Essex House Appoints Gradnitzer Executive Chef

Christian Gradnitzer joins landmark New York City property from Burj Al Arab in Dubai

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. October 14, 2008

NEW YORK, NY, January 24, 2006. Jumeirah Essex House, the historic New York City hotel located on Central Park South, has announced the appointment of Christian Gradnitzer as Executive Chef for Jumeirah Essex House. The appointment follows Jumeirah's recent management take over of the Essex House Hotel on January 15, 2006.

Chef Gradnitzer brings with him over 10 years of culinary experience, having most recently served as the Executive Sous Chef to the Executive Chef at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the world's only seven-star hotel. As Executive Sous Chef, Gradnitzer was responsible for overseeing the entire Hotel's dining operation which included 185 chefs and 60 stewards. During his five year tenure at the Burj Al Arab, Chef Gradnitzer ran Al Mahara, a fine dining seafood restaurant recognized by Hotel's Magazine as one of the top hotel restaurants in the world, and won several international awards for his innovative food preparation and presentation.

Chef Christian Gradnitzer has honed his culinary skills at some of the top hotels in the world, including the five-star The Dorchester Hotel in London, the five-star Grand Hotel Quenllenhof in Switzerland and the five-star Hotel Schloss Seefels in Austria as well as the M/S-M/S Caronia, the world renowned second luxury cruise liner of Queen Elizabeth II for the Cunard line.

"New York is a very exciting city with some of the top chefs in the world - from Thomas Keller to Alain Ducasse," said Gradnitzer. "My goal is to observe and learn from their experience, to see what works, and then use my own experience to infuse a new vitality to the cuisine at Jumeirah Essex House. I look forward to working with the hotel's team to deliver to New York City visitors and residents a unique, yet simple, culinary experience that will put the hotel back on the 'Culinary map' both nationally and internationally."

Chef Gradnitzer attended the Vocational School for the Catering Trade in Austria after which he received his Certificate of Apprenticeship as a Cook by the Apprenticeship Division of the Industry and Trade Chamber of Carinthia (Austria) and apprenticed at the Kurhotels Warmbaderhof, a two-Michelin Star restaurant in Carinthia, Austria. His interest in cooking began at an early age, influenced by the sights and smells of his mother's restaurants in his native Austria.

The 515-room Jumeirah Essex House is a historic New York City landmark with a coveted Central Park address. Ideally located in the heart of Manhattan, Jumeirah Essex House is part of Dubai-based luxury hospitality group Jumeirah and sister to the world's most luxurious hotel, Burj Al Arab. Jumeirah Essex House features breathtaking views from the majority of its guest rooms and suites, unrivalled conference and banqueting facilities and top dining options including New York's most renowned Sunday brunch at Caf'e Botanica and the world famous Alain Ducasse restaurant, voted #1 in New York in the 2005 Zagat Survey. The classic contemporary Jumeirah Essex House will undergo a $50 million renovation in 2006, bringing this Grand Dame of New York back to her original grandeur. Other hotels in the group's portfolio include Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel in London, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Jumeirah Beach Club Resort and Spa, Madinat Jumeirah and Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai.