Tobias Emmer

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2015
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Front Office Manager, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel Singapore; Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand; Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa; Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai; Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel, London; Mandarin Oriental, Munich

Education

• Diploma in Catering, Professional School for Hotel and Catering Business, Munich, Germany; Bachelor’s Degree in Tourism, University of Darmstadt, Germany

Birthplace

• Munich, Germany

Languages Spoken

• German, English

With more 20 years of experience in global luxury hospitality, including a decade with Four Seasons, Tobias Emmer knows that excellence isn’t just about delivering service, it’s about crafting moments.

“How do you preserve the unique feeling of a place while elevating the guest experience? How do you strike a balance between luxury, authenticity and connection? Therein lies the magic,” he says, getting to the heart of his approach to showcasing Langkawi’s remarkable offerings for guests while remaining true to the island’s inherent spirit.

Indeed, Tobias has the credentials for this delicate balancing act, with a professional journey that has led him across incredibly diverse destinations. From the iconic heritage of London and the city lights of Shanghai to the remote serenity of Chiang Rai and the vibrant buzz of Singapore, he brings with him a globally-honed background in guest experience, team development and leadership - now in service of burnishing “the jewel of the Andaman Sea” to an even brighter sheen.

His family is convinced that Tobias inherited the hospitality gene from his uncle, who spent his entire career in hotels and restaurants across Germany. As a teenager, instead of getting paper routes like his friends, he chose to work in a kitchen where he made salads and washed dishes, followed by an apprenticeship program at an acclaimed luxury hotel in Munich. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree in tourism, while working in London with the same hotel group.

After several years in London, he set sail for Shanghai to join the opening team of a new five-star hotel. This would prove to be a career-defining move for Tobias, who has never looked back since.

Joining Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa in 2015, his talent and dedication accelerated his rise from Front Office Manager to Director of Rooms. In 2018, he became Resort Manager for the first time, overseeing day-to-day operations at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai, Thailand, before moving to Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, where he served as Hotel Manager for two and a half years.

The move to Langkawi marked a full circle moment for Tobias, whose return to island life was marked by new perspectives and a fresh excitement as he took charge of all aspects of Resort operations.

“Langkawi is genuinely special - there’s a natural beauty here that you can’t help but feel connected to, and Four Seasons stands out with its unique character and deep sense of place. And let’s be honest, you can’t beat that beach!” he says.

As a leader, Tobias is well known for his enthusiastic mentorship, finding immense fulfilment in supporting team members to unlock their full potential. His favourite quote, from Eleanor Roosevelt, sums up his philosophy perfectly: “True hospitality consists of giving the best of yourself to your guests.”

It comes as little surprise that Tobias is also an avid traveller in his leisure time, forever ready to hop onto a plane in search of new inspiration. An art enthusiast, he enjoys tracking down creativity in unexpected places, always on the lookout for novel ideas that can translate into something special for his guests back at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi.