French Culinary Academy Recognizes Distinguished Career Of Patrick Louis

French Culinary Academy Recognizes Distinguished Career Of Grand Velas Riviera Maya Chef Patrick Louis

Riviera Maya, Mexico (September 10, 2013) –Patrick Louis, Corporate Director of Food and Beverage and Executive Chef of the Velas Group, has received a diploma as a distinguished expert from the French Culinary Academy that comprises 900 of the best chefs in 43 countries in five continents around the world. French chef Patrick Louis was recognized as a new member for his more than 15 years promoting the highest gastronomy in Mexico.

“I am proud to belong to the French Culinary Academy as it represents a culinary institution with a great tradition,” said the Corporate Director of Food and Beverage of the Velas Group on receiving his diploma as a distinguished expert of this prestigious association.

Under the auspices of the talented chef Guy Santoro, president of the Mexican delegation of the French Culinary Academy, Patrick Louis recently received this recognition at the traditional “Diner de la Amitié” for his more than 15 years as a culinary ambassador in Mexico, another in his many achievements in positioning major hotel chains as leaders in the tourism industry.

Chef Patrick Louis graduated from the School of Gastronomy of St. Nazaire in France and perfected his cuisine in leading hotels and restaurants all over the world. He has also been honored as the best food and beverage director in Latin America, chosen among more than 3,600 hotels all over the world.

From before its opening in 2008, Patrick Louis has collaborated with Grand Velas Riviera Maya, one of the most important hotel groups in Mexico, where he continues to raise the bar in gastronomic excellence. The French Culinary Academy has been promoting the evolution of culinary art as well as its finest traditions and creativity since 1883.

For reservations or more information on Grand Velas Resorts, please call 1-888-407-4869 or visit www.grandvelas.com.

About Grand Velas Riviera Maya:
Featured in Forbes’ roundup of the 10 Coolest All-Inclusive Resorts, the AAA Five Diamond Grand Velas Riviera Maya, is also home to Cocina De Autor, the first restaurant of any all-inclusive resort to receive the coveted AAA Five Diamond Award for restaurants. The all-suites and spa resort located five minutes from Playa del Carmen, is the latest and most sophisticated iteration of the ultra-luxury, all-inclusive resort experience. This Leading Hotels of the World designated resort is the preeminent one of its class boasting 491 suites, each more than 1,000 square-feet, in three separate ambiances– premium ocean-front Grand Class Suites with terrace plunge pools for families with children 12 and up, family-friendly ocean-view Ambassador Suites and Zen Grand Suites embraced by the flora and fauna of the Yucatan Peninsula’s jungle. The resort presents a gastronomic tour of the Yucatan, Europe and Asia offering seven restaurants with world-class chefs from France, Spain and Mexico; dedicated butler service for each guest, and the region’s largest spa sanctuary at over 89,000 square-feet specializing in signature treatments inspired by ancient cultures from around the world. The spa was named “Best Spa” in the world by Virtuoso and also earned a SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Award. The resort was designed by lauded Mexican architecture firm Elias and Elias and features the sleek and modish interiors that fuse the serenity of the Caribbean with the vibrancy of Yucatan cultures.