Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 1st Quarter 2018 | Page 8

TV Sound Stage . The hotel has many interesting elements to it and is alive with innovation .
Ultimately though , a sense of pride and happiness in the staff is vital , and I ’ m fortunate to have a team that is tenured , so they really get to know our guests - by name , preferences - there ’ s genuine familiarity and warmth . From a technology point of view , we just launched our chat feature , giving our guests a real-time option of communicating with us – and with immediate response . Remarkably , it isn ’ t just something for the 20-somethings , as everyone seems to be enjoying it , and the quick answers and actions that come as a result .
The Hotel will also begin a comprehensive $ 30-million-dollar transformation in 2018 . With this , the Lobby Lounge will become a spectacular brasserie restaurant , with indoor and outdoor space , the hotel rooms will be refreshed with a coastal
California decor , and we ’ re adding a free-form pool with a wave simulator and cabanas , along with a poolside restaurant . The renovation starts in Summer and we expect to finish in early 2019 .
WHAT IS YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE ? HOW DO YOU INSPIRE YOUR TEAM ?
I love getting to know my staff and encouraging them to be the “ Michael Jordans ” in the hotel – showing them that they can be extraordinary and that they can truly influence a guest ’ s visit and be a part of it . I ’ m a cheerleader behind the scenes , continually working on the aspect of service and striving to do things in a more intelligent , articulate way . This doesn ’ t mean we are going to be fussy or contrived – ideally , it ’ s all done while having fun and letting your personality show while connecting with our guests .
We also recently integrated the wellness aspect into the staff restaurant , which really impressed the team and made them feel even more valued . The Wellness Café was put in place about a year ago , as I wanted to continue to integrate the California Health & Longevity Institute into the hotel . It ’ s a lovely setting without interruptions of other business activities , all in a space with fun music so that you ’ re with your work buddies having a great lunch , but also knowing that everything is delicious , healthy and nutritionally balanced .
DO YOU THINK THAT FEELING VALUED IS WHY YOU STAY WITH A BRAND ? YOU HAVE BEEN WITH THE FOUR SEASONS FOR OVER 30 YEARS .
Most certainly – we take great pride in being a part of this hotel and of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts . Everyone we hire here is hand-picked , with only about one out of every 12
8 ILHA