Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai, Hoi An, Vietnam

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2006
  First Four Seasons Assignment: Four Seasons Hotel Houston

Employment History

• Four Seasons Resort Langkawi, Malaysia; Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Singapore; Regent Singapore (formerly a Four Seasons hotel), Singapore; Four Seasons Hotel Houston, USA

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Global Hospitality Leadership, University of Houston, USA

Birthplace

• Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Languages Spoken

• English

Michael Casey traces his earliest fascination with hospitality to a feeling of warmth and ease that would linger long after a hotel visit. His formative years were spent in Jeddah, followed by Rhode Island and later Cairo, where monthly family brunches at an iconic luxury hotel sparked a quiet wonder. “It felt like stepping into another world,” he recalls. “Inside the hotel, everything moved at a different pace. You were welcomed, looked after, and inspired, all at once.”

Michael took his first step into the world of hospitality while attending university in Houston, where he joined Four Seasons Hotel Houston as a pool attendant. This was the first of many guest-facing roles, from the fitness centre to the front desk, that laid the foundation for his intuitive, hands-on approach. In 2011, he relocated to Regent Singapore (formerly a Four Seasons hotel) as the Guest Experience Manager, beginning a global chapter that would see him grow into leadership roles across rooms, housekeeping, and front office.

In 2016, he joined the team at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, where he spent two fruitful years before taking on the position of Director of Rooms at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi. It was here that Michael mastered navigating the dynamics of large-scale resort operations, including running the property in the absence of the General Manager, and spearheading the launch of the on-site UNESCO Geopark Discovery Centre.

In 2023, Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai came calling, marking the start of his Vietnamese journey. With nearly two decades of success with the Four Seasons brand, he credits his growth to mentors who gave him space and opportunity to rise, a mindset he now brings to his own team.

For Michael, a resort stay facilitates deeper, more meaningful connections: “Life moves more slowly here. Guests have the time and leisure to explore and engage, and so do the people who look after them.” He loves how the Resort’s spatial design offers a natural gathering point at the centre and unfolds countless opportunities for guests to connect – not only with the natural surroundings and local culture but also with each other.

Overseeing operations as Resort Manager, Michael plays a central role in shaping the full arc of the guest journey, from food and wellness, to landscaping and lighting, to the thoughtful service touches that make each stay memorable. It’s this personalised human interaction that keeps him motivated. As he explains, “You can’t automate genuine attention or care, because no two days or people are the same.”

As part of the Resort’s refurbishment projects, Michael has also partnered closely with the design team to enhance villas and facilities while preserving their traditional character. Drawing daily inspiration from the three landscapes that make Hoi An so distinctive – the beach, the rice fields and the river – he works to bring that same sense of place to the Resort.

Vietnam, for him, still feels like an adventure: the authenticity of its people, the freshness of the produce, and the sheer variety of experiences to be had. He spends his time off walking the hidden streets of Hoi An town with an audiobook in his ear, planning his next weekend getaway, or scouting out new restaurants.