Since his first role as a bellboy at The Imperial in Vienna, Stefan Simkovics has been under the spell of the hotel industry. “It’s about much more than travelling the world,” he explains. “It’s about really getting to spend time in places and living a life free from routine; every day is different, every minute an adventure.”

Now, over 40 years later, the General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Beirut still thrives on adventure. And fortunately, the adventures keep on coming. Having been at the helm of four of the company’s properties during the past four years, the recent demands of the job have been amongst the most intense of Simkovics’s career. “But I have enjoyed them,” he says with a smile. “I first joined the industry for the challenges, the ups and downs, the irregular times, the excitement of not knowing what each day would bring. The more complicated the work is, the more fun it is – and the more I love it.”

Simkovics is the archetypal inspirator, empowering his staff to manage each hotel while he in turn guides them to be the best they can be. He believes that flexibility is key to succeeding in the industry, and traces his own success to his early days with Four Seasons when he joined The Pierre New York as Executive Assistant Manager in 1981. “It was a real milestone in my career,” he recalls. “I developed a style that was more about leadership than management, which helped me to find the right balance between fulfilling the needs of the guest, the owners and the company.”

Outside the industry, Simkovics leads a similarly balanced lifestyle. He works out, swims, hikes, enjoys mountain biking, travelling and visiting historic sites, and reads “a lot.” “Nothing too outrageous for me these days,” he laughs.

His enthusiasm for his latest city, Beirut, is palpable. Describing it as “beautiful, vibrant, fascinating, amazing ... like the south of France meets the Orient,” he also recognises that the city is more than ready to welcome high-end international guests once again: “There is a great sense of excitement and anticipation in the air.” And what of the Hotel itself? “Service is at its best when you don’t feel it. The Hotel is just the right size and layout to showcase Four Seasons at its very best.”