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Four Seasons: growth driven by development pipeline and enhanced commercial strategy

Luxury hospitality company Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts continues to solidify its position through the strategic expansion of its portfolio of hotels, resorts and residential developments.

The company is also extending its luxury lifestyle offering through the growth of Private Retreats, its portfolio of luxury villa and vacation home rentals; its bespoke Private Jet experience; and through the Four Seasons at Home luxury goods collection.

Despite industry-wide challenges caused by the pandemic, Four Seasons outlook for 2022 builds upon the success of the past year, including the addition of highly anticipated new hotels, resorts and residences in key markets, and the extension of its standalone residential collection with new properties opening last year in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Supporting this growth, the company’s longstanding shareholder, an affiliate of Cascade Investment, L.L.C. (Cascade), closed this month on its acquisition of a majority stake in Four Seasons from its long-term investment partner, an affiliate of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC). The transaction marks a pivotal point for the company, further demonstrating Cascade’s commitment to provide Four Seasons with resources to accelerate growth, support the company’s properties and owners, and expand its strategic goals. KHC retains a 23.75% stake in Four Seasons and remains strongly dedicated to the company’s considerable opportunities.

John Davison – “Always remaining focused on our long-term goals and staying true to our strategic pillars has been the key to the company’s success”.

2022 marks an important moment in the evolution of Four Seasons as we sharpen our development focus in key markets, strengthen our leadership position as an iconic luxury brand and capitalise on new opportunities that will continue to drive and diversify our growth.

Realising these opportunities means investing in our greatest competitive advantage – our people. For more than 60 years, the strength of Four Seasons has been grounded in our unmatched commitment to service excellence.

As we grow with intention, so too do the opportunities for our people, ensuring we create an environment in which they can flourish.

Thriving employees ultimately deliver an exceptional guest experience. And as we adapt to the pandemic with innovations such as our Lead With Carehealth and safety program, the deep connection between the success of our employees and the service delivered to our guests has never been more important to Four Seasons long-term success.

John Davison, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Private Retreats at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Napa Valley

Four Seasons is building on the momentum of its successful 2021 openings in strategic markets, including in Napa Valley, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Taormina, Italy.

The company continues to accelerate expansion plans worldwide with four openings planned for 2022, including exciting new developments in Tamarindo, Mexico; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Along with the accelerated pace of new openings, the high valuations and increasing demand for existing Four Seasons properties managed on behalf of owners speaks to the strength of the Four Seasons brand.

Four Seasons has more than 50 new projects under planning or development, including in Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Colombia, Belize and across key markets in the US, all of which will add to the company’s existing portfolio of 122 hotels and resorts and 48 residential properties in 47 countries around the world.  

Four Seasons has a strong, strategic growth trajectory – an extensive pipeline of projects that will open in key global destinations, with visionary development partners who share our commitment to excellence. Our residential business in particular is a key pillar in our growth plans, with a five-year pipeline of USD 7 billion in gross sales value comprising more than 30 projects worldwide.

Our continued growth in residential, a space in which we’ve been a leader since 1985, speaks to our deep understanding of the luxury consumer – those who want to live and experience the Four Seasons lifestyle. With our development partners, we continue to capitalise on the right opportunities in markets that are relevant to luxury consumers, elevating our residential offering and ensuring that Four Seasons is the address of choice in every location where we operate.

Bart Carnahan, President, Global Business Development and Portfolio Management, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at Jumeirah

New standalone Private Residences, developments not connected to a hotel or resort, set to open in the coming years include Four Seasons Private Residences Dubai at Jumeirah – a project that fully sold out before public sales began – Four Seasons Private Residences Lake Austin and Four Seasons Private Residences Marrakech at M Avenue. These new standalone developments join the company’s current collection in London, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Other upcoming residential developments connected to an existing or soon-to-open Four Seasons property include Fort Lauderdale, Minneapolis, Nashville, Mumbai, Cartagena and Belize.

As Four Seasons extends its portfolio globally, the company does so with consideration for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities.

Four Seasons claims to be committed to sustainable hospitality, including reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, eliminating waste, and sourcing responsibly.

To further its commitments to address waste and protect local ecosystems, the company aims to remove all single-use plastic from the guest experience by the end of 2022.

Four Seasons has a long history of employee care, community support and philanthropy. Central to Four Seasons employee experience and social impact programming is the company’s commitment to supporting cancer research, and the advancement of diversity, inclusion, equality and belonging at Four Seasons corporate offices and properties worldwide.

Last year, Four Seasons announced the appointment of Marc Speichert as the company’s first Chief Commercial Officer.

Four Seasons’ personalisation and guest-focused lens extends to Four Seasons digital ecosystem and investments in technology across these platforms continue to roll out globally, focused on gaining deeper insights to enhance the guest experience.

The evolution of the company’s digital capabilities, driven by Four Seasons award-winning App and Chat and FourSeasons.com, will further personalise every touch point of the guest journey.

With usage growing by nearly 300% since 2019, the App’s industry-leading technology empowers guests and residents to control their Four Seasons experience, engaging with real Four Seasons employees on property who deliver curated service characterised by personal connections and emotional intelligence.

New App and Chat features to be rolled out also include the introduction of a mobile key and mobile payments, as well as enhancements to the restaurant and bar digital experience.

Contact your GTM Account Manager to book rooms at Four Seasons properties, anywhere in the world.


Spain – taxi drivers strike 31st July

If you’re visiting Spain in the coming days, be aware that taxi drivers have called an indefinite strike in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Bilbao. Other destinations may be affected at short notice. The strikes are causing some disruption in city centres, as well as access to and from airports. If you’re intending to make an important journey by taxi, consider planning your journey in advance, checking alternative travel options and allowing extra time to complete your journey.

At present, the strike is still ongoing according to our (GTM’s) latest news sources.

Spanish ATC Strikes.

Spanish Air Traffic Control (ATC) workers are planning a series of two-hour work stoppages from 1000hrs to 1200hrs (local time) on 08, 10, 12 and 14 June 2015.

Please ensure that you check in online for your flights if you are travelling on the aforementioned dates.

Industrial Action in Southern Europe.

Further to our update below, posted on 7th November, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) strike, backed by unions in Greece, Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands, could lead to many flights being disrupted for up to three days this week (13-15 November).

Passengers booked to fly on all affected European sectors should therefore checkin online for the most up to date information regarding their flight/s. Easyjet has already cancelled many of its flights to countries in southern Europe. British Airways said passengers due to travel to or from Spain on Wednesday 14 November can change to another date free of charge; they also warned that there could be disruptions on services to other European countries.

Iberia has cancelled more than 350 flights this week, including those on the Madrid to London route as a result of the strike, which affects air traffic controlers. TAP Portugal has announced that London to Lisbon flights will also be affected on 13 November and 15 November.

Tomorrow’s industrial action, which has been organised by the European Trade Union Confederation, is in response to austerity measures being taken by the governments of several southern European countries. Protest marches, rallies and strikes will affect different countries at different times.

Spain – 24 Hour General Strike.

Spain’s largest trades unions have called a 24 hour general strike for Wednesday 14 November 2012.

Public transport within Spain and services at Spanish airports are likely to be significantly disrupted and public demonstrations in city centres may also affect local services. Check for transport delays before arriving in Spain and allow extra time for journeys.

Furthermore, a number of demonstrations and industrial actions are expected in Madrid and other city centres during the winter. These may affect local services. In particular, visitors are advised to check for possible transport delays before arriving in Spain,
and to allow extra time for transfers to and from airports. You are advised to stay clear of demonstrations.