Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2011
• First Four Seasons Assignment: Director of Catering and Conference Services, Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River, Thailand; Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Indonesia; Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Singapore; Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, Australia; Jumeirah Essex House, New York, USA; Jumeirah Carlton Tower & Lowndes Hotel, London, UK; The Trafalgar Hilton, London, UK; Hilton Hotels International, London, UK; Daikyo Hotels Resorts and Cruises, Gold Coast, Australia; Starwood, Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Brisbane, Australia

Education

• Bachelor of Business (Hospitality Management), University of Queensland, Australia

Birthplace

• Melbourne, Australia

Languages Spoken

• English

A veteran hotelier with three decades of global hospitality experience, Simon Barnett brings a rare combination of operational know-how and sales and marketing credentials to his role as General Manager. His mission? “To keep building on the property’s already-impressive legacy as an icon of luxury and glamour,” he says, checking off some of the key attributes that set apart Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur: an award-winning culinary program, innovative wellness offerings, and highly personalized service.

Starting out in the front office of a five-star hotel in Brisbane, Australia, Simon honed his skills across various departments, including concierge and reservations, before discovering a strong affinity with sales, where he progressed steadily through the ranks while learning to flex his creative muscles. Working with luxury brands 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.

In his current role, Simon inspires his team to bring to life the most important lesson he has learned in his career: “As hoteliers, our job is to make every single guest feel special.” Along with warm, deeply personal hospitality, he brings a renewed focus to showcasing Kuala Lumpur’s multicultural vibrancy. Centred around local art, history and customs, the Hotel’s growing selection of curated experiences connects guests with the true spirit of the destination.

On a personal front, Simon enjoys working out and practising Wim Hof breathwork. This an offset to his other great passion – immersing in Kuala Lumpur’s vibrant food scene with his wife. “Every week, we try to visit as many restaurants as we can, across different cuisines and styles,” he shares with a smile, adding that they are unlikely to ever run out of options. As avid travel buffs who have visited Malaysia frequently over the years, the couple also loves exploring lesser-known regions of the country while on vacation.