Cook Book Café

Michel Gehrig Named Executive Chef of Las Ventanas al Paraiso

LOS CABOS, Baja California, Mexico, August 12, 2004 - Las Ventanas al Paraiso, a Rosewood Resort, has named consummate culinary professional Michel Gehrig the Executive Chef of the acclaimed Five-Diamond property in Los Cabos, announced Managing Director Luis Fernandes. "It's very exciting to have a new Executive Chef who is a star on the international culinary stage and bringing his demonstrated professionalism and delectable creativity to Las Ventanas," said Fernandes.

Chef Gehrig is overseeing all the dining options at Las Ventanas. They include The Restaurant, where he is planning new dishes and enhancements for the signature Baja-Mediterranean Cuisine, emphasizing Baja's distinctive, abundant seafood and incredible cornucopia of produce; the Sea Grill, where Gehrig will add new touches to the Contemporary Mexican menu featuring grilled meats and fish; the Tequila & Ceviche Bar, with new additions to the extensive list of ceviche and fine tequilas; and the 24-hour suite service, which will be enhanced.

Gehrig is a Swiss native with 16 years of hospitality experience who has held the position of Executive Chef at Five Star hotels in Switzerland, the United Kingdom and South Africa.

He comes to Las Ventanas from the Kempinski Grand Hotel Des Bains, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where he had been Executive Chef for two years. Previously, he was Executive Chef at a string of Hilton International properties : The Trafalgar (London), The Cardiff Hilton, The Belfast Hilton, and The Durban Hilton. In London, Cardiff and Belfast, he opened the hotels and set up the opening standards and menus. Before Hilton International, he was Executive Chef of The Palace of the Lost City in Sun City. He also served as Executive Chef and a member of the opening management team of the Institute of Hotel and Tourism Management, a hotel management school in Mmabatho, South Africa, and as a kitchen instructor/lecturer at the Hotel Fachschule Belvoirpark, the Swiss hotel management school in Zurich.

Dramatically located at the tip of Mexico's Baja Peninsula, nestled on fine white sands along the sparkling-blue Sea of Cortez, Las Ventanas has set new standards for luxury and service in Latin America since it opened in July 1997. The resort has redefined luxury and pampering, reaching out with special touches that are the hallmark of refined hospitality.

Las Ventanas features: 61 exceptionally spacious suites with exquisite furnishings, unique appointments hand-crafted by Mexican artisans, individual telescopes for stargazing, and magnificent panoramic views; an avant-garde spa known for its signature treatments derived from the biological bounty of the Baja desert and its extensive menu of therapies from around the world; signature Baja-Mediterranean cuisine, served only at Las Ventanas, inspired by the region's abundant natural resources; a Tequila & Ceviche Bar featuring Mexico's finest tequilas and most diverse ceviche menu; world-class golf at private Querencia Golf Course; and an internationally recognized tennis program.

For Las Ventanas reservations, call 888-ROSEWOOD (888-767-3966); from outside the United States and Canada, call the resort directly at 52-624-144-2800.

Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts manages properties worldwide including The Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, The Carlyle in New York, Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos, Mexico, Hotel Seiyo Ginza in Tokyo, Japan, The Dharmawangsa, Jakarta, Indonesia, and a triumvirate of world-class Caribbean properties Little Dix Bay on Virgin Gorda, Caneel Bay on St. John and Jumby Bay on Antigua. For information on Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, call 888-ROSEWOOD, or log on to www.rosewoodhotels.com.

InterContinental London Park Lane is currently undergoing a multi-million pound restoration. Opened in November 2006, the hotel reveals elegant guest rooms and spectacular suites, Theo Randall at The InterContinental, contemporary event space and an urban city spa. With a passionate team and an intelligent service culture, we will offer our guests authentic and exciting experiences in the heart of one of the world's greatest cities - London!

Media Contact: Marian Gerlich/Ed Placidi Email: pgworld@aol.com

Intercontinental
London Park Lane
One Hamilton Place
Park Lane
London
W1J 7QY

Tel No: 0207 409 3131
Fax: 0207 493 3476
Email: michel.gehrig@ichotelsgroup.com
Web: www.intercontinental.com