Luxury Hotel Brings World Renowned Chef To Create A World Class Culinary Experience

MIAMI BEACH, Fla., July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Carillon Hotel & Spa, a world-class beachfront boutique hotel and luxury spa in Miami Beach, today announced that Johann Friedrich "Fritz" Zwahlen has joined the resort as Vice President and Executive Chef. Mr. Zwahlen will oversee food and beverage operations at the resort, including the revamping and expanding of current menu offerings.

Mr. Zwahlen has more than 25 years as an executive chef, of which 21 years were served in the luxury resort industry. Prior to joining The Carillon Hotel & Spa, Mr. Zwahlen held various executive level roles at the Amanresorts over the last 17 years, most recently at the Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos Islands. At the Amanyara, Mr. Zwahlen was responsible for overseeing the resort's entire food and beverage operation, including bespoke culinary programs for the property's privately-owned villas, each of which feature individual food and beverage programs. During his tenure, he recruited, trained and guided numerous well-known chefs, as well as cooks and stewards. Mr. Zwahlen's training includes time at three Michelin Star El Celler de can Roca with the Roca Brothers, one Michelin Star Alkimia with Chef Jordi Vila, and one Michelin Star Commerc 24 with Chef Carles Abellan, among others.

"Fritz encompasses all the characteristics we are looking for in an Executive Chef: passionate, creative, knowledgeable, and experienced," said Lester Scott, Managing Director of The Carillon Hotel & Spa. "Fritz brings to The Carillon Hotel & Spa unparalleled experience and a long list of credentials that we are certain makes him the ideal fit as we create a destination restaurant and enhance other food and beverage offerings at this luxurious resort. Having worked in Michelin-starred restaurants and with world-renowned chefs, Fritz is in touch with the newest and best cooking trends. Additionally, Fritz's knowledge for health and wellness will help bring an abundance of healthy options made of the highest-quality ingredients to our menu."

Mr. Zwahlen commented, "I am thrilled to join The Carillon Hotel & Spa at this exciting time for the resort. I look forward to leveraging my background in the luxury resort industry and passion for creative and healthy food to craft an unrivaled, high-quality menu for the benefit of all residents and guests. The Carillon Hotel & Spa team is committed to creating an exceptional experience for our constituents and I am confident that our restaurant and food offerings will ensure our guests have a unique culinary experience."

The Carillon Hotel & Spa is a portfolio company of Z Capital Partners, L.L.C.  Since acquiring the property, Z Capital has recruited some of the most talented leaders in the hospitality industry, including Mr. Scott, Mr. Zwahlen and several others. 

About Johann Friedrich "Fritz" Zwahlen
Fritz Zwahlen started his career at a number of renowned restaurants in Australia, including the highly reputable Paul Boccuse, Arthurs Seats, and Queensland, culminating as Executive Chef at the prestigious Lizard Island Resort. Following his time in Australia, Mr. Zwahlen joined the Amanresorts as Executive Chef at the Amanpulo in the Philippines for five years and during his tenure at the Amanpulo, won an international award from the Gallivanter's Guide. In 2004, Mr. Zwahlen took on a new position as head chef for Amanresorts, where he oversaw the opening of two hotels in Sri Lanka, the Amangalla and the Amanwella. After the successful opening of these hotels, Mr. Zwahlen assisted in the opening of the Amanyara in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Over the past several years, Mr. Zwahlen has dedicated two weeks per year for travel to Barcelona to work alongside top chefs, including Carles Abellan and Jordi Vila Rocca Brothers at Michelin-starred restaurants Commerc 24, Alkimia, Cellar de Can Rocca and Zuma.

Mr. Zwahlen received his culinary diploma in Gewerbe Schule Bern, Switzerland and holds certifications from the Chiang Mai Thai Cooking School.

About The Carillon Hotel & Spa
The Carillon Hotel & Spa, formerly Canyon Ranch Miami Beach, is a luxurious wellness destination at the footsteps of one of the world's most beautiful beaches.  Escape the everyday and come experience an incomparable luxury resort. Indulge in modern and legendary spa treatments at South Florida's largest spa, enjoy healthy, gourmet cuisine bursting with local flavors and discover a new model of health and well-being administered by a team of experienced physicians and wellness professionals with a preventive approach to health. 

Located along the white sand shores of Miami Beach, The Carillon Hotel & Spa presents an authentic and specialized approach to health, wellness and complete well-being. Exuding the "luxury of wellness," the resort focuses on aligning physical, mental and spiritual health by offering a comprehensive retreat, the largest spa in the region (70,000 sq. ft.), a one-of-a-kind Thermal Experience, a renowned on-site medical director and an integrative medical wellness center. The resort features 150 spacious one- and two-bedroom suites, ranging in size from 720 – 1,200 sq. ft. An array of recreational activities are at guests' fingertips, with over 200 fitness classes offered each week, access to the resort's two-story indoor rock wall and four pools located throughout the property: the Sunrise Pool, Cabana Pool, Sunset Pool and the adult-only rooftop Atlantic Pool. Serving fresh, locally-sourced, cuisine, the resort features four dining venues including The Carillon Hotel & Spa Grill, Carillon Lounge, The Cabana, and the Juice Bar. The Carillon Hotel & Spa promotes a path to discovery and provides tools for a healthier lifestyle extending beyond each guest's stay. The Carillon Hotel & Spa is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Leading Spas.

About Z Capital Partners
Z Capital Partners, L.L.C. ("Z Capital Partners") is the private equity management arm of Z Capital Group, L.L.C ("Z Capital Group"), a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $2.3 billion of regulatory assets under management with offices in New York, NY; Lake Forest, IL; and Zurich, Switzerland. Z Capital Partners pursues a value-oriented, opportunistic approach in private equity that includes making control investments in companies that may require growth capital, balance sheet and/or operational improvements.

Z Capital Partners' portfolio companies currently have aggregate worldwide annual revenues of approximately $2 billion, sell products in over 48 countries, and have in excess of 190,000 associates directly and through joint ventures.

For more information, please visit http://www.zcap.net/.

About Z Capital Group
Z Capital Group, L.L.C. ("Z Capital Group") is a leading global alternative investment manager with approximately $2.3 billion of regulatory assets under management with offices in New York, NY; Lake Forest, IL; and Zurich, Switzerland.

Z Capital Group manages opportunistic, value-oriented private equity and credit funds.

Z Capital Group operates in an integrated manner, yet has distinct business platforms of private equity and credit funds.

Z Capital Group's investment team has more than a twenty-year track record investing capital of approximately $17 billion in private equity and credit related strategies. Industries in which the principals of Z Capital Group have invested include consumer products, steel, steel processors, agriculture, consumer food, gaming, hospitality, manufacturing, specialty services and automotive.

Z Capital Group's investors include prominent global sovereign wealth funds, endowments, pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, family offices, wealth management firms and other financial institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
www.zcapgroup.net

SOURCE The Carillon Hotel & Spa

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