ORLANDO
Benchmark named Antonio Estremera as executive chef for The Grove Resort & Spa.
The resort will open its first phase on March 10 will feature multiple food and drink venues, including a three meal-a-day restaurant, two poolside eateries, two lounges, and a large-scale grab-and-go style marketplace. Each will be overseen by Chef Estremera.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Antonio to The Grove Resort & Spa,” said Bill Lee, general manager, The Grove Resort & Spa. “His background in hotels and resorts of varying size and scale will prove invaluable to our property. Our goal is to provide exceptional experiences across all areas of the resort, and Antonio’s operational capabilities in food and beverage will help us to achieve this.”
Estremera arrives at The Grove Resort & Spa with more than 16 years of experience and more than half of his career spent in upper management positions. His tenure in the hospitality world has taken him up and down the eastern region of the U.S., including a selection of Benchmark properties. Within the collection, Estremera most recently served as executive chef at the Emilio & Gloria Estefan-owned Costa d’Este Beach Resort & Spa in Vero Beach, Fla.; as executive sous chef at the Center for Leadership Excellence in Bethesda, Md.; and as chef tournant for Lansdowne Resort, a Leesburg, Va., property formally operated by Benchmark.
Estremera grew up in the food and beverage industry, learning the essentials of cooking during his formative years while working in his family’s restaurant. It was there that his love for the culinary arts developed, and he utilized his acquired skills to guide his remarkable career as executive chef. He’s since applied his refined technique and creativity to match the needs of the most discerning guests, meeting professionals, sophisticated special event planners, and wedding consultants.
The Grove Resort & Spa sits on 106 acres and once open will offer 878 two- and three-bedroom suites, four pools and the Surfari Water Park. There will be 6,000 square feet of meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 300 people.
