Beijing, China (December 09, 2011) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Former NBA All-­Star forward Jamal Mashburn will host the basketball tournament. Known in his NBA playing days as "Monster Mash", Mr. Mashburn will be active throughout the day participating in basketball clinics, mentoring the student/athletes throughout the event and games as well as greeting those in attendance. "I am impressed with the concept of the event, the student/athletes and overall project. This event shows just what can happen when young people from China and the United States work together, and shows the value of the work being done through the Booey Lehoo festival to support the 100,000 Strong Initiative," remarked Mashburn.

Assisting "Mash" in the basketball activities will be Ma Jian, former Chinese basketball star and NBA analyst for sina.com, along with Tom McCarthy, Boston Celtics (NBA) Asian scout & chairman of Beijing International Group (BIG), and Jim Nelson, former NCAA (USA) star at Boston College & present athletic director of Suffolk University (Boston) along with local high school coaches.

The 8 Boston (USA), 8 WAB high school student/athletes and 16 Chinese high school student/athletes from Beijing will join together to form 8 "Friendship Teams" to compete for the "Jackie Chan Cup", a trophy donated by the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation Beijing (JCCF), which is a partner in the Booey Lehoo Arts Week and Concert with Americans Promoting Study Abroad (APSA).

The week culminates in a star-­studded concert on December 17th headlined by 7-time Grammy-­Winner will.i.am. The concert, held at the National Indoor Stadium in Beijing on December 17, will also include performances by Shunza, John Legend, CoCo Lee (invited), apl.de.ap, and Sa Dingding. The show will celebrate and support U.S.-­China educational and cultural exchange and promote the 100,000 Strong Initiative. Tickets are available through www.booeylehoo.com.

Motorola is a key sponsor for the Booey Lehoo Arts Weeks and Concert. Peak is sponsoring the official event gear. Beijing International Group (BIG) is coordinating the City of Boston Mayor's Office & Boston Public School participation as well as teaming with APSA on event management for the tournament and clinic.

Working Together for a Brighter Future
The Booey Lehoo Arts Week and Concert, organized by APSA and its Chinese partners with support from JCCF, aims to raise awareness of the 100,000 Strong Initiative, an initiative announced by President Obama in 2009 and launched by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2010 to dramatically increase the numbers of US students coming to China to study. APSA works to provide study opportunities for high school students from underserved communities. APSA co-­founder Mike Dardzinski, providing his perspective commented: "It's just great to see young people from our two great countries pooling their talent for a good cause, and the event shows that if we work together, the future of the world in the 21st century is in safe hands. We are very excited about all of the Booey Lehoo events, and are committed to giving study exchange opportunities to the largest possible number of high school students."

A Week of Excitement and Building Friendships
Bringing the exciting week of activities to a smashing conclusion will be the December 17 concert featuring American music superstars will.i.am, apl.de.ap and John Legend performing with Chinese superstars Shunza and Sa Dingding in individual, duet and collaboration arrangements. The concert will take place at the National Indoor Stadium.

There is something for everyone throughout the Booey Lehoo Arts Week as fans can enjoy dance, classical music, literary activities as well as a special evening of blues and jazz straight from the Windy City, Chicago, IL.

To add to the seasonal spirit of giving, the Boston students will participate in a Community Service Day with other APSA student ambassadors at a local Beijing school.

Further details on the Booey Lehoo Arts Week & Concert, as well as ticket information are provided at www.booeylehoo.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• APSA
  David Mitchell
  david.mitchell@hillandknowlton.com.cn
  tel: (86 10) 5861 7585

  Sindy Zhang
  sindy.zhang@hillandknowlton.com.cn
  tel: (86 10) 5861 7540
  

The hotel is devoted to a pure artistry hotel that will appeal to discerning business or leisure travelers seeking style as well as comfort and convenience.

Radisson Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading, full-service hotel brands, offers vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality that is defined by its distinctive "Yes I Can!" service philosophy. Radisson includes more than 415 locations in 72 countries. It is part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, a leading global hotel company with more than 1,050 locations in 77 countries under the brands of Regent Hotels & Resorts; Radisson Hotels & Resorts; Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Park Inn.

