WHITE PLAINS, NY – March 26, 2008 – Corporate America was changed forever a year ago when Four Points by Sheraton appointed the world’s first-ever Chief Beer Officer (CBO), Scott Kerkmans. After a year in office the resident CBO has realized that a dream job can come with a nightmare work load. Scott is seeking a little sudsy help by kicking off a world wide search for a Best Brews Summer intern. The lucky lad or lass will assist the CBO with his Best Brews duties including beer tasting, trend research and brewery relations.

As part of his undertaking the resident CBO is seeking a yeasty soul over the age of 21 with a love for lager and a thirst for industry knowledge. “I am excited to share my knowledge and experiences with someone who is as passionate about the brewing community as I am” said Kerkmans. The search for the Best Brews Summer Intern will kick off on March 26^th with ads in the Wall Street Journal and a number of intern job boards like MonsterTrak and craigslist. This isn’t your frat brother’s job though,  the internship will come with the frothy perks of tasting and toasting, but will also include learning the inner workings of the Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews program and the ever expanding craft beer industry and beer business. Like all executive internships, this position will start pouring in June and tap out in August.

Kerkmans earned his coveted executive title by impressing the Four Points team and receiving over half of the 12,000 votes cast from around the world. Since taking his unique Chief Beer Officer post a year ago, Scott has expanded the Four Points Best Brews training program, started a blog, forged relationships with countless craft breweries, traveled to some of the largest beer festivals and educated guests on the world of beer through his blog at fourpoints.com/cbo. “Scott really understands the value of simple pleasures including our Best Brews” said Sandy Swider, Vice President of Four Points by Sheraton. “We are excited to see how he will continue to expand the program”. Kerkmans has great plans for the Best Brews program including introducing new beer and food pairings and ways to continue making Four Points by Sheraton the best destination for beer aficionados everywhere.

Think you’ve got the thirst?
Those interested in applying for the position should email their barley resume to Four Points Chief Beer Officer, Scott Kerkmans at cbo@fourpoints.com along with a cover letter. The letter should include some frothy facts about the applicant and show they can be as dedicated to uncomplicated comfort as Four Points by telling us their four favorite simple pleasures in life. The deadline for applicants is April 26th. Four finalists will be chosen and again the beer loving community will be called upon to help select the first ever Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews intern!


Best Brews

Four Points by Sheraton offers a wide selection of brews featuring imports and North American craft beers, each chosen for their unique flavors, popularity and quality ingredients. Through Best Brews, each participating Four Points hotel around the world provides a selection of local, regional and imported craft beers from the extensive list of almost 300 available brews in bottles, and on tap.  Participating properties offer a minimum of four draught beers and a selection of up to 20 bottled beers, including imports representing Belgium, Germany, England and the Czech Republic, as well as regional craft beers. 

True to its dedication to uncomplicated comfort, Four Points makes choosing the best brew as easy as pie.  All hotel beer selections are broken down by style, character and body, so guests can easily identify the perfect brew for their taste.  Can’t decide?  Beer sampler “flights” with four 4oz pours of draught beer with story cards make it easy to sample the best brews on tap while learning about the art of the pour.

For additional information on Best Brews and Four Points by Sheraton, including room rates and availability, and the search for the Best Brews intern please visit www.fourpoints.com/cbo.

Four Points by Sheraton, with more than 130 properties in 22 countries, offers the self-sufficient traveler a new kind of style and comfort combined with a spirited "can-do" service -- all at an honest value.  Four Points by Sheraton hotels are located in easy-to-reach areas – close to major airports, suburban centers, urban hot spots and resort and vacation destinations. Four Points’ Simple Pleasures^SM program offers little indulgences such as tasty pie, a great cup of coffee and premium craft beers from around the world. It’s those little extras that score big points with Four Points by Sheraton customers. 

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with approximately 900 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, Sheraton®, Westin®, Four Points® by Sheraton, W®, Le Méridien® and the recently announced Aloft^SM and Element^SM Hotels. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.