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Media Contact: Lori LaDu
+1 (518)
426-0262
March 19, 2006
FTA Tenth
Annual
“A Spring Evening in New York with Very Special Friends”
New York, NY – In typical “who’s who,” New York City
tradition, the Tenth Annual Fred Tibbitts & Associates “A Spring Evening in New
York with Very Special Friends” at the elegant Kaplan Penthouse at Lincoln
Center on 14 March wowed the 160 fortunate few admitted to the FTA spectacular
announcement of Excellence Awards dinner.
The guests (Including the following: Owners, c.e.o.’s and
operational directors of world-renowned hotel and restaurant chains; industry
press; and FTA wine, beer, spirits and industry partners) were boldly announced
in style by an English gentleman and a pair of Julliard School trumpeters as
they stepped-off the elevator on the tenth floor of the Rose Building at The
Kaplan Penthouse, Lincoln Center.
The guests were summoned to dinner in the Kaplan Penthouse
and warmly welcomed by Fred Tibbitts, Jr., President & CEO. Then Master of
Ceremonies John Mauk Hilliard mounted the podium and called for the Ecumenical
prayers by Reformed, Episcopal, Jewish and Buddhist priests, followed by 16
Loyalty Toasts, given by distinguished Consul Generals, Society Presidents and
dignitaries in attendance.
Fred next presented Ganden Thurman, Executive Director of
Tibet House U.S. with a donation to benefit the work of the Ven. Pema Wangduk,
Director of the Palden Sakya Buddhist Center, where refugee Tibetan youth are
nourished and educated. Lama Pema, who gave the Buddhist blessing at the
dinner, also gratefully acknowledged the importance of this contribution to
their efforts.
Then it was onward for the announcement of the 2006
Tibbitts Hospitality Awards for Excellence. Fred Tibbitts recognized Roger
Taylor, Vice President of Food & Beverage, Columbia Sussex Corporation with the
FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an Operator, while Dick Cattani,
President-Managed Services, Restaurant Associates was announced by Dick Rivera,
Treasurer of the National Restaurant Association as being given the Lifetime
Award. Hotel Food & Beverage Executive was announced by Nicholas Hadgis, Vice
President of International CHRIE as receiving the Literary Award, while David
Teller, President & CEO of Beverage Metrics was named by Al Kaemmerlen of IBM to
be the recipient of the inaugural FTA Hospitality Award for Excellence as an IT
Innovator.
All four Award recipients will be presented at the FTA NYC
Fall Dinner with scholarship certificates in their names in the amount of
$5,000.00 each for deserving students studying the Culinary Arts or Hospitality
Management at Johnson & Wales University, The Culinary Institute of America or
the University of Delaware.
After earlier attending a “command performance” investor’s
dinner at the Palace Hotel in New York City, Ruth’s Chris Steak House President
and CEO and Chairman of the National Restaurant Association, Craig Miller,
joined the dinner and was promptly recognized by Fred Tibbitts with resounding
applause from the guests.
Harriet Lembeck, famed New York senior wine educator,
skillfully paired the wines and spoke to the guests as to how she arrived at
each decision.
Fred brought the dinner to a close by thanking one and all
and inviting everyone to the FTA NYC Fall Dinner at the Grand Hyatt New York on
Tuesday 14 November, at which time the Awards and scholarships will be
presented.
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Fred Tibbitts & Associates, led by Fred Tibbitts, President
& CEO and Founder, is the premier, global on-premise resource for National
Account beverage and edge concepts, serving some of the world’s leading hotel
and restaurant groups as well as brand owners.
The Company is based in New York.
WWW.FREDTIBBITTS.COM | 