In Asia Pacific, Carlson Hotels Worldwide is fast expanding its portfolio of hotels. It currently has more than 120 hotels in operation and under development and close to 22,000 rooms in 14 countries. With regional headquarters in Singapore, it is supported by reservations, sales, operations and development offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Delhi and Sydney.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For information, please contact:
  Lily Yao
  Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park
  Tel: + 86 21 5130 0000 ext. 6017
  Mail:lyao@radisson.com

Coming in #6 in the 'Top 25 hotels in China' list, Pan Pacific Xiamen, which opened in August 2009, is setting new standards in the city and raising the bar for service excellence. To be the only hotel in Xiamen and the Fujian Province to win this award marks a great triumph for the hotel's team. In addition, Pan Pacific Seattle was also honoured amongst the 'Top 25 Hotels in the United States', coming in at #13 in the list.

Now in its eighth year, the annual Travelers' Choice Awards are the only hotel awards based on the real and unbiased reviews and opinions from millions of travelers on tripadvisor.com and across the web. Travelers worldwide are recognizing hotels for their outstanding service, value and quality to decide the 'best of the best' in travel.

"We are delighted to receive this customer feedback generated award," said Rudy Rodas, General Manager of Pan Pacific Xiamen. "This recognition has been made possible through the efforts of our associates and we are encouraged to continue to create value for guests through our commitment to personalized service and genuine care. In addition, with the recent opening of Pan Pacific Suzhou in January 2010, we will continue to bring the renowned Pan Pacific experience to more guests in China."

More information please go to:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoiceList-g294211-cTop25.

About tripadvisor.com
TripAdvisor-branded sites alone make up the most popular and largest travel community in the world, with more than 25 million unique monthly visitors, 15 million members, and more than 30 million reviews and opinions.

Featuring real advice from real travelers, TripAdvisor-branded sites cover 500,000 hotels and attractions and operate in the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Japan, Portugal and Brazil, Sweden, The Netherlands ,Canada and China.

Collectively, the sites comprising the TripAdvisor Media Network have won hundreds of awards and accolades from press and industry, worldwide.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Chris Li/Marketing Communication Manager
  Pan Pacific Xiamen
  T: +86 592 507 8888 ext. 1810
  F: + 86 592 507 8899
  Mail:chris.li@panpacific.com
  

On the first day, PR managers had a joint meeting with Regional DOSM's to discuss "How PR can support Sales and Marketing", meanwhile Mr. Rene Schmitt, President of China introduced the Development of Kempinski and NUO Brands in China.

During the open discussion of PR managers in the afternoon, managers discussed several PR topics including Chinese Government Relations, Creativeness in PR and Crisis Management. Additionally, to ensure we learned from each other, PR managers shared successful PR activities in their hotels. On the second day, the workshops had been set up to meet with media. More than 60 journalists from Beijing came to meet with our PR managers. Both journalists and PR managers were relishing the opportunity to meet to better understand each other's needs and how they could work together in the future as well as better understanding each other's brands. For the majority of journalists, this was the first time to meet the PR managers from Kempinski hotels outside of Beijing. At the same time, some interviews had been arranged during the meeting and journalists were invited to interview DOSM's during the lunch and dinner time.

Overall, the event was a great success and built an excellent foundation for a strong start to the year for Kempinski Hotels in China!

About Kempinski:

The Kempinski name is proudly borne by a growing collection of distinguished properties around the world. Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, Kempinski has built its reputation on the belief that exclusivity and individuality are key elements of true luxury. Each year, an increasing number of guests come to appreciate these qualities, as Kempinski adds new hotels and resorts in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. While this growth reflects the strength and success of the Kempinski brand, the collection will remain a limited one, where exclusivity can be nurtured and individuality can flourish.

