Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 1999
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Front Desk Agent at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi; Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort, USA; Four Seasons Resort Lanai, USA; Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand; Regent Singapore (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); Four Seasons Resort Nevis, West Indies; The Pierre, New York, USA (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, UK

Education

• Bachelor of Science from Oxford Brookes University, UK, degree with honours in Hotel and Restaurant Management

Birthplace

• Beaconsfield, United Kingdom

Languages Spoken

• English, conversational French

Intrepid globetrotter, tenacious problem-solver, luxury hospitality aficionado: Charles Fisher wears the various hats of a hotelier with ease. In his current role as General Manager, he brings more than 20 years of Four Seasons experience along with the power of positive thinking to Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence.

An “airline baby” whose father worked with British Airways, Charles enjoyed a nomadic childhood, moving homes every few years. By the time he turned 18, he had already lived in places as diverse as Bahrain, Mexico City, Miami, Cairo and Beijing. Well and truly bitten by the travel bug, he initially dreamed of joining the airline industry but “was wisely warned off by my father who realised it was a changing world.” Plan B was oceanography: “this time, my mother stepped in and suggested I play more to my strengths – something less scientific, more hands-on and people oriented!”

The third time was the charm, luckily. After completing a four-year degree in hotel and restaurant management at Oxford Brookes University in the UK (where he met his wife Catherine), Charles joined the front desk at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane. “I graduated on Friday, joined Four Seasons the Monday after – and have never looked back since,” he smiles.

With a rapidly-progressing career in hotels, the whirlwind travels continued. After London came a stint at The Pierre in New York (then a Four Seasons Hotel), followed by Four Seasons Resort Nevis, where his daughter Grace was born. The next promotion took him eastward to Singapore, then Chiang Mai, where the family became complete with the arrival of baby Florence. As Resort Manager at Four Seasons Resort Lanai, he played an instrumental role in the property’s dramatic and award-winning transformation, then spent the next few years at Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort.

Across locales, properties and teams, the key to Charles’ success has been his solution-focused approach, founded on the conviction that every challenge, no matter how big, has a positive resolution. Along with its fair share of adventure, this lifestyle has also given him a “global citizen mindset,” creating a deep appreciation for the cultural diversity that exists in our world.

What’s the most important lesson he’s learned? “It’s my responsibility to adapt to a new location. I think that’s particularly true in the workplace. When you’re in a leadership role, it’s easy to walk in and expect the team to reshape itself around you – but if you’re nimble and can adapt to them, that works so much better,” he says, emphasizing that a leader’s role is to make thoughtful improvements so team members can bring their best selves to work.

For Charles, mutual respect and care form the bedrock of any successful transition. They also happen to be the reasons behind his decades-long tenure at Four Seasons. As he reflects, “Time and time again, I’ve witnessed the company’s commitment to people, to doing the right thing.” The brand’s leadership in the market is another source of fulfilment: “I genuinely enjoy operating at this level of the luxury hospitality business. It’s demanding and there’s little room for error, but that’s what makes it exciting and, ultimately, satisfying.”

At Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, Charles is leading a tenured team that brings Egyptian warm hospitality to life, tailoring them impeccably for local as well as international guests. “As the first Four Seasons property to ever open in the Middle East, we take great pride in curating memorable experiences for every guest,” he explains.

Enamored with the history of this great ancient city, Charles enjoys exploring Cairo’s hidden gems, local cuisine and enchanting culture. When he’s not at work, Charles loves to spend time with his family, be it playing sports with his daughters, cooking a meal together with his wife, or enjoying a day out in the countryside.