Tourism & Hospitality | Sunday 28 April, 2019 3:43 am |

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the world’s leading luxury hospitality company, is set to showcase its latest innovative guest experiences and global expansion plans at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019 in Dubai. Taking place from 28 April to 1 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, the 26thedition of the region’s biggest travel and tourism industry event will focus on the continuing importance of technology and innovation.

Introducing ‘Take Your Time’

Building on its long history of constantly enhancing the guest experience through its innovative approach to luxury hospitality, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will be highlighting the recent launch of ‘Take Your Time: Daily Discoveries’, a collection of on-property experiences that invite guests to celebrate the rich culture of each destination and the people who make them unique. The experiences are designed to encourage guests to truly connect with the world and the people who matter most in their lives, and take no more than 1 Day, 1 Hour, or 1 Minute. Examples of experiences available to travellers in the region include:

1 Day: Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh at Kingdom Centreinvites travellers to embark on a journey to explore the natural wonder of the desert known as the edge of the world in a day-long adventure.
1 Hour: Diners at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Baycan enjoy a special interactive cooking and dining experience at the Hotel’s CUT by Wolfgang Puck steakhouse.
1 Minute: Guests at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beachcan relax by the pool and sip on refreshing Four Seasons coconuts hand-carved by the Hotel’s expert Coconut Crafters.

Simon Casson, President - Hotel Operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said, “At Four Seasons, we have a long legacy of innovation – not only in terms of how we leverage technology to enhance our offering and services, but also in the way we embrace and celebrate innovation as a way to constantly elevate the guest experience. Whether it is by inviting guests to connect with Four Seasons people and destinations in more meaningful ways, such as through ‘Take Your Time’, or providing real-time assistance through the Four Seasons Chat service, innovation has always defined our approach to creating unforgettable luxury hospitality experiences for our guests.”

“While technology clearly has a vital role to play in shaping the future of the hospitality industry, we recognise that the human touch remains key to delivering authentic personal care that makes each and every guest feel treasured and understood. We will continue to evolve our services in line with the changing needs of travellers, but without compromising on our fundamental belief in the power of deep personal connections, which remains at the heart of everything we do,” Casson added. 

Crafting Authentic Connections

On the technology front, the Four Seasons Chatservice continues to go from strength-to-strength. The industry-leading instant messaging platform has been expanded with the addition of new channels for superior access, offering guests a direct connection to hotel teams around the world via the Four Seasons App, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, WeChat, KakaoTalk and SMS. Communication is made easy with Four Seasons Chat’s ability to translate more than 100 languages efficiently and in real time.

Meanwhile, the company’s innovative ‘Envoy by Four Seasons’ programme is reimagining the influencer space. Launched in November 2018, the initiative invites storytellers from around the world to share what it means to be in the moment and connect to diverse cultures, places, and experiences. Over one thousand world-class artists, storytellers and content creators have applied for the coveted title of ‘Envoy’, working across a variety of mediums including photography, filmmaking, music, poetry, visual art and dance. American artist and illustrator Missy Dunaway was selected for the maiden Envoy experience, and travelled to Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam in March 2019.

Celebrating the ‘Art of Hospitality’

The company has also launched a striking coffee table book titled ‘Four Seasons: The Art of Hospitality’, which beautifully depicts the essence of the Four Seasons brand. Unveiled in November 2018, the book celebrates Four Seasons legendary hospitality through the playful and evocative digital paintings of Spanish artist Ignasi Monreal. The 212-page tome also features a foreword from Pilar Guzmán, a former Editor-in-Chief of Condé Nast Traveller.

Further highlighting Four Seasons innovative approach to creating unique and memorable experiences, Four Seasons Pop Downevents have showcased world-class cuisine, masterful mixology and immersive experiences in Toronto, Philadelphia, Miami, and, most recently, Hong Kong. This global series of events is designed to connect consumers to the Four Seasons brand in exciting and innovative ways, and celebrates the artistry and passion of talented Four Seasons craftspeople around the world.

Extensive Global Expansion

The Four Seasons portfolio currently stands at 112 hotels and resorts in 48 countries, including the recently opened Four Seasons Resort Seychelles at Desroches Island,Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens. The company will continue to grow its collection of exquisite hotels, resorts and private residences around the world during 2019 with the opening of:

Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences One Dalton Street, Boston(opening Spring 2019)
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Bengaluru at Embassy ONE(opening May 1, 2019)
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Los Cabos at Costa Palmas(opening mid 2019)
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Montreal(opening mid 2019)
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center(opening mid 2019)
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Bangkok at Chao Phraya River(opening late 2019)
Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Madrid(opening late 2019)
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley(opening late 2019)
Les Chalets du Mont d’Arbois, Megève, A Four Seasons Hotel(opening late 2019)

The strategic expansion of the Four Seasons Private Residencesportfolio is also continuing apace, and is expected to double over the next five years. The company currently manages 41 residential properties in 19 countries and is on track to exceed 7,000 homes, making Four Seasons the world leader in luxury property management services.

Four Seasons will debut its first-ever standalone residential project this year in London’s elegant Mayfair with the opening of Twenty Grosvenor Square, A Four Seasons Residence, and plans to further expand this exclusive collection in Marrakech, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is participating at Arabian Travel Market 2019 at stand HC0630.