To book or for further information visit:www.kempinski.com/www.globalhotelalliance.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Jane Ji/Regional Director of PR/Kempinski China
  No. 50 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100125 P.R.China
  Tel:+86 10 8454 3088
  Fax:+86 10 8454 0388
  Mail:Jane.ji@kempinski.com
  Web:www.kempinski.com

ISO 22000 refers to the internationally recognised standard for food safety management systems and quality food safety principles for organisations operating within the food supply chain. HACCP employs internationally recognised standard principles for food safety risk analysis as well as the identification, evaluation and control of hazards considered significant for food safety. For hotel kitchens, these principles involve an entire range of activities, from food purchasing to storage and food preparation while also requiring extensive staff training and coordination from other hotel departments such as engineering and food and beverage service operations.

"The issue of food safety has been making headlines around the world with increasing frequency. Therefore, it is becoming imperative for organisations such as China World Hotel to prioritise food safety for our hotel guests and employees. With previous HACCP certification, China World Hotel moved one step closer to achieving internationally recognised principles for food safety. Now, with ISO 22000-certification for the entire kitchen team, China World Hotel fully demonstrates its ongoing commitment in giving priority to the safety of hotel guests and employees", said John Rice, general manager of China World Hotel, Beijing.

As part of the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts group, China World Hotel, Beijing is compliant with the group's food safety management requirements, with its entire kitchen team having successfully completed training and certification through the Shangri-La Food Safety Management System.

The international founding members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission first pioneered the principles and processes for food safety hazard analysis. The commission eventually developed the principles for HACCP, which currently form the foundation of all global food safety standards. Moody International, a leading global supplier of management system certification, technical and inspection services, product certification and technical training, was one of the first organisations to take these principles and develop a formal globally recognised certification standard.

Hailed as one of the first three hotels in mainland China to be awarded with a Platinum Five Star rating by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), China World Hotel, Beijing was also named by both Conde Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure on its lists as one of the world's best hotels, making it the leading address for discerning travellers visiting China's capital city. The award-winning hotel, with its highly acclaimed restaurants, soars over the China World Trade Centre complex, including the China World Exhibition Centre and shopping mall, in the heart of Beijing's diplomatic and business district.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, signed a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy into effect in 2007 and launched a two year development strategy to enhance its existing CSR activities. A corporate CSR committee, spearheaded by the group's chief operating officer, guides fulfilment of the group's responsibilities in the five key areas of the environment, employees and the community, health and safety, supply chain management and stakeholder relations. For more information, please access the CSR section on the group's website at www.shangri-la.com.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently owns and/or manages 65 hotels under the Shangri-La and Traders brands with a rooms inventory of over 28,000. Shangri-La hotels are five-star deluxe properties featuring extensive luxury facilities and services. Shangri-La hotels are located in Australia, Canada, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Philippines, Singapore, Sultanate of Oman, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. The group has over 40 projects under development in Austria, Canada, mainland China, France, India, Macau, Philippines, Qatar, Seychelles, United Kingdom and the United States. For more information or reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at www.shangri-la.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• PRESS CONTACT:
  Diane Fermin (Director of Communications)
  China World Hotel, Beijing
  Tel: (86-10) 6505-2266
  Fax: (86-10) 6505-3165
  Email: diane.fermin@shangri-la.com
  Website: www.shangri-la.com

After successfully holding the reigns for the last three years at the Hotel Adlon Kempinski in Berlin, Stephan will take on his next challenge in China, where he will oversee the major renovation and repositioning of the Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center.

Having been in the hospitality industry for well over 30 years, Stephan brings with him a wealth of experience. A true hotelier, he has managed some of Kempinski's finest properties including the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Kempinski Vier Jahreszeiten Munich and most recently the Hotel Adlon Kempinski Berlin.

His quest for impeccable service quality is sure to take the prestigious Beijing property from Good to Best. A German national, he speaks fluent German and English as well as some French. Furthermore, Stephan graduated with a MBA in 2000.

About Kempinski Hotel Beijing:

Kempinski is Europe's longest established international hotel collection, made up of over 60 individualistic and stylish properties. Each hotel offers legendary hospitality with European flair, which reflects local trends and tradition. The perfect mix of luxury, convenience and cultural diversity – all under one roof – can be found in the award winning Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center, which is located in the heart of Beijing's diplomatic and business district.

