The Woodlands (Houston), Texas, March 2013 … Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading U.S.-based hospitality management company, has appointed John Herdman executive chef for Hotel Contessa.  Les Utley, general manager for the hotel, a Benchmark Resorts & Hotels property located on the famed Riverwalk in San Antonio, made the announcement.
 
“It is a pleasure to welcome Chef Herdman to our hotel,” said Mr. Utley.  “He comes highly qualified and with a solid record of culinary excellence that will be a tremendous asset to Hotel Contessa, and to our signature restaurant, Las Ramblas.”
 
John Herdman was previously fine dining sous chef for the highly-acclaimed Inn at Palmetto Bluff, located in Bluffton, South Carolina.  Mr. Herdman has also served as sous chef for the Westin La Cantera in San Antonio, where he participated on company task forces for resorts that later were awarded Five Stars and Five Diamonds.
 
Chef Herdman has been honored with the opportunity to cook at the James Beard House in New York City as part of a culinary team of professionals.  He is a graduate of Johnson and Wales’ inaugural class in Charlotte, North Carolina. Herdman earned his Bachelor’s degree in Art from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.  He has relocated to San Antonio.

About Hotel Contessa
Celebrating the region’s unmatched storied heritage as a fusion of cultures, Hotel Contessa pays homage to the best of San Antonio, incorporating modern interpretations of its unique architecture, hospitality, cuisine and lifestyle.  The 240,000-square-foot, 12-story hotel features 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting and event facilities, a dedicated fitness center, full-service spa and rooftop swimming pool, as well as a gourmet restaurant and lounge that give leisure and business travelers a true taste of the new San Antonio.  Hotel Contessa embodies Benchmark Hospitality’s thirty years of innovation and excellence in the operation and development of premium hotels, resorts and conference centers.  The property is located at 306 W. Market Street.  For more information or to make your reservation, please call 210-229-9222 or log onto www.thehotelcontessa.com.
 
About Benchmark Resorts & Hotels™
Benchmark Resorts & Hotels™ represents the finest in lodging, dining, recreational and meeting accommodations. Many are certified by the International Association of Conference Centers, the leading professional organization governing the multi-billion dollar conference center industry on five continents, and many have also been recognized with the coveted Benchmark Conference Centers™ certification of meeting excellence.  Benchmark Resorts & Hotels deliver highly specialized service that anticipates guests’ needs and ensures a hospitality experience unsurpassed and long remembered. www.benchmarkresortsandhotels.com