Latest news with #Forbes5-Star
Web Release
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Web Release
20 Iconic Years of Four Seasons Hotel Doha: A Celebration of Tradition, Luxury and Unforgettable Moments
By Editor_wr On Apr 28, 2025 Four Seasons Hotel Doha this month marked its 20th anniversary, celebrating two decades of timeless elegance, exceptional hospitality, and world-class dining. The hotel honoured its 20-year legacy with a weekend of one-of-a-kind culinary experiences, including immersive masterclasses and an exclusive gala dinner with a menu curated by globally renowned chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Ever evolving yet rooted in its heritage, Four Seasons Hotel Doha continues to shape the region's luxury hospitality scene through meaningful experiences that reflect the city's vibrant culture and diverse culinary landscape. Truly unique dining experiences Four Seasons Hotel Doha brought together two of the culinary world's most celebrated names for a rare and exciting collaboration with two exclusive masterclasses. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, known for his distinctive blend of Japanese techniques and Peruvian flavours, joined Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, the mastermind behind over 60 acclaimed restaurants worldwide including Curiosa by Jean-Georges at Four Seasons Hotel Doha. At the masterclass on April 25th held at Curiosa by Jean-George, Chef Jean-George taught Chef Nobu to cook his favourite Curiosa dishes. And, on April 26th at Nobu, Chef Nobu taught Chef Jean-Georges to cook the best dishes of Nobu. To elevate this collaboration, the two chefs curated a special, one-night-only gala menu, that was served at the Gala dinner on April 26, offering guests a unique opportunity to experience their iconic dishes. This special event cemented the hotel's standing as a leading culinary destination, home to Nobu Doha (selected by the Michelin Guide 2025) — as well as Le Deli Robuchon, Curiosa by Jean-George (selected by the Michelin Guide 2025), Elements, and Makani Beach Club. For more than two decades, Four Seasons Hotel Doha has attracted global acclaim for its ever-evolving dining scene, blending innovation with authenticity at every turn. The Legacy of Four Seasons Hotel Doha Since opening in 2005 as one of the city's first five-star hotels, Four Seasons Hotel Doha has helped shape the standard for luxury hospitality in the region. Over the years, it has evolved through thoughtful renovations, including a major transformation in 2019, and embraced modern enhancements while preserving its signature warmth and personalised service. Now recognised with a Forbes 5-Star rating for the second consecutive year in the 2025 Forbes Travel Awards, the hotel continues to stand out for consistently offering elevated experiences that feel both timeless and refreshingly current. The Spa and Wellness Center has also been awarded the Forbes 5-Star accolade in 2025, further cementing the property's position as a holistic luxury destination. Adding to this milestone, Four Seasons Hotel Doha collaborated with international contemporary artist Dan Pearce who created an exclusive sculpture honouring the property's 20-year legacy. The piece was unveiled on April 26 during the anniversary weekend, followed by a gala dinner—that made the celebration an even more memorable occasion for guests. Reflecting on the hotel's 20-year journey and this exclusive culinary collaboration, Shadi Suleman, Senior General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Doha, says: 'At Four Seasons Hotel Doha, we're always looking for new ways to bring fresh, meaningful experiences to our guests – it's what has allowed us to stand out, even two decades on. Our exceptional restaurants are at the heart of these moments, and we were truly honoured to welcome two of the world's most celebrated chefs to mark this special occasion. With immersive masterclasses and a bespoke gala menu, we elevated the culinary experience to even greater heights.' With this landmark anniversary, Four Seasons Hotel Doha continues to embody the convergence of art, culinary excellence, and elevated guest experiences. With its signature blend of timeless elegance and quintessential Four Seasons hospitality, the hotel remains a defining presence in the city's luxury landscape. Looking ahead, the property is poised to inspire a new generation of travellers and tastemakers, setting the stage for many more memorable moments in the years to come. Comments are closed.
