Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2006
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Front Services Assistant Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Boston

Employment History

• Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina; Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC; Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills; Four Seasons Hotel Boston; Fairmont Boston; Hilton Milwaukee City Center

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree International Hospitality Management, Johnson & Wales University, Providence, Rhode Island

Birthplace

• Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Languages Spoken

• English

“From the moment I arrived, I knew this hotel was special,” notes Jason de Vries, General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco at Embarcadero.  “Everything about the property feels like it was set to be the most celebrated place in the Bay Area – with the stunning panoramic views starting at the 38th floor, you’re in the clouds and surrounded by skyscrapers and architectural masterpieces – yet it still feels like an intimate, boutique hotel.”

For de Vries, this enthusiasm is rooted in his affinity of travel.  “It’s the ultimate connector,” he notes.  “Travel connects us to one another, to a memory and to a place, forever cemented in one’s personal story.”  Having lived at Embarcadero when he first moved to the Golden City, de Vries experienced the Hotel, and these moments of connection, first-hand.  Whether waking up at sunrise to the glistening bay, or winding down with a glass of wine in the evening and taking in the twinkling city lights, there was an instant kinship to this iconic metropolis.  San Francisco is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world and de Vries loves continuing to explore its hidden gems.

Guided by this principle of connection, De Vries has spent more than 15 years honing his leadership skills, from urban hotels to luxury resorts, all the while cultivating a strong sense of community, creativity and the art of the “unexpected.”  De Vries’ natural ability to champion a dynamic culture of inclusivity and community is evident in myriad partnerships he’s forged a connection with throughout his career with local artists, practitioners and tastemakers.  Whether creating a whimsical in-room dining menu (where the main characters are immersed in the food) to converting a rooftop space to an intimate and elegant private dining venue, de Vries has made a name for himself with his ingenuity and visionary approach.  His unconventional, unexpected innovative approach is now most definitely expected.

Midwestern born, it’s no surprise de Vries grew up on a creative atmosphere.  His mother, a single mom, is a modern quilter, and design was a frequent topic of conversation as he grew up.  “I learned early on that everything is about details, and putting details together is what creates the bigger picture and forms a connection.” Traveling to the Grand Tetons with his mother when he was 10, he figured his future lay in hospitality when he realized he was more interested in the hotel brands they stayed at than the majestic wonders outside the car windows.

It was the inner workings of hotels as much as the hospitality they offered that fascinated him.  “I’d always find a way to go behind the front desk, see all the room keys, and discover all the touch points.”  When he later found that one could earn a college degree in hospitality, everything came together.

But actually, it had already come together, when de Vries walked into a job fair at 15 and walked out with a position at the front desk of an 800-room hotel in Milwaukee.  Later, while earning his degree in Providence, Rhode Island, he worked part time on the room service team of a grand hotel at the end of an hour-long train ride to Boston.

“Oh, I partied plenty in college, too,” he ensures with a laugh, “but my experience wasn’t typical.  I was very nose-down and focused on my career.”  A true hotelier in the making.

Following graduation, de Vries founds his way to Four Seasons at the Front Drive in Boston.  He held various roles at the property as well as in Los Angeles before relocating back east as Director of Rooms at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC in 2017.  Two years later, he became Hotel Manager.  The timing of his appointment opened the door for new challenges and opportunities, as he led a skeleton crew for a time during the pandemic and pitched in on everything from making beds to baking cookies for guests while conceiving of new food and beverage concepts that, he remembers, ended up helping the Hotel in the long run.

All along, he has forged his own path by studying the way things are done and finding new and improved ways of doing them – just like he’s doing now in Embarcadero.  De Vries continues to live the well-travelled, creative lifestyle that swept him into a worldly career.  In between his pursuit of travel afar, he can be found jet-setting close to home between coasts.  His husband Jonas, a German-born, Chinese-speaking professor of political science focused on energy policy, is part of the esteemed Council of Economic Advisers for The White House in Washington, DC.  While many would assume the main topic of household debate between the couple would surround some type of economic policy, it’s actually is the west coast the best coast?  And both would agree it is.

It didn’t take long for de Vries to get comfortable trading in his laid-back island lifestyle on Oahu with his new home in the City by the Bay.  “San Francisco represents a sophisticated urban travel destination brimming with culture, iconic architecture, distinctive neighbourhoods, and prominent landmarks, that many – including myself -  have enjoyed a storied history.”  His curiosity for all things culture, architecture and the arts makes him right at home in Embarcadero, with endless opportunities to explore the city’s contemporary art and museum scene.