Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts Named to FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For List for 9th Consecutive Year
January 17 2006 - 9:34AM
PR Newswire (US)
Employees From Near and Far Honour Company With Their Endorsement
TORONTO, Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Last summer, twelve
people who had never been to a baseball game or seen the inside of
a stadium suddenly saw their faces on the Jumbotron at a Texas
Rangers game. Their surprise had barely registered when they were
overwhelmed by a standing ovation from the crowd. The twelve are
Maldivians, employees of Four Seasons Resort Kuda Huraa whose
lives, and jobs, had been thrown into chaos by the tsunami of late
2004. "The tsunami forced our Resort to close, putting hundreds out
of work at the moment when they needed income most as they started
to rebuild their lives and communities. We couldn't let that
happen," said Isadore Sharp, chairman and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts. "Instead, we sent them to our other properties around
the world - including properties in the United States, in Dallas,
Palm Beach, Jackson Hole, Los Angeles, Maui and Washington. In true
Four Seasons fashion, they have become a dynamic part of the teams
at these hotels, embracing our guests with their caring service."
Now, these employees and the others who work for the company in
America have named Four Seasons one of FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best
Companies to Work For. The accolade establishes Four Seasons once
again in the Hall of Fame, a prestigious group of only 19 companies
that have appeared for nine consecutive years on the list since it
was introduced in 1998. This year, for the first time, Four Seasons
is also being awarded the Great Place to Work(R) 2006 "Respect
Award", by the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco,
compilers of the FORTUNE list. The five companies receiving this
award were selected for paying particular attention to a specific
employee practice, program, or collection of programs which
exemplify one of the dimensions of the Great Place to Work(R)
Model(R): credibility; respect; fairness; pride; and camaraderie.
Four Seasons was chosen for its comprehensive three-stage
management orientation program, based on the tremendous feedback
the Institute has received from the Four Seasons employee survey
sample over the last nine years. "We are so proud of our employees
and the thoughtful manner in which they treat our guests, and each
other, especially this past year," said Nicholas Mutton, executive
vice president, human resources, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts.
"Our employees inspire Four Seasons toward continuously perfecting
the art of hospitality for our guests. We are honoured that they,
and their colleagues, have distinguished us with this recognition
and we thank them." FORTUNE magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work
For ranking is compiled by Robert Levering and Milton Moscowitz of
the Great Place to Work Institute in San Francisco. The results are
based on a survey completed by tens of thousands of employees from
companies in the United States. Candidate companies are also asked
to submit information about Human Resources policies and workplace
culture, though the final scores are weighted most heavily on the
responses from employees. Dedicated to continuous innovation and
the highest standards of hospitality, Four Seasons invented luxury
for the modern traveller. From elegant surroundings of the finest
quality, to caring, highly personalised 24-hour service, Four
Seasons embodies a true home away from home for those who know and
appreciate the best. The deeply instilled Four Seasons culture is
personified in its employees - people who share a single focus and
are inspired to offer great service. Founded in 1960, Four Seasons
has followed a targeted course of expansion, opening hotels in
major city centers and desirable resort destinations around the
world. Currently with 69 hotels in 31 countries, and more than 20
properties under development, Four Seasons will continue to lead
luxury hospitality with innovative enhancements, making business
travel easier and leisure travel more rewarding. For more
information on Four Seasons, visit http://www.fourseasons.com/.
DATASOURCE: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts CONTACT: Andrew Cole,
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, (416) 449-1750,
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