The Importance of Global National Accounts: Selling Italian Wines to National and International Chains
Tuesday January 27th - 10:00am - New York
The New York Palace Hotel, Henry Room
Fernando Salazar was appointed vice president, food and beverage, of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, in July 2007. Salazar brings with him an extensive knowledge of the world of gastronomy, experience obtained through more than 30 years of work in the areas of food and beverage.
Prior to joining the company, Salazar was vice president, food and beverage, for Omni Hotels in Irving, Texas. He previously served as corporate director of food and beverage, a position he held from 2002 to 2006. From 1996 to 2002, he was director of operations for individual Omni Hotels, first for the Omni Houston Westside and then, in 1998, for the Omni San Antonio.
From 1983 to 1996, Salazar served in food and beverage positions for Westin Hotels, including director of food and beverage at the Westin Cincinnati and the Westin Williams Center in Tulsa, Okla. He also held various positions at the Westin Galleria in Dallas and the Westin Oaks in Houston, including assistant director of food and beverage, director of restaurants and multiunit restaurant manager. From 1980 to 1983, he was head of service and wine training for Las Brasas, a South America-based restaurant management company.
Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Salazar immigrated to the United States in 1971 where he completed his high school education and later received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Queens College in New York. He began his career for the St. Moritz Hotel in New York, now the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park.
He currently serves on the board for Cheers magazine and Hotel F&B magazine. He is a member of the Culinary Institute of America’s Latin Cuisines Advisory Council and the International Food and Beverage Forum, a group of 50 experts dedicated to the promotion of the industry worldwide. In 2008, Salazar was named international judge of the prestigious National Tapas Competition in Valladolid Spain, the only American honored with that title. He is based in Wyndham Hotel Group’s Parsippany, N.J. offices.
