Destinations: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

City Breaks With Style

Posted on by Alison Miller

With hotels that play a prominent role in every major fashion-week city – New York, London, Milan and Paris – Four Seasons has deep experience in high style, experience that helps guests uncover each city’s unique creative spirit. And with more and more of the fashion industry’s energy now being generated beyond its traditional centres, a growing roster of other urban areas is gaining attention from style-savvy visitors who (with the help of Four Seasons experts) know where to look.

From updating your wardrobe to gaining access to designers’ spaces to inspiring your own creativity, here’s a sampling of customized experiences that connect you to influential – and up-and-coming – arbiters of fashion, art and design.

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Define – and shop – your style

Denver stylist Koya Nyangi wants to inspire and motivate you to live life boldly, one outfit at a time. She calls on her clients to experiment and, most importantly, have fun with fashion: “Remember; you’ve got to try it. Be bold, be brave and be different.” A Kenyan native, a jetsetter who’s lived in London, India and Dubai, and now a transplant to the Mile High City, Nyangi’s diverse experiences in the fashion industry also include coveted stints at Neiman Marcus, Glenn + Glenn and the Denver Art Museum. Nyangi’s roots haven’t escaped her; she continues to advocate for African fashion brands and designers with the aim of expanding their reach to a global audience. To guests of Four Seasons Hotel Denver, she lends her international background and expertise, in the form of personally curated closets and exclusive guided shopping trips to her favourite boutiques, including Haven, Lady Jones and C.R. Lee.

In Chicago, Tali Kogan’s style studio resides in the posh 900 North Michigan Shops, seven floors of luxury retailers on the northern end of the Magnificent Mile. Guests of Four Seasons Hotel Chicago – located on the same block – can choose from a private consultation in Kogan’s studio, where she curates capsule wardrobes, or a guided visit to the city’s hottest boutiques, where store directors await with wardrobes Kogan has preselected especially for you.

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When style is a priority but you’re short on time, Four Seasons Hotel Montreal offers direct indoor access to luxury retailer Holt Renfrew Ogilvy, where brands like Prada and Dior shine alongside the works of up-and-coming designers. The Concierge can arrange for an Ogilvy personal shopper to guide you to an expansive shopping suite where the latest pieces have been pulled for you.

Much of the fun of shopping is showing off your new styles afterwards. In Los Angeles this season, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel launches an experiential series based on personas drawn to this glamorous city. First up is “The Dreamer”: an exclusive experience in which an A-list team treats you to some Hollywood sparkle. After your Rodeo Drive shopping trip with stylist Nicole Pollard Bayme, hairstylist Léa Journo and her team of makeup artists give your look a magazine-cover quality. Portrait photographer Art Streiber, who’s worked with the likes of Lady Gaga and Leonardo DiCaprio, captures the new you before a wrap party at the Hotel’s CUT by Wolfgang Puck.

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Go behind the scenes

Glimpse the life of fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent with Four Seasons Resort Marrakech. Through an exclusive partnership with the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent, you’ll explore Villa Oasis, the late French designer’s kaleidoscopic second home, with a dedicated docent. Marvel at the home’s interiors – a study in colour, pattern and texture – and peruse the same books, paintings and objects that inspired the designer himself, before touring the renowned Jardin Majorelle, one of the city’s most visited sights, and the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech, where a rotating collection of pieces from the YSL archives is on display.

Enjoy the royal treatment at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, Egypt, where you can explore the Royal Jewellery Museum ­– located in a 19th-century palace – during a private visit. Stroll the grand halls as you examine a glittering collection that belonged to the royal family of the Muhammad Ali dynasty. The collection includes precious stones and diamonds, a golden chess set, clocks, watches, ornamental boxes and even diamond-encrusted garden tools. An expert guide will be on hand to answer questions and share the personal history of each piece. Afterwards, savour a private dinner in the palace’s Royal Gardens, prepared by the Hotel’s chefs and accompanied by live music.

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Find artistic inspiration

A sense of style, of course, extends far beyond our clothing choices, and fashion designers have long been influenced by myriad forms of art. Find your own inspiration in the undulating curves and vivid hues of glass art with a guided visit to the non-profit arts centre Public Glass, arranged by Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco. After a tour, a professional glass-blowing artist will teach you how to shape and add colour to molten glass to create your own handcrafted paperweight. Then head to Montague Gallery to view a mesmerizing showcase of works by contemporary glass artists.