With 526 well-appointed guestrooms and suites, 8 fully equipped banqueting facilities and 7 stylish and authentic restaurants and bars, Kempinski Hotel Beijing offers European style service for both leisure and business guests from around the world.

Beijing, China (December 16, 2009) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — In the wake of its sixth success in hosting an US president, The St. Regis Beijing launched today the Presidential Experience – an exclusive representation to relive the exceptional experience of presidents, dignitaries and high level executives through the hotel's luxuriously appointed facilities and legendary services. The St. Regis Beijing is one of the finest hotels in Asia with a history of hosting more than 20 presidents and royal families from every continent of the globe for over 100 visits throughout its 12 years of operation. This rich heritage recently was continued with the latest visit of the US president.

Guests who choose the Presidential Experience will reside in the unique Presidential Suite for three days and two nights. Located on the top floor of the property, the flat mansion with a size of over 200 square meters is a convergence of European opulent residential essence and Chinese traditional inspiration. Refined furniture and fixtures inspired by royal collections, supreme quality fabrics and linen cherishing the touch feeling, as well as a professional grade AV system and China's only intellectual guestroom control system enrich the uniqueness of the experience.

Relishing a true scene of presidential lifestyle, travelling by air our guests will begin their experience by being greeted by our Airport Butler at their arrival gate after disembarking at Beijing Capital Airport or at their Beijing residence. They will be escorted to an awaiting Mercedes Benz C Class limousine expertly helmed by gracious chauffeurs.

As the guest settles into the Presidential Suite ornamented with lavish floral, they are pampered by the personalized attention of the signature St. Regis Butler, who will gladly unpack their luggage while the guests sipping on selective greeting champagne with delicacy canapés. Immersed in the only downtown natural hot spring spa, the guests are relieved of the stress of travel through a re-energizing travel massage. In the evening, the guests may enjoy candle light dinners at either the Italian signature restaurant Danieli's, at Astor Grill, an American original or at the traditional Celestial Court offering Cantonese specialities. They might also opt for a very private dinner affair served exclusively in the Suite's dinning room.

Wake up to the caress of gentle aromas of breakfast with a fresh breakfast served by personal butler, the guests continue exploring the Experience with an escape to a historical discovery of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall complemented by your personal guide and private limousine transfers as well as opportunities to enjoy a sporty afternoon guided by your private coach of fitness, Yoga, Tai Chi, Squash or Basketball. An agreeable bath incorporating Bvlgari amenity in the bubbling jacuzzi with a bird's eye view of Chang An Avenue is enhanced with the full open bar with hotel house brands.

The Presidential Experience is available during December 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2010 at the exclusive rate of CNY 99,999 for the entire stay.

About The St. Regis Beijing
The St. Regis Beijing, one of the finest hotels in Asia, is positioned at the most upscale market, exemplifying luxury, elegance, and bespoke service.

It is the first St. Regis hotel to open in Asia Pacific region, introducing brand signatory 24hr butler service to every single guest. Based on rich heritage of St. Regis, The St. Regis Beijing again spearheaded new innovation to China market with the country's first guest room intelligent control system, IP phone, bath room vanishing TV while it re-launched in July 2008 after a $27 million renovation. And as lineage of the aristocratic brand, the 258-room hotel, of which 102 are suites, continues with opulent residential feel in its room style.

Over its 12 years operation, The St. Regis Beijing has collected accolades with a long list of awards. It is the only hotel in China ranking one of the top hotels on Condé Nast Traveller's Gold List for past 7 consecutive years.

For more hotel information, please visit STREGIS.COM/BEIJING

Millennium Hotels and Resorts' China hotels are strategically located in key cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xiamen, Wuxi and Qingdao. The group's sixth hotel, Millennium Hotel Chengdu is scheduled to open in January 2010.

"We are indeed extremely proud to receive this award and I'm honoured to accept it on behalf of the group and all our hotels in China. We remain committed to our philosophy of genuine hospitality and take pride in meeting and exceeding the needs of our guests through exceptional customer service and outstanding guest experience," says Mr Charles Lai, Vice President – Sales & Marketing Greater China, Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

During the forum, Mr Lai made a thoughtful presentation on "New Opportunities for Hotel Investment in China", and also made a brief introduction to the group's newest hotel brand, Studio M, which is scheduled to open in Singapore in April 2010. A modern refuge for a new generation of savvy business and leisure travellers, Studio M, epitomises chic and elegant living.

