Simon Casson
President Of Hotel Operations For
Europe, The Middle East And Africa,
Four Seasons Hotels And Resorts
Fourseasons.com
If you were to summarize your career in one sentence, what would you say?
From washing dishes in a busy kitchen to now overseeing hotel operations across EMEA, I’ve been driven by hard work, a dedication to service excellence and leading my teams to success.
What is your most eagerly anticipated project?
We’ve just reopened the San Domenico Palace in Taormina, Sicily, as a Four Seasons experience.
What qualities define a true leader?
My greatest professional joy is in helping grow and develop others to reach their potential through mentorship, guidance and individualized coaching.
What is your motto?
In hospitality, the quantum leap from good to great is driven by people. Nurturing an environment within our hotels that allows each employee to thrive is mission critical.
Where does the company stand in terms of its growth trajectory and its strategy for the MENA region?
The MENA region is of great importance to Four Seasons. We have several very exciting projects in the pipeline, and we look forward to sharing more details soon.
UPCOMING PROJECTS IN THE MENA REGION
About author
Rita Ghantous
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector. Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC). She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book. She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter. Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler. It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
