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Terranea Resort Welcomes Celebrated Pastry Chef Pierino Jermonti

Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. - May 15, 2009 - Award-winning, highly celebrated pastry chef, Pierino Jermonti, has been named pastry chef at the new Terranea Resort. The 102-acre luxury Resort is situated along the California coastline in Rancho Palos Verdes, 20 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport. Opening June 12, 2009, the 582-room property is managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts and developed by Lowe Enterprises.

Jermonti has more than 30 years of experience creating pastry delights in some of Arizona's top kitchens including the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Wrigley Mansion Club and 8700 at the Citadel. For the last 13 years, he served as executive pastry chef at the popular T. Cook's restaurant at the Royal Palms Resort & Spa in Phoenix. At T. Cook's, Jermonti became well-know for his signature caramel cake crème brule, which was named "Best of" by Phoenix Magazine.

Jermonti's talents have "wowed" at celebrity events, James Beard dinners and on national television programs. He has been featured in several high profile magazines including Bon Appetit, Food & Wine and Cucina Italiana. In January 2009, he was named "Food Artist of the Month" by Phoenix Magazine. Other awards and recognitions include Best Baker in America from Travel & Leisure, Gold Medal Award for best desserts from the Scottsdale League for the Arts, first place for Best Ginger Bread from Chefs Estate in Prescott, AZ, Arizona's Gold Plate Award, and Best Dessert audience winner on Phoenix Citisearch.com.

Dining at Terranea

Terranea Resort features eight food and beverage offerings ranging from a stand-alone signature restaurant to a trailside refreshment stop for hikers. Terranea's signature restaurant, mar'sel, (Spanish for "sea" and French for "salt,") is a destination in and of itself. This classic Southern California oceanfront restaurant has a warm residential feel complementing a menu reflecting an innovative, modern representation of California cuisine.

Furnished with items made from recycled materials, Nelson's offers regional favorites presented in a casual atmosphere. Nelson's is a tribute to Mike Nelson, the character played by Lloyd Bridges in the famed Sea Hunt television series which was filmed on the site and in the waters around Terranea.

Experience a culinary adventure throughout the day at Catalina Kitchen where it's all about good food, at any time with kids, friends or colleagues. Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner, including specialty pizzas in the evening. Don't miss the extraordinary Sunday Brunch, complete with a "kids" buffet.

Other outlets include the Lobby Bar, Living Room and Terrace, the welcoming spots of the Resort; The Terranea Grill, an open-air dining option featuring informal fare; Cielo Point, a casual eatery (adjacent to Cielo Point, hikers can enjoy Discovery Trail Refreshments); sea beans Coffee Boutique featuring gourmet coffees with a full array of espresso drinks; and Spa Cafe, situated within The Spa at Terranea, a tranquil and serene setting serving freshly prepared food, juices and drinks.

Terranea's culinary team is also responsible for all food and beverage for the property's conference and meeting facilities which includes 135,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The 60,000 square feet of indoor space features the 18,000 square foot Palos Verdes Grand Ballroom, the 6,600 square foot Marineland Ballroom, and 15 breakout rooms. 75,000 square feet of outdoor function space nestled amongst natural California landscape includes the Palos Verdes Meadows and a variety of spectacular ocean view settings for meetings, weddings and other social events.

About Terranea Resort
Just 20 miles from Los Angeles International Airport, Terranea is magnificently poised above the Pacific Ocean on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the property boasts a 582-room resort including a 360-room hotel with 32 suites, plus 20 bungalows. Also available are 50 oceanfront casitas and 32 ocean view villas tailored specifically to individuals looking for a more residential setting.

Resort amenities include The Spa at Terranea, a 50,000 square foot spa experience, The Links at Terranea, a 9-hole par-3 golf course, and three unique swimming pools, one with children's play area and a 140-foot waterslide. Other amenities include a children's center with interactive programs and several miles of scenic bluff-top trails that connect miles of off-property coastal trails. A secluded beach cove also adds to the unique experiences at Terranea Resort. For more information visit www.terranea.com or call 866-802-8000.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts
Destination Hotels & Resorts is the fourth largest independent hospitality management company in the country with more than 30 luxury and upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers. To protect and preserve the unique communities in which the company operates, Destination launched Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program in 2008. New for 2009 is the 582-room Terranea Resort situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. In addition to Terranea in the greater Los Angeles area, Destination operates properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises. For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.

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