Forbes
28-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Luxury Lodging And World-Class Dining In Geneva, Switzerland
The Forbes 5-Star riverfront Mandarin Oriental hotel in Geneva There are more 'luxury' hotels and resorts right now than at any time in history, and more opening all the time, in every corner of the globe. But that begs the question, what makes a luxury hotel luxurious? In many cases hotels are considered luxury properties simply because they say so, a claim that is too often empty, and there are many times I've seen a misguided belief that spending a lot on marble or bathroom fixtures makes a stay luxurious. For the true luxury traveler, hotels that succeed must balance a precarious mix of hardware and software, the former in terms of rooms, spas, facilities, bedding and the things you can touch. The latter is staff, training, food and extras, the things that touch you, and this is harder—and what usually makes a place stand apart. When I think of the best and most memorable places I've stayed in three decades of covering travel, it's not bathtubs that come to mind, it's people and experiences. Every room on the 7th floor has a large outdoor terrace with great city views. Many years ago, my wife and I stayed at the family-owned Hassler Hotel in Rome, and she left her engagement ring in the safe when we checked out. As soon as we returned the key, someone when up to check, and as we got into a taxi for the airport and the U.S., a staffer came running down the street chasing the taxi to return it. The Hassler is a fantastic hotel from top to bottom, but that is what I will always remember. After two weeks of traveling through Japan, I checked into Mandarin Oriental Tokyo, and had accumulated a large amount of Japanese coins, which come in an impressive array of shapes and sizes. I emptied my pockets onto the desk and went to dinner. When I returned, a long leather 'boat' had been put out, and all the coins were stacked by type and arranged in a row in it, while all my charger cords were meticulously folded and bundled with little straps. I've seen the cord trick many times since, but the extra attention of the coin art still brings a smile to my face. Even among the big, recognized 'luxury' brands, few are truly consistent. There are many Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties I've been to that are exceptional, but not all of them. Only a handful of hotel brands get it right every time, and many of these are small groups limited to a very specific region, or in many cases, a single country such as Italy, Morocco, Japan or especially India. Among the bigger global operators, only a handful manage to meet the highest standards of luxury over and over again, even in markets with more challenging labor and service situations, a real mark of excellent leadership. One of these brands is Mandarin Oriental, and I have never been to one of their hotels that is less than exceptional, from Tokyo to Greece to Taipei, and most recently, Geneva, where the Mandarin Oriental is one of only two Forbes 5-Star winners in a city flush with beautiful hotels. The hotel just opened the first Ottolenghi restaurant outside of London, bringing the star chef's ... More cuisine to Continental Europe for the first time The Mandarin Oriental Geneva is not new, it just celebrated a quarter of a century of excellence. But it is constantly improving, and the most recent addition is a big one: a few months ago, the hotel opened a new restaurant, the first ever by Chef Yotam Ottolenghi outside the UK. The Israeli born Ottolenghi is quite simply one of the hottest chefs in the world, a leading culinary figure who has been a major impetus behind the recent rise of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern cuisine, and the author of several very big and influential bestselling cookbooks. He has done TV shows, and the London Observer ranked his most famous cookbook, Plenty, in the Top 50 of All-Time. Another, Jerusalem, won the James Beard Award for Best International Cookbook. While he and his restaurants are not vegetarian, he does so many vegetarian recipes that Bon Appétit magazine said he had "made the world love vegetables" He has more than a dozen other major awards, and nine London eateries, and many foodies consider them a must-stop pilgrimage on any trip to England. But now, you can add Geneva to that list. The new Ottolenghi eatery is in the middle of the lobby, and serves three meals a day, with an open kitchen and large, Argentinean-style wood fired grill, the centerpiece of much of the cooking. I ate multiple meals, and they were all great, but to me the big upgrade is breakfast. They still serve a lavish international buffet option, as hotels like the Mandarin do, and they also offer a menu of Far Eastern specialties such as congee, as hotels like the Mandarin do. But the big addition is his Middle Eastern breakfast specialties, especially his famous shakshuka, a meal worth a special