WHITE PLAINS, NY – April 23, 2008 – What do a former NFL player, MIT student, a member of the Blue Man Group, a Central Park Landscaper and a talk show host have in common?  They are all vying to become the Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews Summer Intern!  Although Four Points and the brand’s Chief Beer Officer announced the frothy search only a few weeks ago they have already received more than 1,000 applications from 15 countries, 36 states, five Ivy League schools, three branches of the military and hundreds of beer lovers from around the world and still counting.  The lucky lad or lass will assist the CBO with his duties including beer tasting, trend research and touring breweries to find new suds for Four Points Best Brews program.

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 big work load. Scott is seeking a little sudsy help by kicking off a world wide search for a summer intern who will assist the CBO with his Best Brews duties including beer tasting, trend research and brewery relations.

Do State Schools have more Hoppy Hopes than Ivy Leagues Yeasty Yearnings? 
“I never expected to see so many candidates from such different walks of life passionate about the Best Brews program and craft brewing industry”, said Kerkmans of the more than 1000 applicants that have applied to be his summer intern.  In addition to a large number of applications from college and grad students from 235 schools, many former scholars also want their chance at the dream internship including a former NFL player, a member of the Blue Man group, a Central Park Landscaper, a United Nations Volunteer, a talk show host and even a Whale Rescuer.  Investment bankers, Veterans and golfers alike are ready and willing to put their careers on hold hoping for a frothy summer of tasting, toasting and researching the world of the craft beer industry under the Four Points by Sheraton brand’s Chief Beer Officer, Scott Kerkmans.

As Kerkmans and team at Four Points sort through the hundreds of applications certain trends seem to be appearing.  Of the 36 states represented California is leading the pack with the largest number of applicants, many coming from San Diego. Cornell, Emory and UCLA are home to the most number of applicants even though MIT, Harvard and Georgetown are well represented.  And, Greek life has Ta Kappa Epsilon as the proudest of their beer knowledge so far but Sigma Xi, the Scientific Society is following closely behind.

The simple pleasure of a Good Beer
As part of the application process beer enthusiasts are asked to list their four favorite simple pleasures in life and so far, music is the most popular.  “I am thrilled with everyone’s enthusiasm for our Best Brews program and fascinated to see what the candidates list as their simple pleasures” commented Sandy Swider Vice President of Four Points by Sheraton.  “Music seems to be the most popular but the beer lover who listed Grandma’s spaghetti is my favorite so far”.  Applicants have listed everything from the obvious like beer, the smell of fresh pie baking and the sound of rain to the unexpected like the smell of a campfire and finding the perfect parking spot and hearing your favorite song on the radio.  The Four Points Simple Pleasures^SM program offers little indulgences such as tasty pie, a great cup of coffee and of course, premium craft beers from around the world.

Keep the applications pouring in!
Even with all these hoppy applicants Four Points has not found their Best Brews Intern yet so it’s not too late! 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 tell us their four favorite simple pleasures in life. The deadline for applicants is April 30^th. 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. 

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.