Nami Yoon
Director of Guest Relations
Four Seasons Tenure
- Since 2016
- First Four Seasons Assignment: Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Employment History
- Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Education
- BA in Hospitality Management, University of Missouri – Columbia, USA
Birthplace
- Busan, Korea
Languages
- English and Korean
Thinking ahead, conjuring up new ideas for “wow” experiences, and fostering a trust-filled working culture between different operational departments: Nami Yoon is nothing if not committed to her craft. In fact, Nami is so dedicated to the delicate dance of guest satisfaction that she is not only the Director of Guest Relations at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul but an elected member of Four Seasons Global Guest Relations Guru Committee – a council of enthusiastic Guest Experience specialists who help the brand to enhance guest experiences worldwide.
Nami was just teenager and still in high school when she embarked on a journey of nearly 7,000 miles from Korea to Columbia, Missouri to study abroad – an experience that would prove to be utterly transformative both personally and professionally.
“I knew from that point that I wanted to make it my life’s work to optimise every part of the hospitality experience,” she recalls. Exposed to inspiring perspectives, diverse cultures and exceptional American service levels, she later returned to study Hospitality Management at the city’s renowned university. From there, she graduated straight into a role at Four Seasons Hotel St Louis.
A formative year learning the importance of trust and connection in building relationships followed. It not only set the standard for Nami’s career but equipped her with the skills she would take back to her Korean homeland and the city-centre oasis of Four Seasons Seoul.
Upon returning to Seoul, Nami distinguished herself through a series of promotions. She became Guest Experience Manager in under five years, just as the border to international travellers reopened following the pandemic. More time serving as a Four Seasons Butler, offering tailored services and personalized assistance, refined her keen attention to detail and highlighted her expertise in providing exceptional service. Director of Guest Relations – and a top spot on Four Seasons Global Guest Relations Guru Committee – soon followed in 2023.
In her current position as Director of Guest Relations, Nami excels in fostering an open, ethical, and trust-based work environment among different departments. “Fostering respect, trust and connection among team members is key to crafting a culture where we all work together to create unforgettable memories for our guests,” she states.
At the top of Nami’s daily to-do list is to motivate every department to take whatever steps necessary to optimise every guest stay – along the way, also empowering each team member to be the best they can be. “Our goal, every day, with every guest should be to inspire a desire for something that they didn’t even think they needed,” she explains. “Every time we think ‘beyond’ guest expectations, we develop ourselves that little bit further too.”
Even when she’s not caring for Four Seasons guests, their needs are constantly in Nami’s mind. She spends her downtime checking out Seoul’s latest fashions, shops and hotspots, keeping abreast of new openings that can be woven into exciting new itineraries, and fuelling her passion for K-Beauty products; so knowledgeable is she in this field that guests often come to her for the latest tips on the country’s hottest skincare trends and launches.
After dedicating so much of her time to others, Nami finds her meditative escape in keeping fit and cooking. In her own words, however, her mind is never really “off the job,”which is perhaps why this guru of guest relations is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the brightest stars in Four Seasons global guest relations galaxy.
