Maria Jose Kessler, one of the concierges for The Private Residences at The Chase Park Plaza, has been awarded the Silver Plume Award for Corporate Concierge of the Year by Where St. Louis Magazine.

The Silver Plume Awards honor exemplary customer service and performance by concierges and managers, as chosen by their peers. The awards also recognize concierges and guest-service professionals who go “the extra mile.”

“Maria Jose is a true treasure,” said Jeanne Venn, chief concierge, The Chase Park Plaza. “After four years as a concierge in the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, Maria Jose quickly won the hearts and confidence of our residents, with her unique brand of warmth and global knowledge.”

Maria Jose Kessler stands with her Silver Plume Award at the Where St. Louis award ceremony.

Where Magazine started The Silver Plume Awards 17 years ago in New York to honor outstanding service and achievements in hotel guest service. This is the second year for a St. Louis concierge to receive a Silver Plume Award.

The Saint Louis Beacon recently posted its coverage of the upcoming 40th Annual Central West End Home Tour, May 30-31. Read the article here for more details about the featured homes and the starring role of The Private Residences.

This year’s tour focuses on condominiums and terraces, which makes The Private Residences at The Chase Park Plaza the prime attraction. Two units and a terrace will be on display for tour participants (including the unveiling of one of our most spectacular homes on the 15th floor, decorated by Karen Pepper of Edwin Pepper Interiors).

You can purchase your ticket(s) in advance or the day of the tour. Advance tickets are available The Chase Park Plaza gift shop and other neighborhood locations.

The Private Residences at The Chase Park Plaza hosted a photo shoot for St. Louis Magazine’s At Home on April 7. Look for the design feature to run in the magazine later this year!

A story in the April 2 St. Louis Post-Dispatch spotlighted a CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women) program that’s close to my heart… we even hosted them last year in The Private Residences penthouse space. If you have time, pick up the print edition and check out the group photo! –Marcia

Recently, the exterior Park Plaza tower received a new spring look, courtesy of some new signage. Check it out the next time you’re on Maryland Plaza.

Ladue News recently featured a profile of our first residents, Dr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Judy Harris, in the publication’s “Finer Things” section. In the Nov. 20 piece, written by Trish Muyco-Tobin, the Harrises talk about their move from the ‘burbs to the big city, the proximity to their favorite restaurants and the amenities that have made it easy to come home to The Chase Park Plaza.

Check out the article and the wonderful photograph of the Harrises and their two dogs, Guinness and Rosie, by clicking here.

A big thanks to Jeff and Judy for being willing to share their story and open their home!

The development team of The Chase Park Plaza proudly welcomes esteemed St. Louis chef, Brian S. Hale, to its staff as executive chef. Hale officially began his new role the week of Aug. 4, 2008.

“Brian’s reputation as one of the bright stars of the culinary world makes him an exciting addition to the Chase Park Plaza family,” said Marcia Smith Niedringhaus, developer of The Chase Park Plaza. “His talents, ambitious menus and passion for what he does fit in perfectly with our vision for continually elevating the Chase Park Plaza’s dining experiences.”

Hale will drive the overall culinary direction for The Chase Park Plaza’s four dining areas: Café Eau, EAU Bistro, Chaser’s Lounge and The Marquee Café. He will also lead culinary efforts for hotel events within the property’s 70,000 sq. ft. of banquet and meeting space. The Chase Park Plaza averages 150 events per week.

“I’m a St. Louis native and lived in the Central West End. I’ve frequented The Chase Park Plaza many times and have great respect for its history and allure. It’s the best St. Louis has to offer in hotels,” said Hale. “My goal is to build on The Chase’s foundation to create a new culinary destination for the city and region. People gather in this building for so many reasons—history, glamour, nightlife. I want to make the dining experience stand alone in its appeal.”

Hale started his culinary career in Milan, but has been a part of St. Louis dining for more than 15 years. His work has added to the tastes of several area restaurants: Al Baker’s, Harry’s Downtown, Sqwires, and most recently, Monarch. During his time in St. Louis, Hale has been recognized by Sauce Magazine as Best Chef in St. Louis (2006) and Favorite Chef in St. Louis by the Riverfront Times (2006). As executive chef for Sqwires (2002) and Monarch (2006), Hale’s efforts helped each restaurant earn various honors for Best New Restaurant in St. Louis. Hale also won the first annual Iron Fork competition in 2007 and has been featured by prominent culinary magazines Bon Appétit and Gourmet.

“My experience and successes have been with independent restaurants,” said Hale. “This opportunity with The Chase Park Plaza is a new challenge for me. I think my experiences have prepared me to take this next step in my career for directing the culinary fare for an entire hotel.”

Hale assumes the post left vacant by former executive chef, Omar Hafidi, who left to pursue other interests.

CWE Hospitality Services, LLC, the management company owned and run by the owners of The Chase Park Plaza, has landed its first long-term management deal outside of St. Louis. Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Smith and Executive Vice President Marcia Smith Niedringhaus, CWE officially began management of the 56-room The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colo. on June 1.

The Colorado resort is owned by a real estate investment program of Dallas-based Behringer Harvard –which also holds a majority interest in The Chase Park Plaza — and offers similar amenities to the Chase, including a spa, luxury rental units and fitness center. The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera is often described as “an intimate hideaway combining casual elegance with rustic Rocky Mountain splendor.” Set high atop a privately owned mountain, this AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning chateau-style lodge offers guests a complete resort experience.

“The owners of The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera desire to create a culture that’s similar to the one that we have at the Chase,” Smith said. “It is a culture where the guest comes first and all needs are met to the fullest. With everything from the finest turndown service to impeccably manicured walks, guests who book a stay at a property managed by CWE Hospitality Services should expect nothing short of the best.”

Like The Chase Park Plaza’s Private Residences, The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera will soon feature the Paramonte Private Residences. Paramonte residents will have access to all lodge and spa amenities, just as The Private Residences’ owners have access to all of the amenities of The Chase Park Plaza.

The pool at The Chase Park Plaza was recently featured in Forbes Magazine’s ForbesLife Executive Woman online feature. The piece provided a brief survey of some of the finest fresh-air swimming pools for professionals to visit during business trips. About the pool at The Chase, the piece said:

For decades, this ’20s-era hotel was St. Louis’s place to swing, the magnet for big bands and bigwigs, presidents and princes. Newly remodeled, the Chase still harks back to its glory days. The pool is splendidly set in a Romanesque Revival–style courtyard, and you can envision that proud day in 1956 when a bevy of Miss America contestants strutted their stuff here. Times (and bathing suits) have changed, but the pool retains its mellow charm, with flower-filled planters and the chance to dine alfresco. And it’s heated, so the swim season spans spring through autumn, with early-morning exercise classes.  

Residents of The Private Residences have complementary access to the pool at The Chase.

On Friday, May 30, Lisa R. Brown of the St. Louis Business Journal broke the news that the developers of The Chase Park Plaza are expanding their hospitality services, known as CWE Hospitality Services, LLC, beyond St. Louis. In landing its first out-of-town deal, the management of the Lodge & Spa at Cordillera in Edwards, Colo., CWE Hospitality Services, LLC solidifies its position as a nationally-recognized hospitality provider.

According to the article, CWE Hospitality Services, LLC was selected for its experience managing The Chase Park Plaza, which offers many of the same amenities as Lodge & Spa at Cordillera.

Read the full article here: http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/06/02/story9.html