The 2009 International Hotel Group Excellence Award is Millennium Hotels and Resorts's first award in China.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts was established as a international hotel brand by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc to provide a common marketing and operating platform across its entire portfolio. One of the world's largest owned and managed hotel groups, this dynamic hospitality group operates a portfolio of more than 100 hotels worldwide, managing its network of properties through four key global brands: Grand Millennium, Millennium, Copthorne and Kingsgate.

Grand Millennium hotels epitomise the very best in elegance and luxury with outstanding décor, world class facilities and the ultimate in personalised, gracious service. Situated in landmark locations across major gateway cities around the world, Millennium hotels have been created with timeless elegance, and are famed for their conference and banqueting offerings. Now firmly established as a true global brand, the iconic Copthorne hotels are recognised worldwide as the preferred choice for business and leisure travellers alike. With a fine reputation for the warmth of its service and their premium locations, our Kingsgate range is expanding across the world.

Beijing, China (December 11, 2009) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — Henk Meyknecht, Area General Manager for China, has been awarded by the World Hotel Association as "Top Ten Hoteliers in China 2009".

The World Hotel Association consists of several professional organizations within the Tourism and Hotel industry such as Travel Channel, Asian Council of America and World Hotel Branding Association. They elect on an annual basis outstanding professionals for their contribution to the regional hotel industry.

The award ceremony took place in November 2009 in Haikou, Hainan island, China.

Henk Meyknecht upon receiving this award: "This is not only a great recognition for our hard work, but also for the growing Marco Polo brand in China".

Marco Polo Hotels has currently 5 properties in China (Beijing, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Wuhan, and Jinjiang) and projecting an aggressive growth during the next few years.

Henk Meyknecht, was recently promoted to Area General Manager of Marco Polo Hotels China, as well as being the General Manager of the Marco Polo Parkside Hotel in Beijing.

On the picture: Henk Meyknecht surrounded by the management team at Marco Polo Parkside Beijing.

Marco Polo Parkside enjoys a great location, just minutes away from major conference and exhibition facilities. It is simply a short walk to the world famous Olympic National stadium and the Water Cube center. With a contemporary style, this refined Marco Polo Hotels enjoys a grand yet cozy surrounding, offering a wide range of restaurants and banquet facilities. 315 oversized and luxurious rooms and suites come with marble bathrooms and state-of-the-art internet systems. The modern fitness centre, indoor pool and Spa will complement the ambiance as a perfect choice in Beijing.

The hotel celebrating the yuletide season and holiday traditions by taking you to a journey further from your imagination, in hopes of maximizing a Christmas fantasy. With visions of candles floating under the twinkling lights and soft snowflake flying through the air bringing the season of giving and goodwill to all.

The hotel invited pupils from Yang Dong Migrant Primary School as part of its community support programme to celebrate the event. The pupils performed elaborate festive songs and dance to show their sincere appreciation to the hotel for its continued support.

The hotel also invited one famous Chinese Oil Painting artist who exhibits her stunning and thought provoking artworks throughout the hotel as part of the hotel's ongoing art programme. The commissioned artworks successfully fuses with the fascinating Christmas decorations and created a great visual effect around the hotel.

Pictured are the puplis shared a happy moment with the hotel management team.

Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, one of the world's leading, full-service hotel brands, offers vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality that is defined by its distinctive "Yes I Can!" service philosophy. Radisson includes more than 415 locations in 72 countries. It is part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, a leading global hotel company with more than 1,050 locations in 77 countries under the brands of Regent® Hotels & Resorts; Radisson® Hotels & Resorts; Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts; Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Park Inn®.

