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Since 1961, the Four
Seasons Hotel chain developed to become one of the world’s
most luxurious hotels. With around 60 hotels operating in 25
countries, the FSH chain offers a string of services to make
business travel a pleasurable exercise.
Now in Jordan, and set on the Fifth Circle in Amman, the Four
Seasons Hotel is welcoming its customers with a very special
opening offer: A luxurious revelation at JD 100 per night.
“The hotel presents a perfect blend of luxury and convenience
at special price,” said Andrew Humphries, general manager of
the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman.
“The hotel has a consistency in approach. It is a luxury
business that provides a style of service and a policy of
services that others don’t provide,” he told The Star.
The Four Season offer was presented to Jordanians as a new
year gift, that will continue until the end of March. Located
on an area of 43,000 square meters, the hotel overlooks Amman
at the height of 61 meters.
The hotel is a joint venture between the Four Seasons chain,
the Amman-based Mediterranean Tourism Investments Co and Saudi
Prince Walid Bin Talal. The Jordanian company is the major
shareholder in the $65 million project. The Four Seasons chain
owns 10 percent, while Prince Walid is a minor shareholder in
the project.
Humphries considers the project a significant one for the Four
Seasons Hotels chain. “Jordanians should be optimistic,” he
said. “Jordan has a great tourist destination. The current
political issues will be resolved at the end.”
A brief tour in the hotel uncovers its wonders. It is what the
hotel owners like to call it, “the 21st century comfort and
traditional hospitality.”
The hotel’s official opening is expected to take place
sometime this spring. Even though, it welcomes guests and the
luxury-oriented people for dining and private business
meetings.
“Four Seasons Hotel offers its guests with the best dining
facilities,” Humphries noted. The hotel is also unique in the
vast, well-furnished halls and galleries that are dedicated
for the guest’s comfort.
“Seasons” is the hotel’s main restaurant located on the
ground-floor and is open for all-day dining. It provides a
landscape-dining terrace that offers a splendid buffet
featuring an assortment of Arabic and Eastern Mediterranean
dishes.
The hotel also provides the Italian cuisine at “Vivace” and
the Thai style of cooking at “Asia”. Such international
cuisines are by the inspired executive chef, Eric Deblonde,
who spent more than 30 years in the business.
Deblonde’s team of chefs includes Ireland’s Brendan McGowan,
executive sous chef; Roberto Neri, the Italian chef; and
Laurent Allereau, the French executive pastry chef.
Four Seasons’ “The Square Bar” and “The Foyer Lounge” serve
guests with traditional English tea and drinks that can only
be enjoyed in the lounge’s relaxing surroundings.
The combination of Humphries and Deblonde at Amman’s Four
Seasons Hotel maintains their shared business in London in the
late 1990s, when they worked together for three years.
Humphries said that his reunion with Deblonde in Amman
promises Jordanians with absolute tastes and premium services.
Humphries noted many hotels in the world pursue quality
management policies in their businesses but rather forget
about the quality of their customer-oriented services. “The
Four Seasons Hotel is focusing on one way and work hard to
improving it. That’s the real strength of our company,” he
added.
The hotel includes 195 guest rooms and suites distributed over
15 floors. Besides its extensive public areas, the hotel also
provides guests with direct access to a full-service spa and
fitness center with indoor and outdoor pools.
The hotel also serves businessmen with all-day business
services, including easy access to the computer and Internet.
There is also a special business center, opened six days a
week.
The Four Seasons Amman Hotel is the third in the region after
Egypt’s Four Seasons’ hotels in Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh. The
chain is currently building a new hotel in the Saudi capital,
Riyadh. Humphries said the chain has a long-term strategy to
build three or four hotels a year within the coming five
years, both in the region and worldwide.
Humphries is an Ammanite resident since January 2001. He moved
to Jordan to oversee the development of Four Seasons Hotel
Amman. It is his own challenge to induct an exceptional
business.
Jordanians are among the friendliest people in the world,”
said Humphries. “The people here are emphatically proud of
their country, and I am delighted to be at the helm of Four
Seasons Hotel Amman. It is the responsibility I will usher to
make Amman a world class destination.”
© The Star 2001-2002 A premier partner of
arabia.com
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