PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 11, 2002 - Philadelphians and visitors to the city will have a new restaurant to enjoy when The Rittenhouse Hotel debuts Lacroix at The Rittenhouse in mid-2002.  Currently known as TreeTops, the new restaurant will be overseen by internationally acclaimed chef Jean-Marie Lacroix, who joined the hotel as Executive Chef in fall 2001.  According to David Benton, vice president and general manager of The Rittenhouse, noted hotel and restaurant designer Meg Rodgers has been retained to design the new restaurant.

"As we look toward the future for The Rittenhouse Hotel, the addition of Chef Lacroix has been a pivotal element for us as we introduce a new dining experience to Philadelphia," said Benton.  "We are honored that he has decided to continue his extraordinary career with us."

Lacroix, who is collaborating closely with Benton and Rodgers, explained that Lacroix at The Rittenhouse's dining room will feature a comfortable but elegant atmosphere, simple in decor, yet very inviting.  The design will reflect the menu, which will be inventive French-influenced.  "I enjoy trying new things," said Lacroix, "both in life and in cooking.  It is a welcomed challenge at this stage of my career to work with The Rittenhouse to develop a completely new restaurant concept for the hotel."

Lacroix added that the renovations extend beyond the dining room into the kitchen.  Plans include a pastry shop, a chocolate room, a garde-manger station, an area for cooking demonstrations and a chef's table.

An internationally renowned chef who has received numerous culinary awards and recognitions, Lacroix joins The Rittenhouse after retiring from the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, where he served as Executive Chef for 18 years since the hotel first opened in 1983.  Chef Lacroix is featured in a new book entitled Magic in the Kitchen, Portraits by Jan Bartelsman (Artisan, November 2001), which includes unique photographs, profiles and recipes of some of the nation's top chefs.

The Rittenhouse Hotel is ideally located in the heart of Philadelphia, overlooking historic Rittenhouse Square.  Major museums, cultural attractions, world-class shopping and the city's business center are all just walking distance from the hotel.  The Rittenhouse has received the AAA Five Diamond Award since 1991 and has been continuously recognized by Conde Nast Traveler in its annual Gold List since 1995.

The Rittenhouse is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.  Established more than 30 years ago, Preferred Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is a global brand of more than 110 of the world's finest independent luxury hotels and resorts.  To qualify as a Preferred hotel or resort, each property must adhere to Preferred's Standards of Excellence program, an exhaustive quality assurance program that includes an annual, third-party unannounced audit of 1,600 standards and practices.  This rigorous approach to quality ensures that guests consistently enjoy the highest standards of personal service and hospitality.