Media Contact: Lori LaDu
10 April 2003-04-18

FTA Second Annual Spring Evening in Singapore with Special Friends

RAFFLES, SINGAPORE, APRIL 10^TH 2003

Singapore –The “Second Annual Fred Tibbitts & Associates Spring Evening in Singapore with Special Friends” proved to be another memorable event for the lucky invitees, which included ambassadors, hotel presidents, CEOs and GMs, industry press and wine partners.

The reception was sponsored by Moet-Hennessy Asia-Pacific, and featured Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial with Singapore Sling Ices for the more adventurous guests. All guests were formally announced by Raffles' imposing doorman, dress impeccably as a traditional Darban of the courtyard. This same doorman, incidentally, had escorted Raffles International President and CEO Jennie Chua when she was deemed Corporate Hotelier of the Year by Hotels Magazine in 1997.

The four-course dinner was preceded by a Christian and a Buddhist prayer. The prayers were immediately followed by ten Loyalty Toasts, led by the Ambassador of Switzerland, His Excellency Daniel Woker. Dinner was prepared by Raffles Executive Chef Jean Paul Naquin. Each course was served with wines personally chosen by Fred Tibbitts, representing labels from Australia, California, Chile and Argentina. The wines were expertly paired with the extravagant menu by Nikheel Advani, Executive Assistant Manager, Raffles Hotel.

Fred Tibbitts announced that the 2003 FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as a Humanitarian, which will be presented at the FTA Fall Dinner in Hong Kong to Professor Kaye Chon, Ph.D, Chair Professor and Head, School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. A scholarship in his name will be awarded to an exceptional student of Hotel Management at Johnson and Wales University. The 2003 FTA Literary Award for Excellence will be presented at the FTA Fall Dinner in New York City to Mary Gostelow, President, Gostelow Report and a scholarship in her name will be given to another worthy student of the Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University.

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

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