The gallery scene is vast and vibrant in South Africa’s largest metropolis, where guests of Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff, Johannesburg, may opt for a journey to the city’s most innovative spots, including the revered Goodman Gallery. Founded as a non-discriminatory space during apartheid, it has grown into one of the country’s top destinations for contemporary South African art. Also on your tour: Kim Sacks’ retail gallery, for African ceramics, jewellery and tribal handicrafts, and the legendary Everard Read gallery, established in 1913 and the source of many pieces in the Hotel’s own collection.

Bangkok’s Creative District, where stylish new showrooms and galleries pepper a historic neighbourhood of century-old shrines, temples and markets, unfurls along the small lanes that crisscross Charoen Krung Road just beyond Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River. The Concierge can arrange a guided visit to ATT 19, a showcase of ceramics, contemporary art, and vintage and designer clothing ­– all surrounded by a lush garden established by one of Thailand’s pre-eminent conservationists in the 1950s. Your next stop is P. Tendercool, nearby, where designers work with clients to create bespoke modern furniture. Break to refuel at Chef Chalermpon “Van” Rohitratana’s innovative haunt Dag, housed in a former warehouse and open late for after-hours gallery-hopping.

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Appreciate street style

New York’s most stylish neighbourhoods are a clear choice for shopping ­– but they offer much more. Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown will pair you with travel and architectural photographer Joe Thomas, who lends you a Sony A7III camera to walk the streets of Lower Manhattan, stopping to examine and photograph outdoor paintings, from New Yorker Dean Stockton’s comic book–inspired work to realistic portraits by Nomad Clan, a duo of female artists from England. Ponder Shepard Fairey’s depiction of Debbie Harry, across the street from where CBGB once stood, and Audrey Hepburn on Mulberry Street, painted by Tristan Eaton, whose works also reside in the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection.

In Lisbon, another street art capital, let Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon set you up to take a spin in a restored 1940s moto sidecar and traverse the city in pursuit of its most riveting displays of large-scale public art. Your guide will take you to works ranging from carved portraits by renowned Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto (also known as Vhils) to a 12-metre (39-foot) painting of Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral by artist Nunca.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

What stylish destination will you explore next?

Denver skyline and mountains

Comfort Cuisine

Posted on by Andi Petrini

Few things have been proved to be as good for the soul as the familiar flavours of beloved dishes – foods that envelop us with a sense of nostalgic comfort, reminding us of special moments and good times. Sometimes these dishes are indulgent: meaty pastas, creamy cheeses, rich stews. Other times, they’re meals we associate with the security of childhood: poached eggs like Mom used to make, Grandma’s chicken soup, warm crusty bread.

Four Seasons chefs understand the power of food to boost our moods, and they’re always looking for ways to elevate traditional comfort foods for your plate and palate. Here are a few ways they share their experiences with guests.

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Delicious desserts in Chicago

Growing up in Cartago, Colombia, Pastry Chef Juan Gutierrez loved making brownies with his mother on Sunday mornings. “My mom would always have two spatulas – one for her and one for me, so we could both lick the batter,” he says. “Now, when I smell rich brownie batter or take a bite of one fresh from the oven, I am filled with warm memories of my childhood. It’s these special, personal and nostalgic moments like this that make a dish comfort food.”

Gutierrez tries to infuse that sense of comfort and belonging into his desserts at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. “Living abroad, a sense of home is dear to me. I want to make people feel like they are at home,” he says. For a taste of home at the Hotel’s new Adorn Bar & Restaurant, he suggests the Milk Chocolate and Coffee Profiterole. The coffee mousse, malted vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce are childhood favourites all grown up. “We’re elevating these ingredients in a way that gives guests a new experience,” he says, “while keeping the personal connection and the meaning of the flavours intact.”

 

On the menu in Chicago

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A taste of home in Lisbon

There are two dishes that remind Chef Pedro Pena Bastos of his childhood home in the Ribatejo region of Portugal. “Dishes like molhenga – a thick tomato and onion soup served with toasted bread, poached eggs, fresh oregano and green olive oil – is one of the highlights of my childhood and reminds me of late, hot summer nights, eating family dinners around a large table,” he says. “We also ate petingas assadas – tiny sardines covered in corn flour on a bed of olive oil, garlic and fresh bay leaves, roasted until brown with a splash of aged vinegar for a hint of freshness paired with the punchy fish flavour – which is even better three or four days later, served on a slice of cornbread with coriander leaf on top.”

He draws on these culinary roots when crafting his menus at CURA at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. “These memories influence the creative process when I build a new dish or flavour profile – using simple ingredients but seasoning them properly and letting them shine,” he says. “I love to bring the same flavours from my past and present them in different ways but keeping the taste and memories the same.”

