Who's News in Catering for April 29, 2023

People on the Move

Wyndham Orlando Resort has appointed Touria Ouaddahou as its new director of events and catering services. Ouaddahou has brought her event-planning expertise and passion for customer service to Wyndham first as a catering sales manager and now as director of events and catering services. Her previous roles include convention services manager at The Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa in South Florida and conference services manager at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts.

Newly leading the distinguished dining concepts and culinary team at Kimpton The Rowan Palm Springs is Executive Chef Richard Crespin. With his appointment, Crespin is responsible for overseeing culinary operations for the Michelin-recognized 4 Saints rooftop restaurant, the all-day dining concept Juniper Table, the poolside High Bar, banquets, catering and in-room dining. Crespin brings his distinct international culinary expertise – rooted in classic French technique and informed by his studies in New York, Paris, Spain and Japan – to the award-winning, 153-room downtown Palm Springs hotel and its restaurants and bars. His career has taken him into kitchens helmed by acclaimed chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Gordon Ramsay and Kiyomi Mikuni. Most recently, he served as executive chef and culinary director for Anaheim Arena Management, which manages the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., home of the Anaheim Ducks. During his six-and-a-half-year tenure, Crespin systematically upgraded the cuisine throughout the operations, including 86 luxury suites, a private club, a steakhouse, a buffet, a gastropub, a sushi bar and concessions.  

Hot Off the Presses

General Mills today released its annual Global Responsibility Report, highlighting actions and progress made across three priority areas – Planet, People and Food – during its 2022 fiscal year, June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2022. The report details how General Mills is Standing for Good, a core pillar of its Accelerate strategy, and marks the company’s 53rd year of transparent reporting on its environmental and societal impact.