Chef Adds Flavor to Opening of Westin Chicago

412-Room Hotel to Feature Three Unique Restaurants Operated and Designed by Famed Restaurateur

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. October 14, 2008

CHICAGO, IL, Ocotber 12, 2006. One of Chicago's hottest new restaurants promises to bring a unique taste to the $125 million Westin Chicago North Shore and the Windy City's suburbs when the hotel opens today. The owners of the Westin Chicago North have partnered with the dynamic culinary duo of Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand to open three distinct restaurant concepts at the hotel, including Osteria di Tramonto.

Tramonto is best known as owner and Executive Chef at Chicago's acclaimed Tru, while Gand is nationally recognized as the executive pastry chef and host of The Food Network program Sweet Dreams. Both are accomplished cookbook authors, with six titles between them.

Tramonto and Gale will operate three restaurants at the Westin Chicago North Shore, including Osteria di Tramonto, a three-meal restaurant offering Italian-inspired specialties; Tramonto's Steak & Seafood, a dinner-only restaurant featuring specially cut steaks and fresh seafood preparations; RT Lounge, a stylish dual level lounge serving small plates of oysters, shrimp and other 'crudos'; and Gale's Coffee Bar, a pastry and coffee bar where great coffee drinks and Gand's famous pastries will be offered as well as quick pick-up lunch sandwiches, panini and other items.

A sophisticated and relaxing treat for the senses, offering a downtown Chicago hotel feel, the 17-story Westin hotel officially opened today at the bustling intersection of Lake Cook Road and Milwaukee Avenue in north suburban Wheeling. The hotel's sleek design, smooth color palette, luxurious amenities and signature dining options by Tramonto and Gand bring to life the Westin brand's new positioning of 'Renewal.'

'Our goal at The Westin Chicago North Shore is to provide our guests with signature Westin services, amenities and products that allow them to relax and be at their best while they are on the road,' said Ron Tarson, general manager. 'Our restaurants will play an important role in offering our suburban clientele three refreshing dining options that might more commonly be found in the downtown Chicago area. We view this hotel as a retreat from the rigors of travel with the feel of a downtown Chicago hotel, making it the ideal location for businesses and corporations that call the north and northwest suburbs home.'

The Westin Chicago North Shore is a full-service, state-of-the-art, meeting-friendly hotel, with upscale guestrooms equipped with 32' inch flat screen plasma televisions, 34 suites including a Presidential Suite and two Westin WORKOUT(R) rooms. Guestrooms boast amenities and services that cater to business travelers in traditional Westin style with an oversized work desk, two-line cordless telephone with data port, high-speed wired and wireless Internet access, the new Westin WakeCup(R) coffee brewer with complimentary Starbucks(R) coffee, an in-room refreshment center and the Westin's Service Express(R) ('One Call Does it All') that permits guests to dial one extension from their guestroom phone to facilitate all of their service requests while staying at The Westin Chicago North Shore.

The Westin will be home to one of the North Shore's largest Grand Ballrooms, measuring 15,000 square feet with towering 20-foot tall ceilings. Three 5,000 square-foot Junior Ballrooms are available, as is Westin's StarMeeting Concierge and complete audiovisual support.

Catering to the large Jewish demographic found along Chicago's desirable North Shore, The Westin Chicago North Shore will feature one of the country's only state-of-the-art, full-service Kosher kitchens. The Kosher kitchen is capable of serving more than 2,000 people at multiple events at one time. The hotel will feature a specialized 'Kosher Prep Kitchen' to ensure that all food preparation is done on site and has received certification and oversight from the Chicago Rabbinical Council.

Upon arrival to The Westin Chicago North Shore, guests check-in at one of twelve stations strategically placed throughout the lobby for ease and convenience. Comfortable seating areas grace the hotel lobby, as do four 20-foot tall panes of glass etched with recognizable scenes from the Chicago skyline. Guests of the smoke-free Westin Chicago North Shore can enjoy all of the amenities that the award-winning Westin brand is renowned for, including The Heavenly Bed(R), The Heavenly Bath(R) and the full-service Westin WORKOUT(R) powered by Reebok(R) fitness center with and indoor heated pool and whirlpool.

Ideally located 16 miles north of O'Hare International Airport and just minutes from Interstate 294, visitors to The Westin Chicago North Shore offers easy access to many popular North Shore attractions - including shopping, dining, theaters, the Ravinia Music Festival, Chicago Botanic Gardens and Six Flags Great America.