Case Analysis Four Seasons
Case Analysis: Four Seasons Goes to Paris
Executive Summary
Still in his 20s, Isadore (Issy) Sharp, a Canadian architect and builder working for his contractor father, constructed his first hotel, Four Seasons, at an unlikely downtown site in Toronto in 1961. He originally had no plans to enter the hotel business on a grand scale, but as opportunities unfolded, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts was managing 53 properties in 24 countries by 2002.
“We opened our first hotel with a simple principle: treating every customer as a special guest.” From day one, Sharp ran his hotel under the principle of “a more personal style of service” that allows the customer to maximize the value of their time. Even when new cultures and economic pressures were present, this has remained the core philosophy at every Four Seasons location for half a century. The move to France when the Four Seasons opened the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris in 1999 was certainly no exception.
Case Analysis
Key Players * Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz al Saud (Owner) * Didier Le Calvez (General Manager) * Pierre-Yves Rochon (Designer) : the fact that he was French signaled to the French that F.S. understood what they meant by luxury * Antoine Corinthios (President, Europe, Middle east, and Africa): “Italian in Italy, French in France” * John Young (Executive Vice president, Human Resources) * David Crowl (Vice President Sales and Marketing) * Wolf Hengst (President, Worldwide Hotel Operations)
The F.S. George V
This case presents three primary ideas for Four Seasons. The first is their approach to international growth which can best be explained as maintaining their fundamental values and reputation of luxury while at the same time, maintaining the local culture. Antoine Corinthios said “Our standards are universal, for example, getting your message on time, clean room, good breakfast; being cared for by an engaging, anticipating, and responding staff;
Executive Summary
Still in his 20s, Isadore (Issy) Sharp, a Canadian architect and builder working for his contractor father, constructed his first hotel, Four Seasons, at an unlikely downtown site in Toronto in 1961. He originally had no plans to enter the hotel business on a grand scale, but as opportunities unfolded, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts was managing 53 properties in 24 countries by 2002.
“We opened our first hotel with a simple principle: treating every customer as a special guest.” From day one, Sharp ran his hotel under the principle of “a more personal style of service” that allows the customer to maximize the value of their time. Even when new cultures and economic pressures were present, this has remained the core philosophy at every Four Seasons location for half a century. The move to France when the Four Seasons opened the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris in 1999 was certainly no exception.
Case Analysis
Key Players * Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz al Saud (Owner) * Didier Le Calvez (General Manager) * Pierre-Yves Rochon (Designer) : the fact that he was French signaled to the French that F.S. understood what they meant by luxury * Antoine Corinthios (President, Europe, Middle east, and Africa): “Italian in Italy, French in France” * John Young (Executive Vice president, Human Resources) * David Crowl (Vice President Sales and Marketing) * Wolf Hengst (President, Worldwide Hotel Operations)
The F.S. George V
This case presents three primary ideas for Four Seasons. The first is their approach to international growth which can best be explained as maintaining their fundamental values and reputation of luxury while at the same time, maintaining the local culture. Antoine Corinthios said “Our standards are universal, for example, getting your message on time, clean room, good breakfast; being cared for by an engaging, anticipating, and responding staff;