Other chefs at CURA are also embracing sentimental flavours. Pastry Chef Diogo Lopes is testing recipes to add his favourite comfort food, French toast, to the dessert menu. “In Portugal, we usually eat French toast during the festive season, but my mom would make it year-round, especially on weekends.” Lopes says his mother would let the bread dry out overnight so that it would better soak up the milk in the morning. “She would surprise us with it – I would jump out of bed in the morning on the first scent of freshly fried French toast. The sweet smell plus the sugared cinnamon we dusted on top – few things make me happier.”

He’s playing with recreating that sense of happiness with churros – traditionally made of fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. His version for CURA would include boletus fungi and pine sugar. “It’s a different flavour, but the inspiration is there.”

Savour the flavour of Lisbon

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Simple pleasures in Athens

“I consider pasta my first love, after my wife, Charlotte,” Chef Luca Piscazzi says. His favourite pasta? His mother’s spaghetti alle vongole – pasta with clams – which he especially loved cold from the fridge the next day.

Clearly pasta is his comfort food of choice. “You can eat pasta every day for lunch and dinner,” he says. “It can be a different dish every time, but it’s always an Italian classic.” Guests at Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens can find a dish inspired by his mother’s recipe on the menu at Pelagos: The Spaghetti With Caviar is served cold – just the way Piscazzi likes it – with a clam emulsion. He added the caviar for rich umami flavour, or “the wow factor that makes the dish unforgettable,” along with an almond sauce and bronze fennel and chives from the Hotel’s garden.

“The beauty of life in Greece and the Mediterranean is that simple pleasures lie at the core of everything,” he says.

Enjoy a taste of Athens

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Flavours of family in Austin

For Chef Gerardo Lopez at Four Seasons Hotel Austin, family time as a child in Mexico City meant going out with his parents and siblings for tacos al pastor, made from pork shoulder marinated in achiote paste with orange and pineapple juices and roasted on a vertical charcoal pit. It’s one of the few dishes that can be found any time of day in Mexico City – “one of the reasons it’s so comforting to me,” he says.

To interpret his memory in Austin, he created Quail al Pastor for the menu at Ciclo. “Our version is made with Texas quail, presented on a skewer with fresh pineapple and red onion – these represent the trompo skewer of the traditional charcoal pit – and roasted over mesquite charcoal,” he says. “It’s served with two fresh corn tortillas and pineapple compote, fresh red onion, avocado and a green tomatillo salsa cruda.”

The sizzling meat is delivered to the table on a spit – an interactive feast for the senses and for the soul.

Plan your meal in Austin

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City at dusk

7 Spots to Catch the Best Winter Waves

Posted on by Alycee Byrd

When the weather turns chilly, many adventure-seekers head for the mountains. But the season offers plenty of chances to catch big waves – if you know where to look. Winter brings some of the best – and biggest – surf conditions to destinations like Hawaii, Morocco and Portugal, while in tropical locales the water is warm enough for bikinis or board shorts. Here are some of our favourite spots to hang ten this summer – all within easy distance of Four Seasons.

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FAMOUS WAVES

You might recognize two of Costa Rica’s best surfing spots from their cameos in the cult classic Endless Summer II. Witch’s Rock oversees strong, open breaks and A-frame waves that are best from late November to early April, while Ollie’s Point is a long, fast right-hand point break popular among intermediate and advanced surfers. They’re both just a short boat ride from Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, where guides from outfitter SurfX are on hand to help beginners get up on the board or to assist pros looking to refine their skills. Looking for an easier ride? Head to Playa Iguana or Playa Prieta, a 15-minute boat ride from the Resort, or do some snorkelling off the white-sand beaches of Playa Blanca.

Explore Activities in Costa Rica

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DRAMATIC DROPS

Ericeira has long been a favourite destination for European surfers, who know that excellent swells can be found off the coast of Portugal between September and January – and it’s just 40 minutes from Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. But other locales in Portugal offer similar thrills: Waves in Nazaré – an hour and 30 minutes from the Hotel – can reach 80 feet. “For surfers, the great Portuguese highlight, without a doubt, is the city of Nazaré, home to the biggest wave in the world ever ridden,” says Concierge Catarina Amorim. “If you want to watch the daring surfers drop from the big waves, a visit to the Miradouro do Forte São Miguel Arcanjo is suggested.” Join a guide for lessons off Guincho Beach, or catch one of the hollow waves at Praia de Supertubos. You’ll soon discover why this area is often called the “Dream Coast.”

