VIEWS WITH A ROOM
The Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya offers luxury accommodations to travelers seeking to explore the country's marvelous food, culture, and history.
BIOGRAPHY
Didier Jardin is the General Manager of the Four Seasons Kuwait. He holds a CFA in food and beverage and a diploma from LaSalle College in Montreal, where he majored in hotel management. Since 1994, he has worked at Four Seasons locations in Mauritius, Cairo, Bora Bora, Hualailai, New York, Santa Barbara, Chicago, and Hawaii, where he had his first appointment at Maui. He was born in La Ferte Bernard France and speaks English and French, while learning Arabic.What makes Four Seasons an attractive destination for business and leisure?
Defined by a new standard of innovative modern architecture and high-style design, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya is the glamorous new centerpiece of Kuwait City. Positioned in a prime central location, this is a magnetic gathering place for the city's business and social elite alike, offering a new experience of luxury in the city to those with a taste for the finest in life, as well as the most exciting destinations for dining, spa, weddings, and business events. Thoughtful care leads to an elevated level of service, making both residents and visitors feel right at home.
How is Four Seasons applying its international standards of excellence and experience in order to provide its customers with an outstanding customer service?
Our people create the experiences that define our brand. It is their commitment to excellence and genuine care for our guests that drives the success of Four Seasons and that is why we invest so heavily in recruiting, retaining, and developing the best. We believe that our level of personalization, recognition, and the attention to detail makes Four Seasons properties so appealing among discerning travelers, who will find a welcome home in Kuwait, where we will make each guest's experience truly unforgettable. Today, we have more than 500 employees with 50 different nationalities working at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya, making sure that your experience at the hotel is all about you and crafted in accordance to your needs.
How is Kuwait tourism performing in comparison to its neighboring countries?
The luxury hotel sector is continuing to evolve to meet the growing aspirations of guests from around the world. This shift is more evident with travelers from the Middle East who are increasingly making decisions on destinations based on food. Another major trend that we see now these days is the expansion of foodie culture within the region, particularly in the Gulf. I can tell from what I have witnessed in terms of new developments in the local food and beverage scene, that Kuwait City is on its way to become the world's food capital by 2030.
What are your expectations for the year ahead?
I believe that Kuwait has much to offer business and leisure travelers, and our concierge team will be eager to advise both local and international visitors on the experiences we recommend. With two ballrooms at our property, as well as a range of conference and banqueting rooms able to welcome up to 2,000 people, one element of our approach is to promote the MICE segment, which is a huge opportunity for Kuwait, including weddings and entertainment events that will attract leisure visitors into town. Exceptional service is one of the key distinguishing factors of the Four Seasons brand and one that has led to the creation of an ever-growing pool of loyal guests for whom Four Seasons will always remain the hospitality brand of choice. Positioned in a prime central location, Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait is a magnetic gathering place for the city's business and social elite alike, offering a new experience of an elite lifestyle in the city, as well as the most exciting destination for dining, spa, weddings, and business events.
VIEWS WITH A ROOM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Adel Abdul Wahab Al-Majed , Chairman, Kuwait Banking Association (KBA)
Through a broad array of information, specialized committees, staff expertise, and other resources, KBA supports Kuwait's banks as they perform their critical role in energizing the economy and helping communities thrive.
read articleInterview
Sheikh Dr. Meshaal Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, Director General, Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA)
KDIPA adopts a proactive approach to attract value-added direct investments supported by an integrated promotional strategy serving Kuwait's developmental goals in line with its National Vision 2035.
read articleCommuniqué
Legal Reform and Infrastructure Projects Spell Opportunity for Foreign Investors
Along with the introduction and modernization of new laws and regulations, the vision of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to transform Kuwait into an international center for commerce and industry by 2035 is already being implemented through Kuwait's National Development Plan. Coupled with the promulgation of progressive FDI regulations, these new opportunities spell positive news for foreign companies looking to conduct business in Kuwait.
read articleFocus: Developing connectivity
Connecting the Dots
Today, connectivity is hardly indispensible for individuals and the companies where they work. Kuwait's smart cities, considered elsewhere in the book, will thrive on it, and meanwhile the nation continues to register notable business deals from the informatics sector.
read articleInterview
Khalid Abbas , Country Manager-Kuwait, Unilever
Contributing to the improved health and wellbeing of communities and reducing environmental footprint are key priorities for Unilever, which is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of up to 1 billion people globally by 2020.
read articleInterview
Mohammed Yousif Soud Al-Sabah , Board Chairman & Director, Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR)
PAAAFR has adapted a package of policies to face challenges inherent to deserts, hot climate, and water scarcity, bringing Kuwait closer to achieving national food security, one step at a time.
read articleInterview
Yang Chunsen, Vice President/ Chief Representative, China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East (CSCME) Kuwait
CSCME is a technology-driven company that leverages its R&D and long-standing partnership with the government to increase its participation in the future development of Kuwait.
read article