trip for breakfast even if you are staying someplace else in Geneva. Rooms are very spacious and many have a river view. That's the big news, but the Mandarin was a 5-Stat hotel before Ottolenghi arrived. Rooms are beautiful and well appointed, and even the toiletries are exceptional. They get the simple things many hotels screw up right, like a simple button that actually shuts all the lights, and really dark blackout shades. They still give you a choice of complimentary newspapers each morning, a dying art. All rooms on the seventh floor have large private outdoor terraces overlooking the river, worth requesting, especially in warmer months. The bar is wonderful, and a great place to stop before dinner or have a business meeting drink. It is not an especially large property, but has a full spa, fitness center, and unusually, the gym has men's and women's locker rooms each with steam and sauna, available to all guests 24/7, whereas most luxury hotels put these amenities in the spa and make them available only with extra fees for spa treatments. Traveling across multiple time zones with some regularity, I have come to greatly appreciate the positive effects steam and sauna can have on the jet lagged body and love the fact that these are readily available. This is also part of a bigger thing I noticed about the hotel: in an age when many places nickel and dime guests for every little thing, even when you are paying a thousand dollars a night, that is not the case here. It is not cheap to stay at the Mandarin Oriental Geneva, but when you do, you are made to feel special, whether you are in the most basic room or the biggest suite. The omakase bar at Sachi, one of Geneva's most desirable dining experiences. The hotel also has another important restaurant, which, like Ottolenghi, draws locals, guests from other hotels and pretty much anyone visiting Geneva who loves food. The fine dining Sachi is a Japanese eatery with a heavy Peruvian influence and sushi bar with omakase options. But no matter where you sit, there are daily multi-course chef's choice tasting menus that are broad, varied and delicious, as well as a full range of a la carte options, and a deep sake list. Sachi is widely considered one of the premier Japanese eatery in all of Switzerland, a gourmet-focused country, and both food and service were impeccable. It is also open for lunch, which many luxury hotel fine dining spots like this are not, another plus for travelers from other time zones. Attracting business travelers in a city like Geneva is easy for a hotel of this stature, but what impressed me was the effort they make on the leisure side. Geneva is underrated in terms of tourism, and the hotel has pulled out all the stops to help promote the lesser-known attractions and make it a legitimate weekend pleasure spot. The concierge encourages day trips to nearby Annecy, 'The Venice of France,' an easy and charming trip few Americans know about. They work with unique local experiences like the Intium workshop, where you can make your own mechanical Swiss watch to take home, a once in a lifetime experience (I've written about this ultra-cool and fun 'watchmaker for a day' class here at Forbes). Intium has recently added jewelry making and build your own custom Swiss Army Knife classes. They offer guided E-bike tours, winery tours, a full-day private tour of Chamonix, one of the world's most charming mountain towns and the birthplace of mountaineering, in-depth culinary experiences for both Switzerland's famous chocolate and cheese, a guided walking tour of Old Geneva, right outside the door, and even hot air ballooning. If you want to experience the best of Geneva and the surrounding area in high style, there is no better place to start than the Mandarin Oriental. The MO Bar spans two levels and is great escape. But at the end of the day, it is the staff and service that set the Mandarin Oriental Geneva apart, omnipresent and flawless. Front desk staff, restaurant staff, bell staff, all do their jobs to perfection. We arrived very early on an overnight flight from the U.S., dropped our bags and went on to a breakfast meeting I had scheduled. When we returned, our bags were all in our room. This is a simple and obvious thing, yet one that the vast majority of luxury hotels fail to do, at any price, and it has always been a pet peeve of mine. I happened to stay at the hotel for a stretch that included my birthday, which I never announced, but being Europe, you have to show your passport at check-in. Without any comment, on the eve of my birthday we returned from dinner out to find a cake and bottle of wine and handwritten note in the room, and in the morning when I came down, everyone from the valet to the waiter wished me a happy birthday. I've traveled over my birthday many times, but do not recall cake being sent to the room. That is good service. The kind I will remember, and the kind that makes me want to go back to the hotel and its siblings.
