Latest news with #SimonBarnett
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
New GM to lead luxury hotel into next growth phase
Barnett now Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur general manager. FOUR Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has announced the appointment of Simon Barnett as its new general manager, succeeding the outgoing leadership as the property enters its next phase of growth. Barnett, whose most recent stint was with Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Thailand, brings more than 30 years of global hospitality experience to his new role. With enthusiasm for people, place and purpose, the Australian is poised to usher in a new chapter of luxury hospitality in Kuala Lumpur. A long-time visitor to Malaysia, Barnett described the move as something of a homecoming. 'I've been visiting Kuala Lumpur every year for the past decade,' he said in an exclusive interview with StarMetro. 'There's so much cultural richness here such as art, food and heritage, and I'm excited to share that with our international guests.' Hailing from Melbourne, Barnett's hospitality journey began in the front office of a five-star hotel in Brisbane before he found his niche in sales and marketing. His career has since taken him to top properties around the world. Collaborations with culinary talents in the works for Bar Trigona. Barnett, who joined Four Seasons in 2011, said his path to leadership was shaped by generous mentors and a focus on empowering his teams. Leadership, he said, was about creating a structure that supported the team's success, which is reflected in the guest experience. At Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Barnett's vision revolves around curated experiences that blend global luxury with Malaysian authenticity. He highlighted the importance of standing out, not just among hotels but also in a city brimming with dynamic dining and entertainment options. 'We will continue pushing boundaries through guest chef collaborations, dining promotions, and immersive wellness offerings. 'Bar Trigona continues to shine, and we will build on that with a collaboration with our team from Bangkok and culinary talents,' said Barnett of the hotel's award-winning bar that offers a vibrant nightlife experience with stunning views of the city. The hotel is set to welcome a new executive chef from Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Vietnam, in July. Meanwhile, Barnett is expanding the in-house spa's wellness offerings with a local twist. These include herbal teas sourced from within Malaysia, a partnership with a longevity clinic and incorporating traditional Chinese medicine elements such as acupuncture. He also hinted at more cultural initiatives to come, including an artist-in-residence programme. 'It would be lovely to host local and international artists, whether poets, sculptors or painters, and have their stay inspire creations we can share with guests.' Committed to sustainability, Barnett said the hotel also planned to build on the group's 'Four Seasons for Good' framework. This includes eliminating single-use plastics throughout the hotel, reducing food waste and supporting community initiatives such as the Terry Fox Run. A self-professed fan of Malaysian cuisine, Barnett singled out beef rendang as his go-to comfort dish. He confessed that local family-run eateries made him feel most at home. 'The thing that's most comforting for me in Kuala Lumpur is the warmth of family-run restaurants,' he shared. 'The service and the food remind me of home,' he said.
Hospitality Net
19-05-2025
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Simon Barnett has been appointed General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur announces the appointment of Simon Barnett as its General Manager. Arriving from Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya, Simon brings more than three decades of global hospitality experience to his new role. "I'm thrilled to be here in vibrant Kuala Lumpur and look forward to building on our Hotel's legacy as an icon of luxury and glamour," says Simon, checking off some of the key attributes that set apart Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur: innovative wellness offerings, highly personalized service, and an award-winning culinary program that includes the Michelin-selected Yun House and Bar Trigona, ranked among Asia's 50 Best Bars for six consecutive years. As a veteran hotelier who has spent nearly 15 years with Four Seasons, Simon embodies a rare combination of operational know-how and sales and marketing experience. Starting out in the front office of a five-star hotel in Brisbane, Australia, he honed his skills across various departments, including concierge and reservations, before discovering a strong affinity with sales, where he progressed steadily through the ranks while learning to flex his creative muscles. Working across luxury properties in the Gold Coast (Australia), London and New York, he also had the opportunity to build and lead teams across diverse cultural environments. In 2011, Simon joined Four Seasons Hotel Sydney as Director of Catering and Conference Services, quickly moving up to Director of Marketing. It was around this time that he felt an increasing pull to return to operations and take on a role that would encompass the Hotel in its entirety. His transition to Hotel Manager in Sydney was followed by a move to Four Seasons Hotel Singapore where he served simultaneously as Hotel Manager and Director of Marketing. Simon then took on his first assignment as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, helping the property stabilize and kickstart its post-pandemic growth, before heading over to the award-winning Four Seasons property in Bangkok, where he spent the last two years executing multiple successful initiatives, including the launch of a new restaurant, a hotel-wide sustainability program, and a calendar of daily cultural experiences. While in the region, Simon and his wife travelled frequently to Malaysia to visit dear friends - "our godchildren were born here" - falling in love with the country's warm, welcoming spirit. When the opportunity arose to move to Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, their answer was an instant and resounding "yes"! In his role as General Manager, Simon is excited to elevate the Hotel's offerings, with a strong focus on showcasing Kuala Lumpur's multicultural vibrancy. "While the city's incredible food scene is world famous, its cultural heritage has yet to gain its rightful place on the global travel stage," notes Simon, sharing his vision for bringing local art, history and customs to life through destination-led experiences. Guests can also look forward to an expanded wellness program, including a line-up of visiting practitioners as well as daily activities centred around mindfulness, healthy cuisine, longevity science and more. What's the most important lesson he's learned in his career? "To make every single guest feel special," he says, recalling the incident that led to this learning. Working as a porter during his university days, he rushed out to greet the arrival of a glamorous young couple and escort them to their room. Later, the head concierge pulled Simon aside and noted that he had overlooked an elderly couple who had arrived just a few seconds before. "They had been saving up for months to spend their fiftieth anniversary with us," he says, remembering how embarrassed he felt at the unwitting oversight. Ever since, the memory has served him as a valuable reminder of why people come to hotels - and why it's worth taking every opportunity to make their visit memorable. Now, Simon looks forward to making every guest feel special at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the city's most stylish and welcoming retreat. On a personal front, he and his wife are excited to explore lesser-known regions of the country: "We're already looking forward to our first Malaysian vacation since moving here!"
