By Hanan Alnufaie
RIYADH — Four Seasons hotels plans further investment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Simon P. Casson, president, Hotel Operations in Europe, Middle East, and Africa said during his recent official visit to Riyadh for meetings and discussions with partners and developers.
In an interview with the Saudi Gazette, he disclosed the plans of Four Seasons in the Kingdom, saying that “one of the reasons why I am here is to look for future opportunities for development. I had several discussions with partners and developers. Saudi Arabia is a country of great depth in history. In addition, a country that has the largest economy in the region. Saudi Arabia is very important to us because we would like to grow in the Kingdom in line with the rapid growth this wonderful country witnesses. Our Saudi guests always understand our values and appreciate Four Seasons. We are currently developing the new Kingdom Tower in Jeddah. We are very excited about it and we are dreaming ahead for the future in Saudi Arabia and the entire world.”
Regarding new services or design style adopted by the Four Seasons, Casson said: “Design is ever evolving and we work with a stable of architects which includes some of the most notable architects in the world. We have many examples whether for modern edifice like the Kingdom Tower or our old-line palace in Pittsburgh, which has been beautifully restored from an ancient building. We always work on continually evolving whom we work with. The biggest area of change is technology, the guest can check in online on the Four Seasons app. She or he can also let our team know if they need a pair of running shoes put in the room before arrival, they can order room service and they can check out on the app. So the technology is very much speeding up in that sort of service delivery. What I would like to say is that the basics of hospitality is thousand years old. What makes a great human experience has not changed —genuine welcome, warmth, intuitive service. The main job is about forming a team that has a common purpose based on the culture of Four Seasons.”
He added it is “also about lifting our teams up and helping them to be the best they can be. Therefore, it is about the people and you bring them together to deliver amazing unforgettable experiences. Because a good hotel can be built by hiring famous architects and great interior designers, anyone with lots of money can do that. The whole good to great leap is experiential. In addition, people and human interaction can deliver experiences. No matter how lavish the building is, it is about the lifeblood that runs through the veins of the hotel.”
When asked about the openings witnessed in 2016, Casson replied: “We just opened the hotel in DIFC (Dubai International Finance Center) which is the business district of the city. It is quite a different sort of hotel. It is very designed- led boutique hotel with just a hundred total accommodations. We also opened in Abu Dhabi, which is the capital of the UAE, very iconic tower hotel. It is business hotel. It is on Al Maryah Island where the Galleria mall and Cleveland Clinic are situated. Across other parts of the world, we opened a hotel in Japan, in the Caribbean, New York downtown; we also opened at Ten Trinity Square in London just opposite Tower Bridge.”
In 2017, he further said “we will open our hotel in Kuwait, the capital of Tunis. Second hotel in Seychelles Island, which is located in the Indian Ocean. Lots (are) continuing to happen. We have another nearly 15 or 20 under active development. We are looking forward to the next five years where Four Seasons are not present and our guest would like us to be present.”
Speaking of the developments in Four Seasons hotels in Middle East, Casson said: “if we look back 10 years ago, we first opened our hotel in Cairo in 1999. People said at the time they knew that Four Seasons for high luxury. Therefore, we will be unable to do it in Egypt. We successfully did it. I have seen that example repeatedly. People told us it would be challenging to have Four Seasons in many unexpected cities around the world. However, we successfully did all what we have aspired to regardless of the challenges. What we have come to believe is that if you put together a group of people that are like-minded in the pursuit of excellence, then this sort of great type of hotel experience will come reality. The Middle East is a region that has increased in importance for us. Now, we have four hotels in Egypt, hotels in Morocco, and there are openings in other countries such as the GCC. For long time ago, we had no hotels in UAE. Now we have three. Two in Dubai, Abu Dhabi. I see ahead a lot more potential for hotel developments across the Middle East region especially the GCC and definitely development opportunities here in Saudi Arabia.
From England, Casson, who just turned 50 years old, is with Four Seasons for almost 30 years now, and started his career washing dishes, waiting tables.
“It is an incredible journey. I always tell my kids if you ever want to write a book it will be “from dish washer to President”, a life in a career with Four Seasons, Casson remarked.
