Jean-Pierre Simon, regional general manager, Northern UAE for Coral Hotels & Resorts and general manager of the Coral Beach Hotel – Sharjah

(TRAVPR.COM) UAE - August 23rd, 2010 - Jean-Pierre Simon, regional general manager, Northern UAE for Coral Hotels & Resorts and general manager of the Coral Beach Hotel – Sharjah, will be flying to Paris next month to receive the prestigious Vermeil Medal from the Société d’Encouragements in recognition of his career achievements.

Swiss-born and a chef by nature and inclination, Mr Simon has been decorated previously by the governments of Singapore and France, and is also a knight of the Chaine des Rôtisseurs and a member of the Dubai Swiss Business Council.

Starting out as a kitchen apprentice, he worked his way around the world and up the career ladder, moving between the UK, Barbardos, the Philippines and Switzerland until he finally achieved his goal of executive chef, presiding over a team of 160 chefs at a hotel in Indonesia.

A move in to hotel management following a stint at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration led to Mr Simon taking his career to new heights at hotels in the Middle East, Mauritius, South Africa and Kenya, before returning to the UAE as regional director for Coral Hotels & Resorts.

Multi-lingual and a demon at tennis, he has progressed far in his chosen career, shaping his future after a glimpse of a photograph depicting the chef’s brigade in their white uniforms on the luxury liner, France – a feat that has now been recognised with the presentation of the Vermeil Medal at the French Senate.

“It will be a great honour for which I am deeply grateful, but slightly nervous,” he said. “Although I have hosted heads of state and dignitaries many times during my career, on these occasions I am usually on the other side and it will be humbling to be in the spotlight this time.”

For media contact:
Hina Bakht
Vice President
MPJ (Marketing Pro-Junction)
Mob: 050 697 5146
h.bakht@mpj-pr.com
www.mpj-pr.com

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