Dubai, UAE 5th March 2013: Forty five chefs from two of the UAE's most celebrated hotels and resorts were once again rewarded for their culinary skills at a cooking competition held as part of GulfFood at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) last week.

The Grosvenor House Dubai culinary team won thirty two awards in total, with two for gold, six silver and nine bronze, as well as the overall prize for Best Hygiene. The accolades included the team winning two gold awards for Retail Confectionary, six silvers for Arabic Mezze, Fish & Seafood - Practical Cookery, Beef - Practical Cookery, Dressed Lamb - Practical Cookery (two awards) and Bread Loaves and Showpiece and nine bronze in the Four Course vegetarian menu, Dressed Lamb - Practical Cookery, Fine Patisserie and Bistro Cakes, Retail Bakery Confectionary and Bread, Tapas, Finger Food and Canapés, Fish and Seafood - Practical Cookery (two awards) and Beef Practical Cookery (two awards). The team also won fourteen awards for merit and participation.

Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort + Spa Dubai was awarded fifteen awards in total receiving prizes in Bronze, Merit and Participation. These included two bronze for Four Course Vegetarian Menu and Fish and Seafood - Practical Cookery, nine merit for Arabic Mezze (two awards), Fish and Seadfood - Practical Cookery (four awards), Five Course Gourmet menu, Beef - Practical Cookery and Bread Loaves and Showpiece.

Commenting on the success of the teams at the show, Complex General Manager of Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort + Spa Dubai Pam Wilby said: "It is with great pride and admiration that I congratulate our teams in working tirelessly to showcase our culinary skills at one the world's biggest annual food shows. Not only have they demonstrated their own creativity as well as their practical skills, they have demonstrated the diversity of cuisine we are proud to serve at both Grosvenor House and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort + Spa Dubai, contributing to Dubai's reputation as a truly culinary destination."

Held for more than 25 years, GulFood is the world's biggest annual food and hospitality show held in Dubai, UAE. This year more than 4,200 exhibitors from more than 100 countries attended the event. 

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About Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts
Le Méridien, the Paris-born hotel brand currently represented by 100 properties in more than 40 countries, was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005. With over 80 of its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provided a strong international complement to Starwood's then primarily North American holdings at the time of purchase. Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand re-launch, which included a large scale hotels product consolidation as well as redefining its brand strategy. By appointing a full-time Cultural Curator - French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans - Le Méridien transformed numerous guest touch points, thus bringing unique and interactive experiences to its guests. Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S., Latin America, and Asia-Pacific markets, including destinations such as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new hotels in Istanbul, Oran (Algeria), Arlington (Virginia, USA), Coimbatore (India), Koh Samui (Thailand), and Taipei, and will open in the next 12 months in Bali, Zhengzhou (China), Mahabaleshwar (India), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Cairo (Egypt), Tianjin (China), and Dhaka (Bangladesh). For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts
The Luxury Collection® is an ensemble of hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's indigenous charms and treasures. Magnificent décor, spectacular settings, impeccable service and the latest modern conveniences combine to provide a uniquely enriching experience. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of more than 75 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in more than 30 countries in bustling cities and spectacular destinations around the world. The Luxury Collection includes award-winning properties that continuously exceed guest expectations by offering unparalleled service, style and class while celebrating each hotel's distinctive heritage and unique character. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information, please visit www.luxurycollection.com

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,134 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and ElementSM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.

For more information please contact Hasan Badwan at Hill+Knowlton Strategies: hasan.badwan@hkstrategies.com

© Press Release 2013