diplomat offers an array
of
amenities including several cuisine options from award-winning seafood
and
steakhouse Hollywood Prime to 24-hour in-room dining. The Diplomat’s
convention
center provides over 200,000 square feet of flexible meeting and
catering space
including four ballrooms, a 50,000 square foot unobstructed Great Hall
and 39
individual meeting rooms. www.DiplomatResort.com.
About Westin Hotels & Resorts
Westin Hotels & Resorts offers innovative programs
that transform every aspect of a stay into a revitalizing experience.
All
Westin signature services – like the Heavenly®Bed, delicious
SuperFoodsRX® and
WestinWorkout® studio – have been designed with the guests’
well-being in mind.
Westin hotels, with more than 186 hotels and resorts in nearly 40
countries and
territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
(NYSE:
HOT). Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the
leading hotel
and leisure companies in the world with 1,128 properties in nearly 100
countries and 154,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
Starwood
is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts
and
residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St.
Regis®, The
Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®,
Sheraton®, Four Points® by
Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the
industry’s
leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®),
allowing members to
earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with
no
blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a
premier
provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style
resorts and
privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please
visit www.westin.com.