Showing posts with label Banquet Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Banquet Team. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 July 2012

Welcome to the Green World of Starwood!


Recently we held our Regional Vice President (RVP) Award night here at The Westin Mumbai Garden City. The theme for the evening was ‘GO GREEN’. The word ‘Green’ conjures up thoughts of the 3 R’s, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Green was not just the color of the day but it had a strong message which was communicated through various mediums. The theme was designed keeping in mind the objective of creating awareness about global warming and also to waste less energy. The stage was prepared by using old newspaper and sun board, the backdrop was made from used plastic bottles and the frame for the TV screen was prepared with egg containers.

The evening was dedicated to the environment. The red carpet, rather green carpet was lined with an environment poster and trees along the pathway. The stage came alive by the band Taal Inc. who performed with nothing but paint buckets, broomsticks, aluminum sheets, containers and plastic bottles as their instruments. The band’s performance was rhythmic which filled our banquet hall with an air of melody. Later in the evening, the Housekeeping team of The Westin Mumbai Garden City performed a drama and dance act of our beloved farmers. Associates were dressed as scarecrows and the picture below reveals all.

Post the performances, it was award time. Teams representing all Starwood brands were given awards for outstanding performances across all divisions. The eventful award ceremony ended with a mouth-watering buffet showcasing world cuisine. The cuisine served in the event was organically produced and served. From scrumptious starters to global delicacies to delectable desserts, the choices were endless. Those who love music and dance got an opportunity to shake a leg. A round of applause and standing ovation was given to our Food and Beverage, Culinary and Banquet teams for their effort and support in making the RVP Award night the most memorable event in the history of Starwood.


Starwood is a supporter of the go green initiative. As a global organization in the hospitality industry, Starwood has always encouraged their associates and guest to help in conserving energy and lot of focus is given on reduce, reuse and recycle. We at The Westin Mumbai Garden City, give guests a chance to be part of our go green initiative. We have a program by the name of ‘Make a Green Choice’ where guests have an option to decline housekeeping services and earn Starpoints. The response for this program has been extremely positive. Many people have opted for make a green choice. This shows that communities cares for Mother Earth and are happy to be part of Go Green. It’s our chance to be part of such programs, encourage others to do the same and make a green choice. 




















Tuesday, 3 July 2012

Dinner with Fred Tibbitts and Associates


Fred Tibbitts & Associates or “FTA” is a global social entrepreneurship, giving all profits to those less fortunate; and the leading global wine, spirits and related services consulting agency for National Account chain hotels and restaurants with offices at Bangkok, Thailand and Menands, New York, USA.

The Third Annual Fred Tibbitts & Associates “A Summer-Monsoon Evening in Mumbai with Very Special Friends” at The Westin Mumbai Garden City proved to be another memorable event. The reception was hosted by Phillips Foods Asia, which provided their finest Lump Crab Meat for many of Executive Chef Ajay Chopra’s marvelous canapés and hors d’ouvres.

The four-course gala dinner commenced with Fred Tibbitts welcoming the guests and asked that they consider “Service as the Highest Calling”.  Tibbitts explained that the primary purposes of the FTA dinners are to recognize hospitality excellence, provide scholarships in the names of those whom are honored and to make charitable contributions to benefit those less fortunate.

Tibbitts next asked The Venerable Acharya Gyaltsen, Executive Director, Pema Ts’al Monastic Schools at Mundgod & Nepal to take the podium to chant a Buddhist prayer in Tibetan and summarize it in English.

Following the dinner toasts, Tibbitts announced a donation of $500.00 USD from a portion of the dinner proceeds to UN-HABITAT (United Nations Human Settlements Program); and he then called to the podium The Venerable Acharya Gyaltsen, Executive Director, Pema Ts’al Monastic Schools at Mundgod & Nepal to present him with a donation of $500.00 USD from a portion of the dinner proceeds.

The Recipient of the 2012 FTA Hospitality Awards are as follow:
  • Lifetime Excellence - Julia Stewart, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, DineEquity, Inc. (Parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP Restaurants)
  • Excellence as an Operator - North America - Dan Hoffman, Director, Equipment Beverage Specifications, Global Operations Services Food & Beverage, Marriott International
  • Excellence as an Operator – Asia Pacific - A. Patrick Imbardelli, President & Chief Executive Officer, Pan Pacific Hotels Group
  • Excellence as an Executive Recruiter & Human Resources Leader - Benoit Gateau-Cumin, Chief Recruiting Officer, The Boutique Search Firm
  • Excellence as an IT Innovator - CLK CLK, Inc
  • Excellence as a Humanitarian - Dr. Joan Clos, MD, Under Secretary-General and Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT)
Following the Dessert Course, Tibbitts asked Lance Ourednik, General Manager, The Westin Mumbai Garden City to return to the podium to “Summon the Brigade”.  Ourednik’s summons was answered by a resplendent parade of the kitchen seniors who prepared the dinner, led by Chef De Cuisine, Amit Kumar Suri as well as the service staff led by Devendra Kushwaha, Manager, Kangan & Bars and the rest of the dinner service team. 


The dinner menu was artfully created by Executive Chef, Ajay Chopra and supervised by Chef De Cuisine Amit Kumar Suri.

To Start
Phillips Crab
Avocado| Papaya | Mint
Or
Tart
Goat cheese | Onion | Chive

The Main Event
Roulade
Milk Fed Lamb | Green Peas | Mustard Carrots
Or
Roulade
Milk Fed Lamb | Green Peas | Mustard Carrots

Selection of Cheeses
Manchego| Organic Ecorico Fig | Walnut
Red Leicester | Prune | Apricot Chutney
Baked Brie | Green Apple | Green Tea Compote

The Finish
Bitter Chocolate Cake | Hazelnut | Raspberry Tartar

Coffee & Tea

CNN provided each guest with a stylish dinner premium gift, while Luzerne provided the evening’s platinum show plates, which were afterwards placed in the beautiful Luzerne Signature Blue Gift Boxes and presented to each guest upon departure from the dinner.