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COAST-TO-COAST BREAKS

Its exposure to both the Atlantic and the Mediterranean means Morocco’s coast is awash in excellent swells from December to March. Some of the best surf can be found just steps from Four Seasons Hotel Casablanca. Beginners will appreciate the gentle waves at Plage Lalla Meryem – known to locals as Pepsi Beach – and the Concierge can arrange a surf safari for more advanced boarders. Follow the Moroccan coast from Casablanca to Agadir, with stops at surf spots like La Crique in Bouznika or Mehdia Beach in Kenitra. And opt for a detour to Four Seasons Resort Marrakech, where an overnight stay means you have time to unwind in the traditional hammam before tackling the breaks at popular Essaouira.

Explore Morocco with Four Seasons

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WAVES FOR ALL SEASONS

Hawaii already has a reputation as a year-round surfing destination – it’s famous for gnarly reef breaks like Banzai Pipeline and Haleiwa, plus the variety of swells on its north and south shores means surfers of all skill levels can find suitable waves. But savvy surfers know that the best big waves can be found from November to March off the shores of Maui and Oahu. Beginners can take lessons with a local at Makaha Beach Park, considered the birthplace of surfing and just a short drive from Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, while seasoned surfers from around the globe flock to Maui each winter to experience its monster waves. The walls of water at legendary Peahi (also known as Jaws) are best left to the pros, but watching world-class surfers dart through the waves is thrilling for those on shore. If you’re ready to get your feet wet, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea can arrange two-hour lessons in friendlier waters with Maui Wave Riders. More advanced surfers will enjoy a heli-surf safari at Hana: Surfboards will be waiting at the beach for you and your guide, who will lead you to iconic spots like Hamoa Bay. The flight home doubles as a waterfall tour of the island’s east coast.

Explore Hawaii with Four Seasons

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OFF-SEASON SWELLS

December to February is considered the off season for Maldives surfers, but the swells are still consistent and warm. Find your balance on the board in the calm lagoon at Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa and work your way up to six quality breaks within a stone’s throw of the Resort. Pros with outfitter Tropicsurf can guide you to the long, bowling lefts at Honkies or open tubes at Cokes. Or chase the biggest breaks on a customized surfing safari: Drop into a wave from your Flying Triggerfish seaplane and surf epic, empty waves before returning to the Resort in time for sundowners on the beach.

Dive into Kuda Huraa

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BEGINNER BLISS

Consistent winter waves can be found right outside your door at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita: The lobby overlooks breaks that are rarely crowded, making them perfect for first-timers or those looking to build their skills, says Hannah Bing, programs manager at Resort partner Tropicsurf. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, Tropicsurf excursions depart directly from Las Manzanillas Beach. Good waves aren’t hard to find in winter: “Winter brings northwest swells to Bahia de Banderas, which means more waves within 20 minutes by car or boat,” Bing says. “Or set out on the Four Seasons Explorer and head north from La Cruz Harbour. The boat will drop you at the best waves of the day.” On your return to the Resort, your next move should be to the spa for the After Sun Relief treatment to relax your muscles and rehydrate your skin.

Experience Punta Mita

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SURFER’S PARADISE

While Bali has been on the surf travel radar since the 1960s, its waves change with the season. From December to March, surfers will find stellar conditions not far from Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, where the sheltered Coconut Grove provides calm waters for beginners. When you’re ready, Tropicsurf guides are on hand to lead you to bigger waves by sea, land and air: A boat excursion will stop at spots in Jimbaran Bay, like Toro Toro and Airport Rights, while a road trip lets you chase swells at Nusa Dua, Padang and Sanur. A 45-minute helicopter ride carries experienced surfers to the famed G-Land, home to thrilling left-hand breaks and ultra-fast, heart-pumping tubes. The remote location means the line-up is uncrowded and your wave count high, and you’ll enjoy personal guidance from your Tropicsurf pro. After you’ve worked up an appetite, dig into a picnic lunch prepared by a Four Seasons chef. Then you can take on the water for a few more hours before soaking up unforgettable aerial views of Bali, Java and East Java National Park on your ride back to the Resort.

Find Your Wave in Jimbaran Bay

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Waves lapping onto beach

Explore

Take the Scenic Route

Posted on by Krysten Heberly

As summer approaches, many travellers are ready to get out into the world and explore as many new destinations as possible. The best way to get from point A to point B? On four wheels.

There’s nothing like a road trip to immerse you in new places – half the fun of travel is in the journey. You’ll discover spectacular vistas, charming towns, thriving arts scenes, historic architecture and delicious local flavours as you connect with friends and family, going at your own pace to make the most of the trip.

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This season, embark on a European escape, with curated itineraries to make the journey to your Four Seasons destination more enjoyable. Here, Four Seasons experts share the landmarks, flavours and photo opportunities you won’t want to miss along the way.

