Classic Residence by Hyatt Establishes Endowment at The Culinary Institute of America

Luxury Senior Living Company to Provide Scholarship for Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program

Classic Residence by Hyatt and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) announce the development of a new endowment to support students in the college's Accelerated Culinary Arts Certificate Program (ACAP). Classic Residence by Hyatt, a leader in luxury senior living, has agreed to endow $125,000 for the program over the next five years, which will support one student's full tuition each year.

ACAP is a 30-week curriculum offered to qualified graduates of a bachelor's degree program in nutrition, hospitality management, food science, or other related fields. The program provides postgraduate students with an education in culinary arts and principles, specific cooking techniques and skills, flavor strategies and dynamics, wine selection, menu development, and professional kitchen management. Graduates are trained to be tomorrow's future leaders in food and beverage.

"We are excited to support the CIA's continuing education program," commented Randy Richardson, president of Classic Residence by Hyatt. "As operators of luxury senior housing, our quality dining services play an important role in our residents' nutrition and satisfaction. We hope to support the development of talented culinarians who may someday work for Classic Residence by Hyatt."

With today's sophisticated and often well-traveled residents, senior living communities face an array of challenges and opportunities when it comes to food service and the dining experience. Menu items at senior living communities must be high quality and delicious, yet prepared and served in a way that meets the health needs and desires of this informed and selective clientele.

Classic Residence by Hyatt's relationship with the CIA has grown significantly over the past year. In May 2004, executive chefs from each of Classic Residence by Hyatt's 17 communities attended the CIA's weeklong "Techniques of Healthy Cooking" series at the college's Greystone branch campus in St.Helena, Calif. The custom program helps chefs address the nutritional needs and concerns of Classic Residence by Hyatt residents while keeping food flavorful, interesting, and varied.

In addition, executive directors from each of Classic Residence by Hyatt's communities participated in the Quality Every Day leadership program. The proprietary program is a joint development of the CIA and Classic Residence by Hyatt, focusing on the 55+ age group and the management of healthy cooking at each Classic Residence by Hyatt community. As a result of their CIA training, executive directors have a greater knowledge of how to manage a quality food and beverage operation, create high-quality and nutritionally balanced meals, and communicate with residents about their nutrition requirements.

The success of these programs has led Classic Residence by Hyatt to explore even more opportunities at the CIA. During the first quarter of 2005, each community's executive chef and pastry chef will attend a weeklong seminar that focuses on healthy bakery, pastry, and dessert options. The executive chefs will also have the opportunity to take the American Culinary Federation's Certified Executive Chef exam in collaboration with the CIA. Additionally, each community's director of dining services will participate in a leadership seminar geared to enhancing the resident service experience in all dining venues. Upon seminar completion, production of a custom training video will begin.

To complement and expand the "Techniques of Healthy Cooking" seminar, Classic Residence by Hyatt recently introduced a streaming video series developed by the CIA. Eighty-three courses and over 43 hours of training are now available via streaming video at each community. The videos focus on diverse culinary and service techniques and allow Classic Residence by Hyatt employees to continually improve and certify their skills without incurring the cost of travel and seminar fees.

Classic Residence by Hyatt's commitment to resident culinary satisfaction is just one aspect that makes Classic Residence by Hyatt a leader in the senior living industry. In addition to the innovative relationship with the CIA, Classic Residence by Hyatt also developed its exclusive Quality Every Day program to ensure the highest quality food service "one plate at a time."

For more information about these culinary initiatives and to learn more about the food and beverage program at Classic Residence by Hyatt, please contact Liza Michaels at (312) 803-8490 or lmichaels@hyattclassic.com.

About The Culinary Institute of America
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. A network of more than 36,000 alumni in foodservice and hospitality has helped the CIA earn its reputation as the world's premier culinary college. Courses for foodservice professionals are offered at the college's main campus in Hyde Park, NY and at The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA. Greystone also offers baking and pastry, advanced culinary arts, and wine certifications. For more information, visit the CIA Web site at http://www.ciachef.edu.