Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has been recognised as a J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champion, one of just 40 companies in the US to have earned the distinction this year.

To qualify for inclusion on this elite list, companies must not only excel within their own industries, but also must stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries evaluated by J.D. Power and Associates. Four Seasons excelled in all five key customer “touch points” measured, including people, presentation, process, product and price, and stood out particularly in the categories of people, presentation and process.

“This is a proud moment for our company, and for the 35,000 men and women who serve our guests in 34 countries around the world every day,” says Jim FitzGibbon, president, worldwide hotel operations. “We place priority on hiring and nurturing the very best people, and this honour is a testament to their efforts. As we celebrate our 50th birthday this year and look ahead to the future, we look forward to continuing to exceed our guests’ expectations.”

To identify the J.D. Power 2011 Customer Service Champions, J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. This group of 40 represents the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to US customers - both within their respective industries and across all industries measured.

This honour is the latest in a series of awards and accolades earned by the brand in recent months. A favourite choice of business and leisure travellers around the world, Four Seasons consistently ranks high in reader surveys, and counts numerous AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star properties in its growing portfolio, as well as 16 Michelin stars among its restaurants. Most recently, the company was proud to be named to Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, for the 14th consecutive year.