Kamal Ahmed and Kit Skarstrom have been named Restaurant Director and Chef De Cuisine, respectively, bringing more than four decades of industry experience to the opening team.
NEW YORK – Tempo by Hilton Times Square announced the appointments of Kamal Ahmed as Restaurant Director and Kit Skarstrom as Chef De Cuisine. Expected to debut in August 2023 within the soon-to-open TSX Broadway, a 46-story tower featuring the hotel, experiential retail, and entertainment spaces like the historic Palace Theatre, the property represents the first hotel from Hilton’s newest stylish and contemporary lifestyle brand, Tempo by Hilton.
In these roles, Ahmed and Skarstrom lead the pre-opening culinary team and, once open, will oversee food and beverage operations at the 661-room hotel and its day-to-night dining destinations, including a Grab & Go locally curated market with artisanal food and beverage developed in collaboration with Bluestone Lane, the Australian-inspired premium coffee roaster, café and lifestyle brand, and Highball, the hotel’s signature restaurant and cocktail lounge boasting an expansive outdoor terrace overlooking Times Square.
Kamal Ahmed, Restaurant Director
Ahmed brings 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry to the Tempo by Hilton Times Square team and will be responsible for providing consistent and engaging experiences to guests while optimizing operational costs and efficiency. Ahmed has a rich background in the field, starting his career with B&B Hospitality Group, where he oversaw operations for renowned New York restaurants such as Del Posto, Babbo and Esca. He has also held key positions such as Director of Food & Beverage at Arlo Hotels, Operations Manager at Belmond’s 21 Club and Food & Beverage Manager at W Hotels in New York. Ahmed’s exceptional leadership and discipline have led to several industry accolades, including Michelin Stars and Wine Spectator awards. Ahmed is passionate about discovering and creating culinary trends, with the classic Paper Plane cocktail representing one of his simple beverage pleasures.
“It is such an honor to join Tempo by Hilton Times Square’s culinary team and celebrate this incredible milestone of launching the lifestyle brand’s first hotel in the heart of Times Square,” says Ahmed. “Drawing from my past roles in both large-scale and boutique New York establishments, I am eager to deliver high-quality culinary experiences to guests and introduce innovative and playful interpretations of cuisine traditional to the city while also paying tribute to its heritage.”
Kit Skarstrom, Chef De Cuisine
Born in Boston and raised in New York, Skarstrom joins the Tempo by Hilton Times Square food and beverage team with 32 years of experience. With career origins working in premier NYC restaurants, Skarstrom eventually transitioned to hotel positions including Sous Chef at Waldorf Astoria New York and, most recently, Four Seasons Hotel New York as Chef de Cuisine. Skarstrom’s experience and extensive knowledge of food and kitchen culture in Manhattan will play an integral role in his work at Tempo by Hilton Times Square, where he will oversee menu development and operations while ensuring customer satisfaction, immaculate presentation and delivery of high-quality food and drink. In his free time, he enjoys cycling, traveling, art and exploring new cuisines.
“I’m thrilled to join the food and beverage team at Tempo by Hilton Times Square,” says Skarstrom. “From reimagined cuisine inspired by New York classics to a large selection of handcrafted specialty spirit and free-spirited cocktails, we look forward to bringing an inviting experience to guests in the heart of Times Square.”
Tempo by Hilton Times Square is located at 1568 Broadway, New York, NY 10036.
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