In Asia Pacific, Carlson Hotels Worldwide is fast expanding its portfolio of hotels. It currently has more than 120 hotels in operation and under development and close to 22,000 rooms in 14 countries. With regional headquarters in Singapore, it is supported by reservations, sales, operations and development offices in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, New Delhi and Sydney.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• For information, please contact:
  Lily Yao
  Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park
  Tel: + 86 21 5130 0000 ext. 6017
  lyao@radisson.com

Assumed his office as General Manager of the The St. Regis Beijing early this month, Mr. Stray made his debut to media by addressing the event of the St. Regis brand and the hotel's enduring heritage. Experience on hosting the US delegation in its recent visit to Beijing was also shared upon requests.

At the event, The St. Regis Beijing also made advance briefing on the launch of "Presidential Experience" – an exclusive arrangement to relive the experience of presidents, dignitaries and high level executives by offering Presidential accommodation, gate to gate transportation and private escorted trip to Forbidden City and the Great Wall as some of the many features.

Media were also invited to a Presidential Suite tour during the day.

(Mr. Yngvar Stray, Norwegian, joined Starwood in 1998, initially as Director of Sales & Marketing, and subsequently promoted to Hotel Manager at the The St. Regis Beijing. His appointment as General Manger started with Sheraton Shenyang Lido Hotel and then W Seoul Walkerhill. Before his return to Beijing, he was the General Manger of The St. Regis Singapore, where he took the lead in hosting President Hu Jintao during his APEC trip.)

About The St. Regis Beijing

The St. Regis Beijing, one of the finest hotels in Asia, is positioned at the most upscale market, exemplifying luxury, elegance, and bespoke service.

It was the first St. Regis to open in Asia Pacific region, introducing brand signatory 24hrs butler service to every single guest. Based on rich heritage of St. Regis, The St. Regis Beijing again spearheaded new innovation to China market with the country's first guest room intelligent control system, IP phone, bath room vanishing TV with its re-launch in July 2008 after a $27 million renovation. And as lineage of the aristocratic brand, the 258-room hotel, of which 102 are suites, continues with the opulent residential feel in its room style.

Over its 12 years operation, The St. Regis Beijing has collected accolades with a long list of awards. It is the only hotel in China ranking one of the top hotels on Condé Nast Traveller's Gold List for past 7 consecutive years.

For more hotel information, please visit stregis.com/beijing

Beijing, China (November 09, 2009) /ChinaNewswire.com/ — On the 5 November 2009 the Westin Beijing Financial Street once again hosted its annual 'HATS OFF' culinary event to rave reviews. A spectacular evening that left guests in awe of an amazing culinary experience, the 2009 'HATS OFF' event saw four internationally renowned award-winning chefs exhibit their talents in a one time only exquisite eight course menu at The Westin Beijing Financial Street. "I have been to many food and beverage events this year, but 'hats off' by Westin Financial Street has taken the dining experience to another level" says one food connoisseur.

The Treasury Ballroom became a beautiful backdrop to the four international culinary heavy weights: two star Michelin Chef Alvin Leung one of the most creative chefs in Asia, 2010 Australian Chef of The Year Mark Best, Peter Kuruvita – awarded one hat by the prestigious Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and The Westin Beijing Financial Street's very own award winning Canadian Chef, Stephane Tremblay.  

Renowned for his unique 'X-treme Chinese' cuisine, Alvin Leung takes traditional Chinese recipes and blends modern ingredients and cooking techniques. His restaurant Bo Innovation in Hong Kong is the only independent restaurant to win two Michelin Stars by the coveted Michelin guide.

Currently the most buzzed about chef and restaurant in Sydney Australia Mark Best most recently won Chef of The Year at the 2010 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards. His restaurant Marque was awarded three hats by the prestigious Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide in 2009 and 2010, Restaurant of the Year 2009 by Timeout Sydney and most recently ranked number two in the Gourmet Traveller's 2010 Top 100 Restaurant Awards.

Peter Kuruvita gained much of his culinary style and passion during his childhood from watching his grandmother prepare ancient family recipes. His impressive restaurant Flying Fish in Sydney Australia was awarded one hat by the 2010 Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards for its culinary creativity and idyllic ambience. Peter has graced prestigious restaurants in London, USA, Fiji, Lord Howe, Hayman Islands, and Bali.

