May 14, 2012 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - Il Lugano in Ft. Lauderdale has announced the appointment of Mark Schoenberg as Director of Food & Beverage. Schoenberg, who has  16 years of experience in the food & beverage industry, is responsible for all dining operations at the luxury boutique hotel, including working closely with Executive Chef Joseph Quinn at da Campo Osteria and overseeing in-room dining and catering for meetings, banquets and special events.

"Dining is a major part of the experience at il Lugano as we seek to please hotel guests and locals alike with boldly flavored, authentic fare created from the finest and freshest local ingredients," said Michael Hatzfeld, General Manager of il Lugano.  "With his talent and broad experience earned in Florida and beyond, Mark will be integral in assuring that all of our guests have outstanding dining experiences."

An inspired professional as well as an Executive Chef trained in classical, contemporary and ethnic cuisines, Schoenberg joined il Lugano after serving as Regional Director, Food & Beverage at Bahia Mar, Doubletree by Hilton, in Ft. Lauderdale. Previously, he held the same position at Forbes Hospitality Group in Boynton Beach, Florida, as well as other high-level food & beverage positions at Doubletree Resort/Willow Valley in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Before heading to the Big Apple, Schoenberg was co-founder of The Mahi Grill, Inc. in Vero Beach, Florida. He got his start in hospitality as Director of Food & Beverage at Crowne Plaza Resort Orlando/Forbes Hamilton in 1996.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Schoenberg earned an Associate of Occupational Studies degree from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

ABOUT il LUGANO HOTEL
A contemporary designed masterpiece rising 14 stories above the Intracoastal Waterway, il Lugano is a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Opened in 2008, featuring 105 suites, the property offers sleek, all-suite accommodations with a full kitchen, quiet ambiance and water views from every room. Guests relax at the hotel's pool and cabanas or enjoy the beach, which is only one block away. In addition to the fitness center and lobby bar, il Lugano also boasts its own yacht which is docked in the hotel's slip and can be chartered for guests who want to experience Ft. Lauderdale from the water. The hotel's restaurant is the popular da Campo Osteria, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, offering bold dishes with a Tuscan flavor. The specialty of the house is the signature mozzarella menu; diners choose from a variety of seasonal toppings and watch as their mozzarella gets stretched to order tableside. Il Lugano is a member of Preferred Boutique Hotels. More information at http://www.illugano.com/