CONTACT:
Sarah Hendricks
For Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood
+1 954 964 9098
shendricks@oandgpr.com
Lisa Cole
Hilton Worldwide
+1 305 796 8383
Lisa.Cole@hilton.com
Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood Names Chris Walling Director of Food and
Beverage and Gary Klinefelter Executive Chef at Diplomat Prime
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – April 7, 2015 – Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood, a Curio – A Collection
by Hilton hotel is pleased to welcome Chris Walling as director of food and beverage and Gary
Klinefelter as executive chef of Diplomat Prime, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant.
Walling brings over 20 years of hospitality experience to Diplomat Resort & Spa, most recently
as the director of food and beverage at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Walling has
held leadership roles at several award-winning properties such as The Breakers Palm Beach,
Biltmore Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch and The Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las
Vegas. An active member of the epicurean world, he is a board member of Culinaria Food and
Wine Festival and Chaine Des Rotisseurs. Walling holds a degree in hospitality management
from University of Nevada Las Vegas and is a level one sommelier.
Klinefelter joins Diplomat Resort & Spa with an expansive, award-winning culinary background.
Prior to his new role at Diplomat Prime, he held executive chef positions with Giving the Dream
Foundation, The Buccaneer Resort and Spa, Hill Crest Country Club, Hidden Valley Four
Seasons Resort, and others. His leadership abilities and skills have resulted in positive reviews
and accolades such as the Wine Spectator Award. Klinefelter is a graduate of the American
Culinary Federation and the Culinary Institute of America. He has also studied at The
Greenbrier Club Chefs Institute and is a Founding Father of the A.C.F. Virgin Islands Chefs and
Cook’s Association Chapter.
“These two individuals have their finger on the pulse of the luxury traveler and what they crave
from a culinary experience,” said Ed Walls, general manager, Diplomat Resort & Spa. “Their
talents and insights will help further develop our resort-wide food and beverage initiatives. We
are excited to have them onboard to bring fresh ideas and flavors to Diplomat Resort & Spa.”
About Curio – A Collection by Hilton
Competing at the top end of upper upscale, Curio – A Collection by Hilton (curiocollection.com) is a handpicked global collection of unique properties embodying the distinct culture and spirit of their local
communities, while giving independent minded travelers the peace of mind that comes from the Hilton
name and award-winning HHonors program. With no prescriptive build design – by design – the hotels
individually selected to join the Curio collection themselves define the brand. Curio meets the needs of
passionately curious travelers seeking local discovery and authentic experiences.
Curio joins a portfolio of market-leading brands from Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality
company. Access the latest news at news.curiocollection.com or inquire about development opportunities
at hiltonworldwide.com/development.
About Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood
The historic Diplomat Resort & Spa Hollywood is conveniently located between Fort Lauderdale and the
international hub of Miami on the beaches of Hollywood, Florida. With 998 guest rooms and suites,
Diplomat offers an array of amenities including several cuisine options from award-winning seafood and
steakhouse, Diplomat Prime to 24-hour in-room dining. The resort’s convention center provides over
200,000 square feet of flexible meeting and catering space including a 50,000 square foot unobstructed
Great Hall, four ballrooms and 39 individual meeting rooms. An award winning property, Diplomat Resort
& Spa Hollywood has received top honors from Conde Nast Traveler and Trip Advisor, along with being
named a top 100 Meeting Hotel by Cvent. For further information, visit www.DiplomatResort.com or call
954-602-6000.
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