Starwood Hotels & Resorts continue their culinary journey with the NextCourse 2011 in Shanghai

Starwood Hotels & Resorts announces the 2011 Food and Beverage Conference & Expo: The NextCourse from February 28- March 4, 2011 at the Sheraton Pudong in Shanghai. Following the huge success of the inaugural 2007 conference in Bangkok, Starwood Hotels and Resorts continues its journey in culinary and hospitality excellence. This unique event brings together over 300 Executive Chefs, F&B Directors, General Managers and Starwood Executives to collectively define the future of hospitality services at over 180 Starwood properties in the Asia Pacific Region.

Attended by Executive Chefs, Food and Beverage Directors, General Managers and inspirational speakers, this conference promises to motivate all attendees to seek a fresh, contemporary approach to restaurant dining. The conference will expose attendees to inspirational speakers who will cleverly unlock their creativity and will inspire them to think beyond the expected. The program also features exciting individuals leading the way in innovative food & beverage and skilled presenters in the development of personnel potential. The experience also includes cutting edge off-site dining experiences and a trade show that will feature some of the best hospitality products and services from some of the industry's most important players.

"Over the next decade, our business is expected to undergo profound changes and with such growth and diversity, decision makers in each Starwood property must be empowered to respond to the major changes that lie ahead," says Martin Jones, Vice President, Food & Beverage, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts. "It is therefore important that our decision makers are encouraged to think laterally about excellence in all facets of their personal and professional development. It is appropriate that this year's conference is being held in the high growth region of China, where Sheraton Hotels will open another four hotels before the end of March 2011," added Jones.

This year's keynote speaker is celebrated American chef, Charlie Trotter. Charlie likes cooking to an improvisational jazz session; Charlie is supported by a zesty mix of the world's most engaging speakers, including Andrew May (performance and recovery), Bettina Arndt (sex therapist), Jereme Leung (chef), Kevin Arpino (interior stylist), Michael Tchong (futurist), Monte Huebsch (technology), Paul Odom (coffee), Peter Thurin (excellence) and Simran Sethi (sustainability).

This truly international program will be anchored by Master of Ceremonies, Peter Thurin and conference comedian Jonathan Atherton; one of Australia's finest stand-up comedians who delivers his punch-lines in a multitude of languages.

The conference and exhibition is proudly sponsored by some of the world's largest culinary and hospitality companies, including Electrolux, Allied Metals and Pernod Ricard. For more information please visit www.thenextcourse.net.