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London

England’s capital city is an exciting blend of rich history and trend-setting scenes, offering everything from the finest food to the most stylish fashions. Explore iconic landmarks like the Tower of London and Tower Bridge – just steps from Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge – or discover some of the world’s most prestigious shopping on Savile Row, only a short stroll from Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. See the city in a new light on a luxury private tour by car, or set sail for an exhilarating boat ride on the Thames River – the ideal backdrop for Instagram-worthy photos. You’ll feel like British royalty with exclusive access to some of the city’s palaces and museums, or wander through a picturesque Royal Park to find the perfect spot for a picnic, prepared by the team at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. The royal treatment continues as the sun sets: Four Seasons Hotel London at Tower Bridge can arrange a private viewing of the stunning Crown Jewels collection at the Tower of London, complete with aperitifs and canapés on Tower Green as the Chief Yeoman Warder shares stories about the tower’s dramatic history.

WORTH A DETOUR: Want to get out of the city for a bit? Take a day trip to the British countryside, where you can wander through lush gardens, ride the rolling hills of Hampshire on horseback or explore picturesque Highclere Castle, where the owner – the eighth Countess of Carnarvon – will lead you on a private tour of the estate’s art, architecture and antiques.

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Lisbon to Madrid

Discover the scenic mountains and medieval villages that dot the Iberian Peninsula as you drive between Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon and Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. The six-hour drive will take you through centuries of history and UNESCO World Heritage sites – Evora, home to Neolithic monuments and an ancient Roman temple, and Toledo, whose historic quarter contains some of Spain’s oldest religious buildings. In search of a real taste of each city? Plan a stop on Lisbon’s coast to savour the Bulhao Pato clams – clams steamed in a rich broth of herbs, lemon and white wine. Once in Madrid, ask the Concierge to direct you to one of the city’s tablaos for a high-energy flamenco performance. The Hotel can even arrange private lessons if you’d like to learn the Andalusian dance.

WORTH A DETOUR: A saying in Portugal’s Alentejo region is that “even time takes its time.” Here, indigenous grape varieties are grown under 3,000 hours of annual sunshine before they’re aged to perfection in French barrels. Follow the Wine Route signs through olive groves and the world’s largest cork oak forest, and pick up a bottle or two from one of the many vineyards. Then stop in a charming town – Portalegre, Nisa, Marvão, Castelo de Vide or Alter do Chão – for a bite to eat.

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Paris

The City of Lights is a feast for the senses: Beautiful scenery, chic fashions, delicious dishes. Explore them all, with Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris as your ideal home base. Cruise the River Seine on a private boat ride, then window-shop as you make your way back to the Hotel along the city’s famed Champs-Élysées. Unwind with a Michelin-starred dinner from Chef Christian Le Squer’s Twenty Years of Excellence menu at Le Cinq, honouring the award-winning chef’s dedication to elegant and modern French cuisine, before toasting your time together on a rooftop terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

WORTH A DETOUR: During your stay in Paris, take a day trip to Maison Belle Époque, the iconic residence of the founders of Perrier-Jouët. Home to the largest private collection of French art nouveau in Europe – and some of the oldest champagne vintages in the world – the house is opening its doors exclusively to Four Seasons guests. Tour the historic villa and its cellars, savour lunch in the gardens, and visit the vineyard before returning to Paris – or opt to spend the night at the maison, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

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Prague to Budapest

Fall in love with these romantic riverside cities – just a day apart – as you marvel at their architecture, culture and old-world charm: Explore historic castles, sip surprising varietals at local wineries, and discover centuries-old craftsmanship and tradition. In Budapest, the Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest can arrange a private tour of the archabbey, winery and botanical herb garden at Pannonhalma, Hungary’s oldest abbey and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Near Prague, discover the centuries-old tradition of Bohemia crystal glass-making during a tour of the world-famous Rückl glassworks, arranged by Four Seasons Hotel Prague – you’ll even have the chance to cut or blow a glass object yourself.

WORTH A DETOUR: See Budapest’s Eastern mystique and old-world elegance in a new light: As the sun sets, sail down the Danube River in a Venetian-style speedboat, a glass of champagne in hand. The excursion ends with a “James Bond moment” as the boat picks up speed, whisking you away into the night.

