Simon Casson oversees Four Seasons hotel operations across a portfolio that ranges from palace hotels in Europe to glittering skyscrapers in the Middle East and hideaway beach resorts (and one luxurious safari lodge) in Africa.
Each project brings something new, whether it’s a ground-up build, a careful restoration or conversion of an established hotel to the Four Seasons brand. Simon works collaboratively with hotel owners and Four Seasons corporate and hotel teams to ensure that each property’s unique attributes and each destination’s culture are reflected in everything from guest room design to restaurant concepts, spa experiences, event spaces and more.
Simon supports all hotels in the region in this mission, and has a well-earned reputation for developing talent. With several decades of service with Four Seasons himself, he’s adept at bringing the best out of the people who are the company’s greatest assets.
Simon joined the company in 1989, as an assistant manager at what is now Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. After further assignments in London as well as Washington, he returned to the same hotel as Hotel Manager in 2000. In 2005, he opened Four Seasons Hotel Doha, and was promoted to Regional Vice President in 2011 before moving to Dubai for the brand’s first opening in UAE in 2014. During this time he also led the company’s Global Spa Task Force. Simon was promoted to his current position in 2016, and is based in Dubai.
A lifelong love of learning led to involvement in and an honorary degree from Glion Institute of Higher Education in Switzerland, and Simon is a founding board member of the Enderun Hospitality Management school in the Philippines.
Education: Barry College of Catering and Hotel Administration, Wales; General Manager Program, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York