Maroma Resort & Spa Announces Exciting New Culinary Additions

 Mexico Resort Unveils New Executive Chef and Package

RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO (December 21, 2009) – Maroma Resort & Spa by Orient-Express, a  luxurious hideaway in the Riviera Maya, Mexico is pleased to announce the addition of Executive Chef Richard Silvester – and to celebrate this gastronomic occasion, Maroma introduces a new culinary package for 2010. The “Gourmet” package includes meals at two of the hotel’s acclaimed restaurants, wine – and even a snorkeling excursion! www.maromahotel.com

Executive Chef Richard Silvester

Maroma Resort & Spa is delighted to welcome new Executive Chef Richard Silvester, showcasing his extraordinary culinary experience and knowledge in the resort’s fine dining establishments. A passionate chef with more than 20 years of professional experience, Richard has resided in Mexico for over seven years perfecting his original, authentic Mexican dishes while indulging in the rich culture and food of the region. Chef Silvester now brings his experience to this world-renowned hotel in the Riviera Maya with such dishes as Mango gazpacho with a Poached Lemon Grass Sea Scallop, Red Sea Bream “Papillotte” with Hoja Santa and Sour Orange Achiote, and a Chocolate Mole with Rompope and Pilonsillo Caramel. At Maroma, Chef Silvester will focus on sourcing organic and local ingredients to incorporate a larger amount of health options into the menus as well as a Mexican steakhouse concept for Maroma’s restaurant, “Sol” for 2010 featuring local flavors and prime cuts from Mexico, Argentina, Japan and the United States.

Chef Silvester worked in several acclaimed European restaurants, such as “Steirereck” in Vienna and Firenze, Italy, cooking with two-Michelin Starred teams, followed by further international positions at The Half Moon Club in Montego Bay and nine years with JW Marriott Resort & Spa in numerous locations and positions. Most recently, he was awarded Four Stars for the two restaurants he opened in the center city of Bratislava, Slovakia.

Gourmet Package

In honor of the new culinary direction of Chef Silvester, the “Gourmet Package” is designed for those who enjoy good food and luxurious surroundings – and includes two dinners in either of the resort’s restaurants – El Sol or El Restaurante – inclusive of a bottle of wine per meal.

Package Includes:

• A minimum of three nights of luxury accommodation
• Daily a la carte breakfast
• Round trip airport transfers
• Two dinners for two people per stay in either of the hotel restaurants with a bottle of house wine per meal
• One snorkeling trip to the second largest reef in the world per person
• Wake up morning coffee service in room
• Welcome cocktail upon arrival

Priced from $625.00 USD per night

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Orient-Express, (NYSE: OEH, www.orient-express.com) the name behind an elite collection of travel experiences, first came into being in 1883 as one of the world’s most exciting and indulgent train journeys.  Today those same two evocative words also embrace hotels, cruises and other luxury rail adventures in 25 countries, across five continents.  The Company has offered exceptional luxury travel experiences since 1976, when it first purchased Hotel Cipriani in Venice and then shortly afterwards, recreated the celebrated Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, linking London, Paris and Venice, along with other European cities.  Today, the company owns or part-owns and manages 49 businesses, 39 of which are highly acclaimed hotels, each unique in style, from the Mount Nelson in Cape Town and Rio’s Copacabana Palace, to the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg and Maroma Resort & Spa on Mexico’s Riviera Maya.  There are two restaurants, including ‘21’ in New York, two river cruise operations and six luxury trains.

For high-resolution images, please visit www.orient-expressimages.com.

Media Contact:

Holly Schnabel | The Brandman Agency | 212.683.2442 | Holly@brandmanpr.com