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Istanbul

Perched on both sides of the Bosphorus and lined with the cobbled streets, palaces, mosques and remnants of the Ottoman Empire sits the captivating city of Istanbul. Set out from Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus and explore the rich history and culture of the City on Seven Hills: Start in the harbourside Karaköy neighbourhood – an up-and-coming district home to some of the city’s best art galleries, Turkish bakeries and boutiques, surrounded by Ottoman-era buildings. Then make your way at sunset to the 14th-century Galata Tower, where Ottoman scientist Hezârfen Ahmet Çelebi reportedly used artificial wings to make the first sustained unpowered flight in the 1630s. It was once the highest point in the city and still offers 360-degree views of the streets below – breathtaking when bathed in the rosy glow of the setting sun.

WORTH A DETOUR: Travel back in time in the Sultanahmet neighbourhood, in the oldest part of the city. Visit the iconic Hagia Sophia, a converted mosque that was once the Byzantium era’s largest cathedral and seat of the Holy Roman Emperor, where you’ll uncover hidden mosaics. Next stop: The Blue Mosque, constructed between 1609 and 1616 and filled with tiles in different shades of cobalt. For a refreshing break, dive into the underground Basilica Cistern, the largest freshwater source in Istanbul and surrounded by 336 marble pillars.

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will the road take you on your next adventure?

floral art installation at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris

Women Who Inspire

Posted on by Alycee Byrd

To celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, we’re highlighting a handful of the most inspiring Four Seasons team members. From a wine connoisseur in Lisbon who has been awarded the honour of Sommelier of the Year to an adventure guide in Los Cabos who connects guests more deeply with nature and local culture, these are the women who make the Four Seasons shine.

Here, they share their inspirations as well as the experiences they love in their destinations.

Gabriela Marques Sommelier at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

Gabriela Marques
Sommelier
Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon

“For many years, the sommelier was seen as a job for men,” says Gabriela Marques, Sommelier at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. “The challenge for me was to keep up the pace with my advanced sommelier colleagues and let go of the social stigma that being a lady would be an issue to my career path. Work hard, study hard, play hard, be truly committed and you will get there fast.” The hard work paid off. In 2018, Revista de Vinhos honoured Marques as Sommelier/Wine Director of the Year.

Early on in her hospitality career, Marques became fascinated with wine, devouring books and eventually signing up for a sommelier course at the School of Hospitality in Lisbon. As Sommelier of Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon’s Varanda restaurant and its new restaurant, CURA, which specializes in organic and biodynamic wines, Marques strives to share her passion with guests.

“Wine is not only just something you drink. It is also a lifetime’s work,” she says. “It is a heritage that runs through time to your glass. It is a family that works from dusk till dawn until the harvest. It is love and friendship and stories that can be shared. It brings culture and places within, and most of all it brings people together.”

Insights: Lisbon

“Guests who are visiting in autumn should arrange with the Concierge to visit the seventh-generation, 650-hectare José Maria da Fonseca estate during Vindimas, the festive harvest time when the grapes are picked.”

“The Concierge can organize an exclusive moto-sidecar tour of the city with a focus on urban art. Look out for the Vhils pieces. And guests can always ask for a picnic basket, prepared by our chef, to enjoy in the gardens of the Gulbenkian Museum.”

“Running or cycling by the river Tagus is a wonderful experience. The light is just unique, and you get to see the bridge, the Christ the King and sometimes, if you’re lucky, the dolphins. Don’t forget to go to the top of the MAAT museum for an amazing view.”


Majo Magana
Adventure Concierge
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas™

Majo Magana was studying industrial engineering in central Mexico, far from the beach and the hospitality world, when a friend invited her to spend summer working in the activities department at a hotel in San José del Cabo. “I fell in love with everything,” she says. “But mostly, I fell in love with the connection I made with the guests. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do all that.”

When she joined the Costa Palmas community and Four Seasons family, she pursued a master’s degree in hospitality management so that she could keep learning about the industry.

“When working with a guest, there is this incredibly meaningful exchange that happens,” she says. “I have the honour of helping to shape these unforgettable moments. There is an exchange of culture and experience that leaves an indelible mark on the guest, but also on me. I’ve made friends and connections that have remained to this day.”

“The Adventure Team is made up of tough, fit, strong swimmers, hikers, bikers, off-road drivers,” Magana says.  “We know as much about mechanics and sports as we do about arts and crafts.” Creativity and innovation are key to her team’s success.

“We are located in an incredibly remote section of Baja, where resources are limited,” she says. “There is deep trust in our local staff to highlight the uniqueness of the destination – going off the beaten path to sightsee or to safely encounter our endemic species. We find that balance between luxury and the local environment sets us apart from the rest of Cabo.”

Insights: Los Cabos

Two scuba-divers swim under a school of fish

“The Adventure Team can arrange a snorkelling or diving excursion at Cabo Pulmo, a UNESCO World Heritage Marine Site 45 minutes from the Resort. The oldest of only three coral reefs on the west coast of North America, it is known for its hundreds of schooling jacks and Mobula rays, sea lions, turtles, whales and resident bull sharks.”