Executive Chef Stephane Tremblay of The Westin Beijing Financial Street gained his extensive culinary experience from prestigious five star hotels in France, Canada, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

Westin Hotels & Resorts, with 122 hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories, is owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and was voted the number one upper-upscale hotel brand for three years in Business Travel News' "Annual U.S. Hotel Chain Survey".

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 950 properties in more than 95 countries and 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood® Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced aloftSM and ELEMENTSM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

• Media Contact:
  Alethea Lam
  Director of Marketing Communications
  Vivian Yu
  Marketing Communications Manager
  Tel: (86) 10 6606 8866
  Fax: (86) 10 6606 7525
  Email: alethea.lam@westin.com
  vivian.yu@westin.com

The main objective of this competition was to build and strengthen the "Gloria Family Culture" and to reinforce the sense of belonging to Gloria Hotels & Resorts. The competition's panel of judges was constituted of Mr. Guo Fangming, renowned Makeup Artist of GIVENCHY in China, Professor Wang Shian of Suzhou University Music Department and Miss Yan Yafen, well-known Actress of Suzhou Kunqu Theater. Suzhou famous TV host, Mr. Wei Jie and Miss Xu Li were invited to preside the event.

Competition was staged in three categories i.e. cheongsam, talent, and evening gown. All the candidates won the warm applause but also offered guests a magnificent visual feast through their brilliant performances.

The Results of the Second Miss Gloria Ambassador Competition:
Miss Gloria Ambassador and Miss Photogenic: Grace Xue of Gloria Plaza Hotel Suzhou
The Runner-Up: Ally Wang of Gloria Plaza Hotel Suzhou
The Second Runner-Up and Miss Personality: Christina Lian of Dragon Spring Hotel Beijing

Key responsibility of Miss Gloria Ambassador is to attend all events organized by Gloria Hotels & Resorts and act as the "Ambassador" for the group in the following twelve months.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Vikki Wei (Ms.)
  Group Marketing Communications Executive
  Gloria Hotels & Resorts
  Tel: (86) 10-6515 7878 ext. 2859
  Fax: (86) 10-6515 8511
  E-mail: gmce@gloriahotels.com
  Website: www.gloriahotels.com

The ROI Award was created by Marketbuilder media, focusing on ROI review of marketing and sales. Award judges were from elite management in WPP, Ominicom, IPG, Publicis, Aegis, Yemaozhong Marketing and Jiaotong University and supported by Nielsen and Sinomonitor. Advertisers, 4A agencies and media paid close attention on the award because of the financial crisis' effect on the advertising industry.

As the leading brand for cooking life in China, Betty's Kitchen has always been to disseminate and promote the culture of responsible cuisine, and always uphold its brand information "to make good taste of life", not only to provide food enthusiasts with a rich culinary information, but also introducing an unprecedented quality of culinary life. With its brand connotation, accurate positioning, as well as "fresh fashion, health, fun, simple, practical, warm affection, Betty's Kitchen has won the attention and favor of product advertisers and broadcasters.

In 2003, Ringer Group began its strategic partnership with China National Food Industry Corporation's 《China Foreign Food Industry》Magazine. During the last 7 years, Betty Bossi has become the leading national cooking media brand. Betty's Kitchen has a multi media platform which includes a Monthly magazine, website, online video, mobile phone, EDM, Books, Cooking School and E-commerce. The highly interactive web 2.0 website www.beitaichufang.com, which was re-launched in September 2009, has nearly 160,000 registered members, and is already considered as the most active online recipe sharing community. The site now provides even better service for Chinese cooking lovers and to meet the increasing demand of advertisers for interactive media options.

For more Information:
Lillian He, Corporate Communications Director
E-mail: lillianhe@ringierasia.com
Telephone +86 10 65281840

Huang Jianxin is part of the esteemed group of 'Fifth Generation' filmmakers and is the Chairman of the Beijing Film Director's Association. In a career spanning more than two decades, his films have garnered over 60 major domestic and international awards and his most recent film, Jianguo Daye (Founding a Republic) broke China's all-time weekend box office record for a domestic film when it opened earlier this month. Produced by the China Film Group to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Jianguo Daye (Founding a Republic) features a who's who of iconic Chinese stars including Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Andy Lau, Zhang Ziyi, Leon Lai, Feng Xiaogang and Zhang Guoli.

