Exclusive: London's Four Seasons GMs set to move on

John Stauss and Charlie Parker are both leaving their respective general manager positions at London's two Four Seasons hotels.

Stauss (right) is retiring at the age of 65 at the end of March, having spent the last 23 years as general manager of the five-red-AA-star, 193-bedroom Four Seasons Hotel London Park Lane and 21 years as regional vice-president.

Parker (left), who has been general manager of the 100-bedroom, five-AA-star Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square since 2016 and oversaw the opening of the property, will be taking up the position of general manager at the 371-bedroom Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, Hawaii.

Stauss, who was The Caterer's Hotelier of the Year 2005, is retiring after 35 years with Four Seasons and more than 50 years in the industry. His successor will be Todd Cilano, who joins from his role as regional vice-president and general manager of the Four Seasons Hotel Doha in Qatar.

"I've focused a lot during the last 20 years on the next generation of leadership and part of leadership is knowing when it's time to hand over to the next generation," said Stauss. "I'm fortunate enough to work for a great brand in a great hotel with great people all around me, and I think that's a nice time to go."

He said that he is confident about the future of both the hotel and the London hospitality sector, adding: "I hope the hotel will continue to be different from our competitive set, and the employees will continue to be highly motivated and diverse, and enjoy the hospitality industry as much as I have. I've loved every minute of it."

Parker will be succeeded by Vincent Hoogewijs, who is currently regional vice president and general manager of the Four Seasons Amman in Jordan.

"I've very much enjoyed being a part of this very exciting project at Ten Trinity, we had a great year last year establishing the hotel, and it has many exciting years ahead of it as it grows into itself," said Parker.

He previously worked as resort manager of the Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh before he moved back to the UK to manage the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire in 2011.

He added: "I always very much enjoyed working in a resort environment. Oahu is a fabulous property which opened less than two years ago and moving there will provide a great opportunity to take the resort forward in its post-opening years."

Charlie Parker announced as GM of Four Seasons' new London hotel >>

John Stauss: Hotelier of the Year 2005 >>

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