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“Explore the desert dunes and the historic town of El Triunfo on an ATV tour.”

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“Guests are always blown away when we take them on a hike through beautiful canyons to a secret oasis where they can swim in freshwater pools and slip down a natural spring-fed water slide.”

Goeun Lee Director of People and Culture, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Goeun Lee
Director of People and Culture
Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

At the age of 5, Goeun Lee was serving her mother’s friends coffee and tea. “I knew then that my calling was to make people I meet feel special,” she says. Early on, Lee had dreams of becoming the first Korean and female General Manager in Korea. After earning a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and Travel Administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, she took a job within the industry in Boston.

“My biggest challenge was confronting unconscious bias within myself – how I looked, how I spoke and how I thought,” she says. “I started off living in fear that I wouldn’t be as strong as native-speaking colleagues. It did not take long for me to realize that I set my limits and that boundaries don’t exist. I realized guests remember me more when I let my personality shine through, genuinely being myself.”

Lee returned to Korea and faced a new challenge: being a working mom with two daughters. “It was not easy to leave them behind to go to work and return home to spend endless nights taking care of family,” she says. “I struggled with the guilt of not being there for the little moments. But I know they know I’m a happy mother and strong woman. If they feel a strong sense of identity in part due to me, I’ve conquered all challenges.”

After serving as Four Seasons Hotel Seoul’s Director of Rooms, Lee was recently promoted to the position of Director of People and Culture. “It has been very easy for me to blend in with the intuitive Four Seasons service mindset, as I am genuinely interested in meeting different people every day to make a difference, small or big, in their lives,” she says.

“Four Seasons allowed me to be who I am, encouraged me to make intuitive and proactive decisions on my own to make guests and colleagues happy. True excellence and luxury – which embodies Four Seasons – comes only with constant evolution.”

Insights: Seoul

“One of the Hotel’s unique offerings is the experience of being a K-pop star for a day. Select your favourite K-pop song and visit the celebrity centre to learn more about the song and singer. Our team can arrange a trip to a private recording studio with a vocal trainer who will help you sing and record a short music video.”

“One of our guest relations officers will take you on a personal shopping excursion.”

“Our team can arrange a tour of the local markets, like Gwangjang Market and Fish Market, with a Korean chef who will explain food culture and food history as you go. After the tour, you’ll cook together back at the Hotel.”

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Andrea Diaz Coto and Hanna Storrosten
SurfX Instructors
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo

Originally from San José, Costa Rica, Andrea Diaz Coto remembers the first time she went surfing. “I was 16 years old and borrowed a friend’s board,” she recalls. “I immediately knew I wanted to move to the beach and live a simple life on the waves.”

Diaz Coto has learned to let her surfing do the talking. “The first time I paddled out, one of the guys in the line-up asked what I was doing in the water,” she says. “I now strive to out-paddle every man out there. My surfing has gained me recognition and respect in the line-up.” After years travelling the world on the pro surf tour, she continues to devote her life to her passion as a surf instructor and guide.

Hanna Storrosten hails from Oslo, Norway, and jokes she didn’t even know what surfing was until she tried it on a trip to Costa Rica at 19. “I quickly knew it was my calling, just from how alive it made me feel,” she says. Storrosten postponed college for a year to surf in Costa Rica, then moved to southern California to pursue waves and a biology degree, and now is back in Costa Rica sharing her stoke with Four Seasons guests. “There are a lot of important life lessons from learning to ride waves,” she says.

Insights: Costa Rica

“I love galloping through the jungle on the superfast ponies at Carolina Lodge,” Storrosten says.

“Watching the sunset from a catamaran after surfing all day at Witch’s Rock is a must,” Storrosten says.

“After surfing all day, head to Soda Las Tuquitas in Playa Avellanas and get a taste of delicious local food,” Diaz Coto says.

Yvette Thomas-Henry Regional Vice President and General Manager, Four Seasons Resort Nevis

Yvette Thomas-Henry
Regional Vice President and General Manager
Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies

The first African American female General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta and Four Seasons Resort Nevis, and the first African American female Regional Vice President for the brand, Yvette Thomas-Henry has been breaking barriers throughout her 12-year career with Four Seasons.

Her secret to success: “Always make sure that you are changing the game,” she says. “Take some risks, take some chances. Do things differently. Allow for the opportunity that someone else’s idea is better than yours, and give them the freedom and the opportunity to run with it, and then give them the space to be supported and applauded for it.

