Coast Hotels & Resorts today announced the appointment of Renee Muller as Manager of Prestons Restaurant in the new Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver, and Alessandro Vianello as Chef.

Renee brings a decade of food and wine experience to Prestons. Prior to joining Prestons, she was General Manager and Sommelier at Plan B Lounge in Vancouver’s Yaletown district.  She also served as Director of Food and Beverage for the Dockside Restaurant and Brewing Co. in the Granville Island Hotel.  Renee started her career as a fine dining server at the Queen Charlotte Lodge in Graham Island, B.C. in 2000 and has held senior positions at some of western Canada’s most popular restaurants and resorts including the Amethyst Lodge in Jasper, Alberta, Mike Wielgele Helicopter Skiing Lodge in Blue River, B.C., Tekarra Lodge in Jasper, Alberta and Pyramid Lake Resort in Jasper, which is now the Coast Pyramid Lake Resort.

In her new position, Renee will oversee all aspects of Prestons’ operations, ensuring customers get the very best in West Coast dining through the ambiance, cuisine and service offered at the new restaurant.

Renee holds an International Sommelier Guild Diploma and was a representative for Denominación de Origen of Ribera del Duero, one of Spain’s legendary winemaking regions, at the 2008 Miami International Wine Festival. She is currently completing her Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma.

Alessandro Vianello, Chef of Prestons Restaurant, has worked in several fine-dining restaurants and hotels in Canada, the U.K. and Italy throughout his career.  Chef Vianello recently relocated to Vancouver from St. Andrews, Scotland where he was Sous Chef at the Fairmont Hotel.  He also worked in the upscale Tuscan vineyard restaurant Castello Vicchiomaggio in Florence, Italy under the direction of renowned Chef Francesco Lagi.

Chef Vianello holds a culinary Red Seal certification, completed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust fundamentals wine course and was a semi-finalist in the Gordon Ramsay BBC competition in November 2008.

About Prestons Restaurant

Prestons Restaurant is Vancouver’s newest dining experience. Offering a wide selection of skillfully prepared West Coast cuisine with distinctive Mediterranean and Asian flavours, Prestons is set to open on January 15, 2010 at 1177 West Pender in the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel. Prestons will provide a distinctive modern atmosphere with contemporary decor and a neighbourhood comfort feel.  The restaurant will be open for lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. daily.  For more information, please call 604-673-2173 or check out the website at www.dineprestons.com.