Simon Barnett Appointed General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur announces the appointment of Simon Barnett as its General Manager. Arriving from Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya, Simon brings more than three decades of global hospitality experience to his new role.

“I’m thrilled to be here in vibrant Kuala Lumpur and look forward to building on our Hotel’s legacy as an icon of luxury and glamour,” says Simon, checking off some of the key attributes that set apart Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur: a coveted location in the city’s vibrant heart, highly personalized service, and an award-winning culinary program that includes the Michelin-selected Yun House and Bar Trigona, ranked among Asia’s 50 Best Bars for six consecutive years.

As a veteran hotelier who has spent nearly 15 years with Four Seasons, Simon embodies a rare combination of operational know-how and sales and marketing experience. Starting out in the front office of a five-star hotel in Brisbane, Australia, he honed his skills across various departments, before discovering a strong affinity with sales. His journey then took him across luxury properties in the Gold Coast (Australia), London and New York, he also had the opportunity to build and lead teams across diverse cultural environments.

In 2011, Simon joined Four Seasons Hotel Sydney as Director of Catering and Conference Services, quickly moving up to Director of Marketing. It was around this time that he felt an increasing pull to return to operations and take on a role that would encompass the Hotel in its entirety. His transition to Hotel Manager in Sydney was followed by a move to Four Seasons Hotel Singapore where he served simultaneously as Hotel Manager and Director of Marketing.

Simon then took on his first assignment as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, helping the property stabilize and kickstart its post-pandemic growth, before heading over to the award-winning Four Seasons property in Bangkok, where he spent the last two years executing multiple successful initiatives, including the launch of a new restaurant, a hotel-wide sustainability program, and a calendar of daily cultural experiences.

Now, in his role as General Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Simon looks forward to making every guest feel special at the city’s most stylish and welcoming retreat. Under his leadership, the team is set to further elevate the Hotel’s offerings, with a strong focus on showcasing the destination’s multicultural vibrancy.

“Our goal is to introduce guests from around the world to Kuala Lumpur’s incredible heritage and warm spirit, always with a touch of Four Seasons hospitality – that is to make every single guest feel special,” says Simon, sharing his vision for bringing local art, history and customs to life through curated experiences. Guests can also look forward to an expanded wellness program, including a line-up of visiting practitioners and offerings centred around mindfulness, healthy cuisine, longevity science and more.

On a personal front, Simon and his wife are excited to explore more of Malaysia, a country they’ve visited frequently over the years. “We want to immerse more deeply in everything – the fantastic food, the diverse culture, the authentic hospitality,” says Simon. “It feels like home right away and we’re already looking forward to our first Malaysian vacation since moving here!”