Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2008
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Director of Rooms, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel One Dalton Street, Boston; Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club, Surfside, Florida; Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills; Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); Four Seasons Resort Hualalai; The Ballantyne, Charlotte, North Carolina; The Ritz-Carlton, Naples, Florida

Birthplace

• Damascus, Syria

Education

• Masters Certificate, Food Service Management, Cornell University; Executive Masters of Science, Hospitality Management, Florida International University; Bachelor of Science, Hospitality Management, Florida State University

Languages

• English, Arabic

There are myriad hotel experiences in Los Angeles, but nothing else quite like the one that Reed Kandalaft oversees as Regional Vice President and General Manager of the legendary Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel. Located at the doorstep of world famous Rodeo Drive, the property also features a Forbes Five Star Spa and flagship CUT steakhouse by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, and is the preferred backdrop for glamorous events from Oscars parties to over-the-top weddings and more.

No surprise, then, that with everything Beverly Wilshire has going on, Reed sees his primary responsibility as supporting the legacy and staff that have made the Hotel such an important Los Angeles address for so long. “We have employees who have worked here for more than 40 years. Can you imagine the stories they could tell? Let alone the incredible experience and knowledge of this property that they bring to the table.”

With his Four Seasons career split between urban hotels and beachfront destinations, Reed is right at home back in a city, arriving fresh from success as opening Regional Vice President and General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel and Residences One Dalton, Boston. He was drawn to the hotel industry because he likes interacting with people – simple as that. “I always felt interaction was so much more fun and dynamic than sitting in an office and planning things.” After earning degrees in hospitality management in Florida, he was recruited by an international hotel group and “fell in love."

Reed joined Four Seasons in 2008 as Director of Rooms at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. In 2010, he was promoted to Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Damascus before moving to Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills as Hotel Manager in 2012, which earned a Forbes Five Star rating three years in a row while he kept a watchful eye on operations. “We were so proud,” he remembers. “The team took the experience to the next level and then took it to the guest.”

In 2015, Reed was promoted to opening General Manager for the Surf Club, where he and his team successfully renovated and re-opened the legendary 1930s property as a Four Seasons. A mixed-use property, Surf Club has a significant residential element to the business.

And in 2018, Reed moved to Boston as opening General Manager for the new One Dalton Street property. Another mixed-use property with a complex residential operation, the Hotel opened in 2019. The building stands as one of New England’s tallest residential towers. He led the team to obtaining the enviable Ten Star rating with Forbes Travel Guide, making the Hotel one of only two hotels in the city of Boston to carry such an accolade. It’s this same drive and passion that he brings to Beverly Wilshire, along with his well-honed leadership philosophy, which is inspired by the passion of craftspeople and artisans, in their unique destinations.

Reed holds a master’s degree from Florida International University as well as a bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from Florida State University, and a master’s certificate in Food Service Management from Cornell University. He is fluent in English and Arabic. Reed is a fitness enthusiast and in his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Hala and their three daughters.