Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 2018
• First Four Seasons Assignment: General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel Seoul; AVANI Hotels & Resorts; Kempinski Hotels in Geneva, Bangkok, Dubai, Aqaba, Kuwait, Gozo (Malta), Estepona (Spain), Istanbul, and St. Petersburg; Meliá Hotels International in Jakarta, Indonesia

Education

• Certificate, Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY; Diploma, Hotel Management, Hotel Institute Montreux, Switzerland; Executive Masters Business Administration, Reims Management School, France; Bachelor’s Degree, Finance, University of Massachusetts, Amherst; studied SUBJECT, Complutense University of Madrid

Birthplace

• Castellón, Spain

Languages

• Spanish, English, French

Alejandro Bernabé’s hotel career has been filled of proud moments, but none quite measures up to the one that engages him now as General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Madrid. “This property essentially reconfigured Madrid, making luxury cool in the capital and drawing international travellers to what I believe has become one of the most vibrant cities in Europe,” he says, adding nimbly, “I can’t say enough about the fantastic job my predecessors and the company did in establishing the Hotel to reposition the area around it. Now, my goal is to take things to the next level by showing locals that our amenities and experiences are theirs to enjoy, too.”

For the first time in a while, Bernabé is working in a destination whose primary language is his own, enabling easy communication toward building trust with the team, partnerships with area businesses, and relationships with Madrileños. “The primary message I want to get across is that we are just as inviting for wellness treatments or beers with friends as we are for weddings, events and overnight stays.”

Arriving in Madrid in late 2023, Bernabé found himself a familiar position of turning a page on a new chapter for a property that is operating at the top of its game. When he first joined Four Seasons under similar circumstances in Seoul, Korea, he was still learning about the brand. “Now,” he says, “I’m an ambassador, with our employees and guests looking to me to define what Four Seasons means as we move forward.” So, how does he define it? “By the way the company cares about people and is always looking for new ways to personalize the guest experience and energize the destination.”

Meanwhile, he embraces the same “curious” management style that he has pursued throughout his career. He believes in asking questions, being seen, and “saying the right thing, the right way” to correct team members when necessary. “The important thing for a manager, I’ve found, is to keep your eyes on the big picture as well as the small picture.”

Bernabé is no stranger to Madrid. Hailing from Castellón on Spain’s east coast, he studied for a time at a historic university in the city and has vacationed here off and on over the years. He originally fell into hospitality “by mistake” after earning a degree in finance in the US and then realizing the field wasn’t his thing. He went on to earn a degree in hotel management in Switzerland, following a friend’s advice to pursue a hotel career so that he could remain abroad.

“My parents are doctors and they wanted me to be one, too. But hotels were my way of getting to know the world. I’ve always been very independent and fascinated with culture, so they supported my decision.”

As his career progressed with international hotel groups, Bernabé travelled from Russia to Indonesia, Kuwait to Malta, Switzerland to UAE and beyond. His last stop before joining Four Seasons was on the corporate side of operations, “but I much prefer to see guests coming and going and giving them a great time while they’re with us.”

Now on his second assignment for Four Seasons, Bernabé is pleased that the high expectations he had of company culture when he joined have proven “100% right.” He likes to be everywhere at the Hotel, visible and approachable, and he believes strongly that the talent he leads is what has made the property such a standout. “This was Four Seasons debut in Spain, so it attracted people from all over Europe and South America. We’re a real melting pot, and the team’s dedication to service is genuine.”

Meanwhile, Madrid has changed since Bernabé was last a resident. “Like every great destination, there is so much to experience, and I’m having an interesting time rediscovering it because I’m still learning all of the nuances.” Fortunately, he loves chatting with people and he’s a regular presence on city sidewalks, exploring neighbourhoods with his wife. “She’s the one of us with a sense of direction,” he concludes with a laugh. “If I’m on my own, I may get lost.”