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. |