Hamish was awarded the title at the annual awards ceremony on November 28th in Shanghai, having outshone an array of other master chefs from luxury five-star hotels and restaurants in Shanghai, who also appeared on the program.

Commenting on the award, Mr. Jean-Pierre Mainardi, General Manager of Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa said: "We are honoured to add our first Executive Chef award to the other accolades Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa has received over the past three years. This award acknowledges Hamish's culinary talent and experience -- qualities he brings to Hilton Sanya Resort and Spa's dining experience everyday."

Hamish Watts joined Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa in 2007 with 17 years of catering experience that spanned more than a dozen hotels in countries such as Australia, England, and the Netherlands Antilles - Caribbean. He is dedicated to his craft of creating culinary masterpieces that surpass guest's expectations. Hamish also stays abreast with nutritional, contemporary and international food trends, constantly challenging the status quo.

The annual 'You are the Chef' awards also recognized David Yuan, Chef at the resort's .IZE restaurant. David Yuan joined Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa when the hotel first opened, and cites culinary trends from France, Italy, Australia and Singapore as his main influences.

"You are the Chef" is a weekly cooking program airing on the International Channel of Shanghai. It features master chefs from luxury five-star hotels and restaurants in Shanghai, demonstrating how to prepare Asian and Western dishes step by step. "You are the Chef" won the "Best English Speaking Program" two years in a row at International Channel of Shanghai's annual awards.

About Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa

• Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa features a total of 501 guestrooms, suites and villas. It commands a prime location on 400m of unspoilt beach front at the western end of Yalong Bay, a 30-minute drive from the city of Sanya and the international airport. The average room size will be 48.5sqm, with over 50% of the rooms overlooking a wide, crescent-shaped sandy beach and the South China Sea. The remainder has vistas over the surrounding National Park. A 6780sqm Spa Retreat that encompasses a spa with eight treatment pavilions, a fitness centre offering exercise equipment, a reflex zone for traditional massages and foot reflexology, a relaxation area with deck lounges, steam room and sauna, and a tea lounge. Other facilities include seven restaurants and bars, a 3800sqm resort pool resort, two tennis courts, Kidz Paradise, and a one-stop Yalong Bay Adventure Club. The resort also features a detached all-inclusive MICE Pavilion that offers extensive meeting and banquet facilities, more than 3000sqm of space in two storeys as well as two spacious outdoor event lawns.
• Hilton International has linked up with one of China's foremost developers, the China Jin Mao Group Co -- the company behind the striking Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai.
• The island enjoys a year-round tropical climate. It offers a treasure trove of activities including fishing, scuba diving, golf, visits to minority villages, cultural sites as well as proximity to the mainland and visa-free access. Infrastructure in Hainan is fast developing, with two international airports, wide railway network and accessible ports. The Island has been chosen venues for several prominent events including the Hong Kong-Sanya International Sailboat Race held every November, Hainan Discovery Triathlon in 2002 and 2003, as well as the recent Golden Rooster Film Awards, Sanya Happy Festival, and more.