Media Contact: Lori LaDu
June 25, 2004

Fred Tibbitts & Associates Annual
“A Summer Evening in Beijing with Very Special Friends”

KEMPINSKI HOTEL BEIJING LUFTHANSA CENTER, JUNE 25, 2004

Beijing, PRC - The “First Annual Fred Tibbitts & Associates (FTA) Summer Evening in Beijing with very Special Friends” proved a memorable event for the fortunate few invited to this FTA spectacular, featuring a passionate performance by violin prodigy Siqing Lu.

All guests at the reception, held at the Kempinski Hotel Beijing, were formally introduced by a Mandarin Royal Court official and enjoyed the Gran Cru Champagne of A. R. Lenoble, courtesy of owner Antoine Malassagne. 

Guests were also treated to a private concert by one of the world’s top violinists, Siqing Lu and piano accompanist, Geng Yi.  They played “Why are the Flowers so Red” from Han Tiehua; “Sunshine in Tashikuergan” from Chen Gang; “Meditation” from Jules Massenet; and “Csardas” from Monti.  The musicians were thanked by a standing ovation, as guest, Mrs. John Vouillamoz presented flowers and toasted Siqing Lu.

The five-course dinner, prepared by Executive Sous-Chef Frank Zhang and his team, was preceded by Loyalty Toasts by, among others: Miguel Poklepovic, Charge d’ Affaires, Embassy of Chile;  Fan Guanyu, President of International Cooperation & Exhibition, China Hospitality Association; and Reinhold Jakobi, Charge de Missions, Chaine des Rotisseurs.

The wines with the dinner were artfully paired by Director of Food & Beverage Alvaro Rautenberg, with guests receiving first-hand commentaries on the wines from New Zealand by Greg Hay, General Manager of Peregrine Winery, and the wines from Italy by Francesco Luisi, Global Export Director for Casal Bordino.

The sponsors for the dinner included Casal Bordino, Ernest & Julio Gallo, IBM, Maxxium Beijing Ltd, Peregrine Winery and Southcorp Wines.

Fred Tibbitts announced that the 2004 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as a Humanitarian will be presented at the FTA Fall Dinner in Hong Kong on 29 October to Kevin Murphy, Senior Vice President-Development, Langham Hotels International.  A scholarship in his name will be awarded to an exceptional student for the Masters in Management Graduate Studies programme offered in Hong Kong by Australia’s Macquarie University in conjunction with the International College of Tourism and Hotel Management, Sydney. 

The 2004 FTA Literary Award for Excellence will be presented in Hong Kong to Steve Shellum, Publisher/Editor of Hotel Asia Pacific, and a scholarship in his name will be given to a worthy student at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong University.

Media correspondents attending the FTA Beijing Dinner included representatives of Life Styles, Beijing Weekly and Modern Weekly.

Fred Tibbitts & Associates - headed by President & CEO, Michael Charlton - is the pre-eminent global consultant and facilitator on wines and spirits to some of the world’s leading hotel and restaurant groups.  The company is based in New York.