Strategic Worldwide Expansion Continues as Four Seasons Opens in its Birthplace

TORONTO, Aug. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts celebrates a homecoming of sorts with the opening of a new 259-room flagship hotel in Toronto, Canada, where the company was founded more than 50 years ago. The opening is a significant milestone in a growth strategy that includes expansion in every corner of the world.

"The new Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is a showcase for the next generation of Four Seasons experiences, helping to exemplify where we're headed in the future," said President and Chief Executive Officer, Katie Taylor. "It gives us all a sense of pride to display the very best of Four Seasons, right here in our hometown."

The global footprint of Four Seasons spanning five continents and 36 countries is the result of a development strategy with focus on the destinations its guests want and need to travel. In 2011, Four Seasons signed 14 letters of intent, more than any other year in the company's history. Each new hotel that results from this process brings to life the best of the local culture, aesthetic and experiences, making each Four Seasons stay distinct and memorable.

"Our growth strategy is driven by opening the right hotel, in the right destination, which also drives the right economics for the hotel owner," said Scott Woroch, Executive Vice President, Development. "We've never taken a cookie-cutter approach as we strive towards opening our 100th hotel and beyond in the next 10 years."

China is one of the largest areas of focus for the company going forward, representing over 20 percent of projected openings for the next 4 years. A new property in Guangzhou opened in July 2012, and additional hotels are slated to open in Beijing and Shanghai Pudong in the coming weeks, as well as a hotel in Shenzhen in the near future. Four Seasons first entered Asia with the acquisition of Regent Hotels in 1992. After refining the Asian portfolio and rebranding Regent hotels to Four Seasons, the company focused on opening branded hotels in major city centres and exotic resort locations throughout the region.

This fall, Four Seasons will also enter Sub-Saharan Africa, with the opening of the first of three properties, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti Tanzania. The Four Seasons Safari Lodge will be an unique opportunity for the brand in an exciting new destination. Located within Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the UNESCO World Heritage Site covers 14,763 square kilometres (5,700 square miles). The landscape features the largest concentration of plains animals in Africa, and is acclaimed for the best game drives and abundant year-round wildlife. Additional new properties are planned in Ngorongoro Conservation Area and on the island of Zanzibar.

The Middle East is another region that has grown significantly since the first hotel opened in Cairo in 2000. Today, it represents over 10 percent of the company's portfolio. Future properties include Four Seasons Hotel Baku, opening in September 2012, and Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, opening by the end of 2014.

In Europe, Four Seasons development has focused on historical renovations, painstakingly restoring old hotels or repurposing landmark buildings such as those in: Budapest, Paris, Milan, Florence, Geneva and Prague. Four Seasons will open in St. Petersburg in a 19^th century royal palace in the next year. Other extraordinary properties in the development pipeline include Moscow and Rome.

North America is where Four Seasons first got its foothold, leading to worldwide expansion. Today, nearly every major city in the U.S. boasts a Four Seasons Hotel, with the most recent opening of Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Americas continues to be a focus for the future with new properties planned in Toronto, Orlando, Brazil, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Four Seasons has grown from a single motor hotel in Toronto, to the leading luxury hotel company in the world with 88 hotels in 36 destinations, through constant innovation and a steadfast commitment to its core values. The company is built on a unified culture based on the Golden Rule – to treat others as you wish to be treated yourself.

"A fundamental element of our success has been our ability to find new members of the Four Seasons who share our core values in every corner of the world," said Taylor. "From Toronto, to Beijing, to Buenos Aires to St. Petersburg, our people create highly customized experiences for our guests and homeowners that have built tremendous loyalty in our brand and demand for what we offer in more and more places around the world."

About Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
Four Seasons is dedicated to perfecting the travel experience through continual innovation and the highest standards of hospitality. 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 and residences in major city centres and desirable resort destinations around the world. With 88 properties in 35 countries, and more than 50 projects under development, Four Seasons continues to lead the hospitality industry with innovative enhancements, making business travel easier and leisure travel more rewarding. For more information on Four Seasons, visit http://press.fourseasons.com.

CONTACT: Laura Zanzal, +1-212-299-8955, [email protected]

SOURCE Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts