One of the main hobbies of the executive vice-president on development of company Four Seasons of Scott Uorocha — travel, and its post to it has.

It is assured, what even hotel business can successfully develop in crisis, if considers requirements of clients, especially constant. That is why he considers that the main riches of a network — it the shots which have received correct house education.

— Like other sectors of the market of the real estate отельный business endures today crisis. Whether is going to change thereupon network Four Seasons development strategy, including in Russia?

— We, undoubtedly, realise global changes in the real estate market, in particular in hotel sector. But it is necessary to understand that it develops cyclically. In 2000 we observed boom of the hotel market, then endured crash of the market of high technologies with all consequences; we reaped consequences of acts of terrorism on September, 11th, 2001 and ecological accidents in Asia and the North America; we were witnesses of restoration and the subsequent blossoming of hotel sector in 2005-2007, and then since the end of 2008 endured general financial crisis … As you can see, even over the last 10 years the market reached time and again peak and a bottom. That is why I will answer so: no, we will not change strategy of development, our hotel network already almost 50 years, and we could keep afloat both in good, and during bad times for branch.

— Then, probably, you realise that now, in crisis, it is very favourable to get new objects. You are going to buy some hotels for the network?

— It is important to understand that Four Seasons first of all the operating company. We operate actives, but we are not the main proprietors of hotels. Therefore we, as a rule, act in partnership with developers and owners of the real estate, such as the company «Tristar Investments Holdings» in St.-Petersburg. But, of course, some of our partners have estimated the present moment and have used it for purchase of some actives in the real estate market.

— You supervise what regions personally?

— I am responsible for development of network Four Seasons and its actives on a global scale. Now I live in Toronto, before lived in Singapore and was responsible for development of a network and its actives in Pacific region.

— What regional distinctions in development of network Four Seasons you can name? What can you tell about network plans in Russia?

— Speaking about development of hotel sector in the conditions of global financial crisis, it is possible to tell that this crisis has affected each region in own way. Such regions as the North America and Europe, to a lesser degree — the Near East and more is less — Asian-Pacific region have seriously enough suffered. In my opinion, these distinctions speak structure of owners of hotel actives. If in the North America the leading part belongs to investors — to pension funds and professional in the Near East and in Asia other business in many cases family or is supervised by the public (national) companies.

— And how affairs in Russia, in your opinion, are?

— It seems to me that Russia something is similar to Asia, but more likely it can be carried to emerging markets.

— Whether it means, what placing cost in the Russian hotels can be above, than in hotels of the developed markets? It is exclusive a supply and demand question. The largest hotel markets, different high occupancy of hotels, such as New York, Paris, Hong Kong, also are characterised also by a backlog demand. In the last some years too can be carried Moscow and St.-Petersburg to this category: rough economic growth along with increase of well-being and modest enough offer in other sector.

— What room rate in hotel Four Seasons Lion Palace St will be. Petersburg?

— Network Four Seasons is positioned in the market highest category, therefore and the prices will be corresponding.

— Some words about this project: it was pleasant to you? — Yes, I have visited him, have seen notable progress in civil work. This fine historical building of XIX century which distinguishes also a unique arrangement. Simply fantastic concept: new blocks of a building are placed in a historical context and look there absolutely organically.

— What prospects of this hotel how it will affect the hotel market of St.-Petersburg?

— Basically, each project influences the market. Presence of network Four Seasons at St.-Petersburg in the form of this fine building is unequivocal the attention will draw and will provide fine possibilities of elite placing both for foreign, and for the Russian visitors of St.-Petersburg. Townsmen too can estimate our restaurants and SPA.

— What distinctive features of network Four Seasons?

— Clients from the most different countries Four Seasons with certain quality of service and the expanded infrastructure corresponding to the highest standards. However, in the presence of sufficient means almost any investor can create category hotel de luxe. Therefore we are deeply assured that unique our network is done by quality of service and, actually, qualified personnel.

— Whether you co-operate with any world famous suppliers of the goods or services?

— Certainly, we work with a number of suppliers of the special goods for hotels, and also with large service providers. However finally for all in the answer employees Four Seasons, our quality of service does to a brand a name.

— Putting service (in hotel) as the corner-stone, probably, you very much think much of personnel preparation …

— Our quality of service is caused by selection really the people adequately concerning sphere of services as a whole. The individual approach to the client defines correct selection of the personnel. It is possible to train in subtleties, nuances, and our shots, as a rule, already have good basic education. It also creates finally corresponding culture of service.

— You wish to tell, what it is necessary to prepare each employee individually?

— Practically yes. We follow simple ancient wisdom: «Address with others how want, that addressed with you». As tells one of our top-managers, matter is not in training, and in house education. In what atmosphere of dews our future employee, what values were cultivated in his family — all these factors are very important for us.

— Please, describe a portrait of the typical visitor of hotel Four Seasons.

