Cover Blaise Montandon (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
Blaise Montandon (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
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The newly appointed general manager is on a mission to make the luxury hotel a destination in its own right
Considering Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur (FSKL) is home to the cocktail wizards of Bar Trigona, one of Asia's 50 Best Bars, Blaise Montandon is already halfway to meeting his goal of the luxury hotel becoming an attraction for Klang Valley urbanites.
"I think it's very important for a city property like FSKL to be an attraction for the local community, an attractive destination for people in Kuala Lumpur. It needs to be a place where they feel comfortable, they feel at home, and they find something different and interesting," he says. "If you're recognised by the local community for being an attraction, it gives confidence to visitors from abroad as well."
Throwback: Tatler's Christmas Ball 2021 at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur
Above Montandon was previously posted in Four Seasons Resort the Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
Montandon was previously posted in Four Seasons Resort the Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam (Photo: Imran Sulaiman)
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Montandon has just arrived in the Malaysian capital from Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An in Vietnam, where he was also the general manager. A hospitality graduate from Lausanne, Switzerland, he believes that FSKL has the potential to become a favourite with the locals as well.
"Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion, take visitors out for a good time, or enjoy a staycation with loved one, we want to be the hotel of choice for the Kuala Lumpur community," he states.
See also: 4 Luxury Resorts in Unesco World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia
How do you plan to make this happen?
We have to make everyone feel welcome and at ease when they come in here. Then we have to make sure that the products we have like our restaurants deliver something exceptional for everyone.
In your opinion, what is FSKL's best attribute?
We have a golden rule where we treat people the way you want to be treated. Ok, you're going to tell me that everyone says the same thing. But I had worked in a lot of companies and I have to say that in Four Seasons, we actually implement that. Not only the good times, because that's easy, but also during challenging times. If you have a happy, dynamic, and secure team, you know that they will deliver. If you're 'unfriendly' to your own team, how do you expect them to be friendly to the guests. Having a positive energy is very important.
"If you're recognised by the local community for being an attraction, it gives confidence to visitors from abroad as well."
Above A multi-generational family on vacation (Photo: iStock)
A multi-generational family on vacation (Photo: iStock)
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How do you think travel attitudes have changed after the pandemic?
We realise that in the past two and a half year when we were not able to travel freely that we missed the connection. Not just with friends but with family. We're seeing more multi-generational family travellers. As soon as Vietnam opened its borders, we had grandparents, parents, and children travelling together.
The prolonged border closure had prompted many major luxury hotels to target domestic travellers. Will they still be an important segment now that borders have largely opened?
I believe so. Before, if you planned four trips a year, all four trips would be abroad. Today, travellers will spend more time exploring their own countries as well.
Why did you want to be in the hotel industry?
I came from a small Swiss town called Fleurier which was famous for Parmigiani watches. I knew from very young I wanted to go out and explore. When I travelled with my parents, I would go and check out hotels, just random hotels. I loved going into hotel lobbies because they are so vibrant, so many things happening. I had always found hotels to be so interesting.
So far it has lived up to my expectations. You deal with guests, which is interesting. You lead a team who come from diverse backgrounds. You deal with the community outside the property. Something is always happening so you're never bored.
I like to discover places. I like to discover food. I like to meet new friends.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
