Four Seasons

Worth reading. Some innovative ideas and some frank feedback looking at the past. A simple read and important lessons that can be learnt like making relations and looking at the long term always.

I could relate to this book so much ! Been in the hospitality industry for over a decade and u agree and believe in almost all his principles and ideology ! This book made me very emotional as I have been living in Canada for 16 years and could relate to many things he mentioned.. Closest to my heart was the Terry Fox Run chapter.. Absolutely LOVED the book !

Steve Jobs whilst designing the flagship Apple stores once remarked that he would like the store layout to be the way Four Seasons would’ve designed it. That interested me and I picked up the Four Seasons book written by the founder himself, Isadore Sharp. It is an absolutely honest and mind blowing book on customer service and how Four Seasons catapulted in to the best hotel name across the globe. In the hospitality and for that matter in many industries the name Four Seasons has become a generic name for the ultimate in quality. Throughout the book four themes emerged about the Four Seasons brand as told by Isadore Sharp: 1. Razor sharp focus 2. Striving to be and being continuously different 3. Being innovative in every possible way 4. Obsessed with customer service As Warren Buffett always says that the only competitive advantage that matters is the barriers to entry and four seasons has taken that to heart which is evident by the higher charges it commands compared to the next best competitor. Four Seasons has two major barriers to entry 1) Portfolio of best hotels at world class locations almost impossible to duplicate 2) The People, who are facing the customers at these hotels. Four Seasons trains and looks after its people so well that its employee turnover rate is less than half the industry average. The company always focused and still does so only on the top end of the hotel market. Four Seasons never had and probably never will have a budget hotel. Many amenities and services which we find common at many hotels today were introduced for the first time by the Four Seasons group. For e.g. Fitness center in the hotel, segregation of smoking and non-smoking rooms, telephones in the rooms and bathrooms, shampoos, hair dryers, make up mirrors and bathrobes and many more. A few of the thoughts/beliefs from the founder which stands out 1. “Excellence is often just a capacity for taking pains” 2. “We encouraged our employees to keep notes on guests’ preferences” 3. “Again, we discussed ideas that would set us apart from competition” 4. “When you’re too far ahead of your time, you need the temperament to handle it” Four Seasons by Isadore Sharp is superb book and a treatise on what customer service is all about.

A definite must read.

The product was bad quality. The cutting along the edges was not fine and had jagged edges. So returned it.

It's good to see the challenges over come by Isodore Sharp and Four Seasons. It's a good read for the most part.

Been wanting to read this book for awhile. Awesome service

Great story. I really enjoyed reading this as I prepare to open my own micro-resort Austin Surf Lodge.

As hotelier, I found this reading educative and enjoyable at the same time. How enriching is to learn from Mr.Sharp’s life and how was he able to craft from the scratch the industry’s leader company. I really admire his vision and the talent of everyone at four seasons.

Great book!

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