HOUSTON, TX, March 20, 2008. Benchmark Hospitality International has announced the appointment of David Rodriguez as executive chef for Costa d'Este Beach Resort of Vero Beach, Florida, the new personal luxury property scheduled to open in April. Andy Zinni, Benchmark’s general manager at the resort, made the announcement.

"I am very pleased to welcome David to our executive management team here at Costa d'Este Beach Resort," said Mr. Zinni. "He brings important culinary expertise to the resort, having worked for first rate, Five Star properties earlier in his distinguished career.”

David Rodriguez was previously executive chef for the Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center of Somerset, New Jersey, a position he held for the past two years and in which he oversaw a team of 45 culinary professionals. He served as executive sous chef for The Palace at Somerset Park in central New Jersey prior to this appointment.

Chef Rodriguez has been employed with The Old Mill Inn of Bernardsville, New Jersey, as both restaurant chef and executive sous chef. He has also served as both restaurant chef and lead sous chef for the critically acclaimed Dining Room at The Hilton Short Hills, a Five Star and Five Diamond property located in Short Hills, New Jersey.

Earlier in his career, Rodriguez was banquet garde manger chef, banquet chef and lead cook for the Parsippany Hilton Hotel in New Jersey. He launched his culinary career in New York City at the Rihga Royal Hotel in Manhattan where he was banquet cook, lead line cook, and where he also participated in a culinary internship program.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Mr. Rodriguez is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America. He is a member of the American Culinary Federation and the renowned Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs. He is relocating to Vero Beach.