Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica

Four Seasons Tenure

• First 2007-2018, now since 2024
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Hotel Manager, Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Employment History

• Northview Hotel Group and VIP Asset Management , Hersha Hospitality Trust; Four Seasons Resort and Residences Vail; Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia; Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui; Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, Harvard College; Master of Business Administration, Harvard Business School

Birthplace

• Fairmont, West Virginia, USA

Languages Spoken

• English

Brent Martin’s path to hospitality is anything but conventional—and entirely reflective of his entrepreneurial spirit. Raised in a family that ran businesses ranging from a cemetery and Christmas tree farm to a pizza shop and ice cream parlour, Brent learned early what it meant to be hands-on, adaptable, and driven by community. After a stint in investment banking in New York and London left him uninspired, he realized what he truly sought: the fast-paced, people-centered world of hospitality, where each hotel operates like a small business with big heart.

Brent joined Four Seasons as Hotel Manager at the iconic Beverly Wilshire, where he quickly demonstrated a talent for leadership grounded in empathy, intellect, and a touch of self-deprecating humour. His career journey took him beyond operations to the world of ownership and corporate partnerships, but it was the "small business energy" of day-to-day hotel life that ultimately pulled him back.

In 2024, Brent returned to Four Seasons as General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Peninsula Papagayo, drawn by the property’s elevated reputation, breathtaking natural setting, and the opportunity to work with forward-thinking teams on both the ownership and management sides. "The Peninsula exceeded my expectations," he shares. "It’s even more incredible now than when my husband and I visited over 15 years ago."

Known for his balance of strategic thinking and human connection, Brent is passionate about nurturing talent and building cultures where kindness, accountability, and collaboration thrive. “Hotels are built from stone and wood, but it’s the people that make them come alive,” he says.

When he’s not working, Brent finds joy in baking, working out, and reading (usually to offset the baking). He and his husband also love spending time at their beach house in El Salvador. A self-proclaimed sarcastic procrastinator with a generous heart, Brent is known for his wit, but even more so for his unwavering commitment to helping others grow.

His guiding philosophy comes from his father: “All boats rise with the tide.” It’s a reminder that when teams, and even competitors, lift each other up, everyone wins.