Previous APSA Jury presidents are renowned Indian actress and humanitarian Shabana Azmi (2007) and Academy Award nominated director, Australia's Bruce Beresford (2008).

APSA Chairman Des Power said, "The People's Republic of China is a great filmmaking nation and the influence of its cinema has been felt around the world for generations. We have great respect for the film heritage of China and their filmmakers."

"Huang Jianxin's repertoire as a filmmaker is outstanding and we are greatly honoured that he has accepted the appointment of Jury President for 2009. I am certain that his breadth of experience will bring valuable leadership to our Jury and the formidable task of choosing winners in the 2009 APSAs."

"China's films are renowned for the way in which they express their culture and their rich and informative history and in a year when China celebrates the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, it is timely that a Chinese filmmaker presides over our International Jury."

APSA has a strong association with the People's Republic of China in both its awards initiative and the television programs it produces in collaboration with CNN International about the films and filmmakers of Asia Pacific. Chinese films represent the highest number of film entries from the 70 countries engaged by APSA. Many of these have reached nominee stage and Hongse Kangbaiyin (The Red Awn) was awarded the Special Jury Prize in 2008.

Several of China's leading film practitioners and alumni of the renowned Beijing Film Academy have served on APSA's International Jury and Nominations Council including Tian Zhuangzhuang (2007 Jury member), Professor Zheng Dongtian (2008 Jury member) and Professor Xie Fei (APSA Nominations Council 2007, 2008, 2009). The China Film Producer's Association is the Official Submitting Organisation for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards.

"We enjoy a very good relationship with the Beijing Film Academy and I commend them for the way in which their graduates have gone on to major careers in film production, not just in China, but also internationally," said Des Power.

Huang Jianxin will be joined on the Jury by Australian playwright and screenwriter David Williamson, Iranian filmmaker Tahmineh Milāni, Indian playwright, screenwriter and director Feroz Abbas Khan and Korean writer/director Gina Kim.

APSA has attracted a record 212 film entries from 43 countries for the 2009 competition. The nominees announcement will be made on Monday, October 12. The winners are determined by the International Jury ahead of the third annual Asia Pacific Screen Awards ceremony on November 26, 2009, on Australia's Gold Coast.

APSA is a collaboration between CNN International, UNESCO and FIAPF-International Federation of Film Producers Associations which honours the works of filmmakers across a region covering 70 countries, one third of the earth and half the world's film output. Films are judged on cinematic excellence and the way in which they attest to their cultural origins.

Huang Jianxin is a graduate of the prestigious Beijing Film Academy and is part of the esteemed group of 'Fifth Generation' filmmakers. He is the current Chairman of the Beijing Film Director's Association. His 1985 directorial debut, Black Cannon Incident was selected by the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards as one of "The Greatest 100 Films in the last 100 years". Black Cannon Incident and Back to Back Face to Face were both included in Asia Week's Top 100 Chinese Films of the 20th Century list. In 2005, Gimme Kudos won the Jury Grand Prix and Best Screenplay prizes at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Huang Jianxin is the co-director of the China Film Group's anniversary celebration blockbuster, Jianguo Daye (Founding a Republic). He is co-owner of Beijing based production company 'We Pictures' and his producer credits include the highly successful The Warlords (starring Jet Li and Andy Lau), Kite Runner, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Empire and he has served as a senior consultant on several international co-productions including Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill. Huang Jianxin's prior experience as a juror includes China's 12th and 26th Golden Rooster Awards, 11th Fukuoka International Film Festival, 25th Cairo International Film Festival and he served as jury president for the 11th Pyongyang International Film Festival.

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Jill Robson
  Asia Pacific Screen Awards
  Tel: +61 (0) 458 404 527
  Email: jill@apscreenawards.com
  Website: http://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/news_room/apsa_media_centre