— In each country at our visitors specific features. However the typical visitor of hotel Four Seasons — the person who travels much, is easy on lifting, appreciates quality and efficiency of services. Our hotel very much loves those who goes in business business trips, and those who seldom manages to spend time with a family. To our visitors, especially in resort zones, it is not necessary to complain: the hotel is ideal for family rest.

— It is rumored that in one of your hotels meeting G20 … will soon take place

— While I cannot confirm or deny this information. Basically, hotels Four Seasons get out often enough for carrying out of the major business, including international, actions. All over the world our hotels accepted heads of the states (at us many US presidents stopped), stars of show business, movie stars. — According to some information, about half of hotels of network Four Seasons it is located in buildings — historical monuments. Whether this tradition the next years will be saved? What features of arrangement of hotel in a building — a history and architecture monument?

— Yes, it so, especially in Europe: here we have a significant amount of the hotels which are taking places in historical buildings. It quite обоснованно: as a rule, such buildings are in the central, more prestigious part of a city. It is a lot of examples: in Athenes our hotel is located in a building-monument, in Milan, in Florence — in very ancient historical building dated on XV century, even frescos there were saved. InBudapest at us two hotels: that on east coast, there was a prison for political prisoners earlier, and in other — a palace. Both buildings — historical monuments, both are in own way well-known, in both of us have created unique, unique atmosphere. With buildings-monuments it is very interesting to work. For example, the building of under construction hotel in St.-Petersburg has the history and a cultural value, it will be equally interesting both to visitors of the future actions, and for those who appreciates architecture and design. Buildings-monuments give to our visitors unique possibility to adjoin to history, remaining within the limits of the habitual comfortable environment.

— At the time of crises hotels usually increase volumes of parallel services — stir up vystavochno-conference ionic activity, open new restaurants etc. As business in your network is?

— Our hotels practise versatile business, profiting not only by placing, but also from holding conferences and other business actions, from the velness-industry. So crisis has not much more changed specificity of our activity.

— What share of incomes which your network receives from indirect services — the organisations of conferences, banquets?

— Frankly speaking, all depends on concrete hotel, even from a season or day of week. For example, hotels Four Seasons in New York on days off accept tourists, businessmen who have arrived to business business trip and remained also on week-end, and is possible, and inhabitants of suburbs and other American cities, who have arrived to New York for the weekend to take pleasure in museums, theatres, shopping centres. In a word, on the days off in our hotel stops much more fans to have a rest. But at week-days our major customers in the largest megacities — corporate clients, the businessmen who have arrived on conference or other business action. The similar approach distinguishes also our hotels on resorts. For example, on Hawaii in one months tourist’s groups, and in others — visitors of business actions for which bill the hotel can keep afloat stop exclusively having a rest, mainly.

— When you have come in business?

— Approximately 20 years ago. I worked for company West Inn (a component of network Starwood) on the party of owners of hotels. Being the lawyer under the real estate, I protected interests of company Strategic Hotel Capital — one of институциональных investors in the hotel real estate in the North America and Europe. So I am familiar both with external, and with an inside отельного business.

— You are happy with the work?

— Yes, of course, I travel much and I work much. And it is pleasant to me.

— Name your favourite hotel.

— I do not have favourite hotel, I have many favourite corners in the most different hotels: number in Four Seasons in Tokyo, a hotel lobby in Hong Kong or Paris. It can be registration of hotels or resort complexes, for example, on Maldives. But if to take a business side, that my favourite hotels — the most profitable.

— Where they are?

— Mainly in the countries and regions with a cheap labour, thus that the average room rate remains concerning high. Our hotels in the Asian region, for example in China, can be very profitable as the average room rate both rather cheap labour and low enough additional expenses here is rather high. At the same time our largest hotels — in New York, Paris, Hong Kong are profitable also. I also love Them most of all.

— I should ask a question: what the Moscow project

Four Seasons new in advancement?

— I have arrived to Moscow for negotiation, it became known that recently new investor in partnership with the government of Moscow has redeemed the big share of the Moscow project. Opening of a duet of hotels Four Seasons in Moscow and St.-Petersburg, undoubtedly, becomes considerable event in the Russian market of the hotel real estate, will lift authority of network Four Seasons on your country. We had a certain circle of the Russian clients which stop in our hotels in Europe, Asia and the North America. Now they can use services of a familiar brand and in the homeland.

— When the Moscow hotel will be ready?

— Work on the Moscow project will renew in 2010, is planned to open it in 2012

— Characterise anti-recessionary strategy of network Four Seasons. What your personal anti-recessionary strategy?

— As I already spoke, the economic climate always renders on our business both positive, and negative influence. During heavy times for economy we should be more attentive to requirements of clients, first of all repeat clients — those who remains with us both in a grief, and in pleasure, and has therefore the right to special care and attention. Nevertheless at the time of crisis we should be especially attentive to expenses all the same to continue to remain effective, profitable business.