Media Contact: Fred Tibbitts, Jr.
4 April 2012

FRED TIBBITTS & ASSOCIATES FIRST ANNUAL
"A Spring Evening in Shenzhen with Very Special Friends"
Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen 2012

Shenzhen – The First Annual FTA “A Spring Evening in Shenzhen with Very Special Friends” at the Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen proved to be another memorable event for the fifty-two guests, who included hotel senior executives, industry VIP’s, educators, industry press and sponsors.

The reception was trade show style, showcasing the products and services of the sponsors.  All guests were formally announced by Keir MacPherson, Director of Rooms, Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen and gonged by Chris Liang, Service Leader of Banquet, Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen. 

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 do more for those less fortunate.

The eleven Loyalty Toasts by several of the dinner’s VIP’s, including Emil Leung, General Manager, Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen; Edouard Duval, Chief Executive Officer, East Meets West Fine Wines; David Chan, General Manager, Grand Hyatt Guangzhou; Philip Dewar, General Manager, Shangri-La Hotel, Shenzhen; Timothy Driscoll, General Manager, The Westin Shenzhen; Torsten Dressler, General Manager, Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen, Christoph Travniczek, Executive Assistant Manager, The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen; Jasper Wen, Business Development Manager, New Western Cuisine Magazine; Jake Jacob, Regional Director, Asia Pacific, Gerard Bertrand Wines; Kevin King, Managing Director-China, Micros Financial Services; and Caroline Sheng, Director, Corporate Accounts, P.R.C., Ecolab.

Fred Tibbitts then announced that FTA was making a donation of USD$500.00 each to UNICEF China and UN-HABITAT from a portion of the dinner proceeds.

The 2012 FTA Hospitality Awards for Excellence were announced as follows:
 

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Lifetime Excellence
Julia Stewart, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, DineEquity, Inc.
(Parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants) 

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator – North America
Dan Hoffman, Director, Equipment & Beverage Specifications
Global Operations Services Food & Beverage, Marriott International
Recognition Accepted by
Luke Elder, Executive Chef, The Ritz-Carlton Shenzhen

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator – Asia Pacific
A. Patrick Imbardelli, President & Chief Executive Officer
Pan Pacific Hotels Group

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Executive Recruiter &
Human Resources Leader
Benoit Gateau-Cumin, Chief Recruiting Officer,
The Boutique Search Firm

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an IT Innovator
CLKclk, Inc.
Recognition Accepted by
Annalee Kruger, Vice President, Business Improvement Districts, CLKclk, Inc.

2012 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as a Humanitarian
Dr. Joan Clos, MD
Under Secretary-General and Executive Director
United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT)

The 2012 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 9 October at The Langham, Hong Kong and for those based in North America at New York City at The MetLife Building in The Vanderbilt Suites on 13 November.

At the close of the dinner, Emil Leung, General Manager, Futian Shangri-La, Shenzhen came to the stage and Summond the Brigade: His call was answered smartly by the Parade of the Kitchen Brigade, led by Executive Chef, Matthew Bennink and the Parade of the Service Brigade, led by Director of Food & Beverage, Bechara Sader.  The Brigades then assembled on stage around Leung for multiple group photos to commemorate this very special occasion for the hospitality community at Shenzhen, China.

The menu was superbly crafted and the dinner skillfully prepared by Executive Chef, Matthew Bennink; while the wines were artfully paired by famed New York wine educator, Harriet Lembeck, CEO, Wine & Spirits Program.

Fred Tibbitts & Associates is a social entrepreneurship and the leading global wine, spirits and related services consulting agency for National Account chain hotels, restaurants and event management companies, based at Menands, New York and Bangkok, Thailand.

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Download high-resolutions versions of the photos below by
downloading the full set here: 12shenspring_mediapics.zip