Media Contact: Michelle Plew 12 March 2009 FRED TIBBITTS & ASSOCIATES THIRTEENTH ANNUAL “A Spring Evening in New York with Very Special Friends” Vanderbilt Suites, The MetLife Building, New York City, 10 March 2009 New York City – The Thirteenth Annual FTA “A Spring Evening in New York with Very Special Friends” at the new Vanderbilt Suites operated by the Patina Restaurant Group in The MetLife Building proved to be another memorable event for the one hundred plus guests, who included FTA 2009 honorees, hotel and restaurant senior executives, presidents, vice presidents, managing directors, industry VIP’s, industry press and sponsors.
The reception was trade show style, showcasing the products and services of the sponsors. All guests were formally announced. The four-course gala dinner brought Fred Tibbitts, Jr., President & CEO of Fred Tibbitts & Associates, Inc. to the podium, who welcomed the guests and within his opening remarks, urged one and all to “…be the Angel we seek.” Tibbitts then called for the ecumenical prayers by some of the most renowned clergy in America. The Reformed Grace by Rett Zabriskie, Dominie, The Holland Society of New York was one of wit and substance; while the Jewish Grace was said and sung with moving elegance by Cantor Zachary Mondrow; the Old Catholic Church in America Grace by Reverend Alexandra Honigsberg asked for global peace and unity; the Tibetan Buddhist Grace by the Venerable Lama Pema Wangdak was said and then chanted with deep abiding serenity in Tibetan. The eleven Loyalty Toasts by several of the dinner’s VIP’s, including Joe McInerney, President & CEO, American Hotel & Lodging Association; Dick Rivera, Immediate Past Chairman, National Restaurant Association; Peter Emmerson, Former President, Coach International; and Dick Cattani, President, Restaurant Associates challenged all Americans to work as one nation, undivided to overcome our unprecedented economic woes and that we must believe in a far better tomorrow: From some of New York’s most prestigious hereditary society leaders came challenges for us to rise to the occasion; and all culminating with the legendary “Knickerbocker Toast” by American poet laureate, John Blake. Fred Tibbitts announced that a portion of the dinner proceeds was being donated to Tibet House NY to benefit the work of the Vikramasila Foundation, which serves refugee Tibetan youths in India. The 2009 FTA Hospitality Awards for Excellence were announced as follows: 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Literary Excellence HOTELS magazine To be accepted by Jeffrey Weinstein Editor-in-Chief 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an IT Innovator IBM Retail Store Solutions Acknowledged by Ted Clark To be accepted by Alan Outlaw 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator – North America Fernando Salazar Vice President of Food & Beverage Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator – Asia Pacific Martin Jones Managing Director – Food & Beverage Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Lifetime Excellence Michael Kaufman Co-President Envo Restaurant Ventures LLC 2009 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as a Humanitarian Professor Poon Chung-kwong President Emeritus The Hong Kong Polytechnic University The 2009 FTA Hospitality Awards for Excellence will be presented along with scholarships in the names of those whom we honor for those based in Asia Pacific at Hong Kong on 22 October and for those based in North America at New York City on 10 November. The menu was superbly crafted by Franck Deletrain, Supervising Chef, Patina Restaurant Group; the wines were artfully paired by famed New York wine educator, Harriet Lembeck; and the event was personally supervised by Patina Restaurant Group Director of Catering, Sharon Colabello. Phillips Foods provided the crab for many of the hors d’oeuvre at the Reception as well as the First Course Crab Cake with Grain Mustard Sauce and Crispy Beets at Dinner. Peter Wyss, Vice President of Operations, Patina Restaurant Group summoned the Brigade including Chefs Franck Deletrain, Supervising Chef, Patina Restaurant Group; Fred Darenius, Chef de Cuisine, Café Centro; and Chris DeLuna, Executive Chef, Naples 45. Fred Tibbitts & Associates is the leading global wine, spirits and related services consulting agency for National Account chain hotels, restaurants and event management, based at Menands, New York and Bangkok, Thailand. |