A veteran hotelier with 30 years in the industry, including over a decade with Four Seasons, Simon embodies a rare combination of operational and sales and marketing experience. Starting out in the front office of a five-star hotel is Brisbane, Australia, he ventured into various departments, including concierge and reservations before discovering a strong affinity with sales.
“I loved the energy, the dynamism and the competitive nature of the work,” he says with a smile. Progressing steadily through the sales ranks, Simon learned to flex his creative muscles and think outside of the box. Working across luxury properties in the Gold Coast (Australia), London and New York, he also had the opportunity to build and lead teams across diverse cultural environments.
In 2011, Simon joined Four Seasons Hotel Sydney as Director of Catering and Conference Services, rapidly earning a promotion to Director of Marketing. It was around this time that he felt an increasing urge to return to operations and to take on a role that would encompass the Hotel in its entirety. His transition to Hotel Manager in Sydney was followed by a move to Four Seasons Hotel Singapore where he served simultaneously as Hotel Manager and Director of Marketing.
Now at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta as General Manager, Simon is building further on a foundation of excellence. “The team has done an incredible job so far, especially given the challenges over the last two years. As we move ahead, our goal is to engage more deeply with the local community and continue to deliver exceptional hospitality to guests from around the world,” he says. “And to make every single guest feel special,” he adds, why people come to hotels – and why it’s worth taking every opportunity to make their visit memorable.
As a leader, Simon strives to foster a similar sense of mutual care in his teams. “A happy and satisfied team is the bedrock of a great hotel,” he says, noting that employee wellbeing springs from a combination of fulfilling work, growth opportunities, and genuine care demonstrated by the organization.