“There is nothing like creating a space where employees feel empowered, where they feel supported, where they feel they have all the tools and all the support or resources around them to be their best, most creative selves. Leave a mark, a body of work that creates a legacy, that raises the bar. Use your voice and your position to engage, motivate and inspire others. Above all, be prepared to do the hard work, to make the tough calls, to lead with your heart and your head. Be a leader that others are inspired to follow.”

Born in St. Thomas and raised in St. Croix, Thomas-Henry has held positions at Four Seasons properties in New York; Washington, DC; and Atlanta. She moved back to the Caribbean in 2020, on the heels of the final phase of a major enhancement at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. “I now had the maturity to appreciate the richness of the Caribbean life, the beauty of the culture and the people, as well as enjoy a slower pace that would give me and my husband more quality time together,” she says. “I’m excited by the prospect of seeing how I can bring value to the property, especially being the company’s only regional RVP of Caribbean descent.”

Insights: Nevis

“In the morning, I would recommend getting an early start to the day with breakfast in the comfort of your guest room, suite or villa. If in a villa, you can enjoy the privacy of your world being interrupted by a visit from chirping birds (there are approximately 156 different species on the island). If you are in a guest room, I encourage you to meditate to the sound of the waves as they wash upon the sand.”

“Head out on an island tour with any of our talented taxi tour guides. At just 36 square miles, the island can be circled in just about an hour, but it is jam-packed with history and culture to be discovered, such as sugar mill ruins from the island’s once bustling sugar trade; U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton’s childhood home; the Caribbean’s oldest Anglican Church; and much, much more.”

“Eat traditional Nevisian fare like jerk BBQ chicken and spicy rotis with your toes in the sand at our Kastawey restaurant.”

“In the evening, head to our Resort Pier to catch the spectacular Nevisian sunset and unwind with a glass of wine or a cold beer and fresh shucked oysters.”

Naipaporn Panlamoke Assistant Camp Manager, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand

Naipaporn Panlamoke
Assistant Camp Manager
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

“I never knew how much I loved nature until I moved to Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand,” Naipaporn Panlamoke says. “I now try to be outdoors whenever possible, and because I work at an adventurous destination, I encourage myself to explore different places in northern Thailand, especially destinations within Chiang Rai. Every day is a new experience for me to learn, to grow.”

As a little girl, Panlamoke dreamed of travelling and experiencing different cultures. “I have been doing that since I started my hospitality journey with Four Seasons in 2015,” she says. Training and experiences in multiple roles, including inter-department learning and task force, helped her work her way up to her current role as Assistant Camp Manager. Her main duty, she says, is to ensure both the front- and back-of-house operations are running smoothly and that the team is in good spirits.

“I never set out to be a role model; however, I always perform my best,” she says. “Hearing colleagues or other young women refer to me as a role model is one of the most valued moments of my career.”

Insights: Chiang Rai

“So many of our activities can only be found here,” Panlamoke says. “The concierge team can arrange a Fishing With Locals experience where guests fish alongside local village fishermen along the Mekong River. It’s a special insight into local life.”

“One of the best ways to take in the rural countryside of Chiang Rai is by bike with one of our camp guides. The scenery changes from paddy fields to pineapple plantations to teak forests.”

And, of course, “Every guest wants to interact with the elephants. It’s a must-do.”


Shamim Salim
People and Culture Manager
Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti

“I remember the day I arrived at the lodge – there were 20 team members waiting to welcome me,” Shamim Salim says. “I’ve worked at four different companies and have never felt such a welcome. Four Seasons showed me there is nothing wrong with me being myself, and that my voice and ideas matter.” Around 25 percent of the team at Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti are from small villages near the lodge. Salim is largely responsible for supporting and developing local employees. “Every hotel wants someone with experience,” she says. “Here we want to train you. We can teach you a job.”

Growth inspires her. “I have a nothing-is-impossible mentality,” she says. “I have seen a colleague who started as a steward to chef de partie aim for a higher position. Tools and training are essential for growth, but I know for me, I’ve also been largely influenced by the people around me.”

Insights: Serengeti

“The Lodge is in the heart of the Serengeti National Park, so it is one of the best places in the world for wildlife viewing. The lodge offers a variety of safari experiences, but seeing the Serengeti landscape at sunrise from a hot-air balloon followed by a Champagne breakfast in the bush is truly special.”

“Our concierge team can arrange a professional wildlife photographer to accompany your safari and offer advice and even critique your work and offer editing and post-production tips. For real photo buffs, they can also arrange one-on-one workshops.”

“Walking safaris are so unique because you are led by our resident naturalist and Maasai guides.”

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