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The Bahrain hospitality sector has a new player in town and Greg Pirkle intends to ensure the Four Seasons, one of the biggest names in the business, makes a right royal impression across the globe.
This week he started work in the kingdom from a suite of offices in the Diplomatic Area as construction work on the prestigious property continued in earnest close by on Bahrain Bay.
The 51-year-old American, who oozes confidence in the brand, the kingdom and the future of both, is looking forward to orchestrating the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and is excited about getting caught up in the F1 excitement next season.
“The Four Seasons debut in Bahrain Bay marks a new era for Bahrain’s luxury hotels, and is likely to raise the bar even higher for elite accommodation city-wide,” he said.
“With an enviable location at the centre of Bahrain Bay, two international Wolfgang Puck Signature restaurants and a five-star spa with top-notch leisure facilities, the Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay is expected to attract more business and luxury travellers to Bahrain once it opens.”
The Four Seasons here will occupy the central island of Bahrain Bay where guests will have stunning 360 degree views of the community and the Manama skyline.
The striking H-shaped design, in recognition of His Majesty King Hamad, will make it an iconic landmark for the kingdom, as well, as the company promises setting new standards in comfort, luxury and style.
The hotel is designed with two 215m tall towers with 17 floors accommodating 273 guest rooms located between the towers and a Skypod level restaurant and meeting rooms at the top.
The lower multi-level podium houses public function rooms with a very spacious ballroom of 9,800 sq/ft, a five-star spa and leisure facilities with two outdoor pools and an indoor swimming pool, four fine dining outlets including the two celebrated Wolfgang Puck Signature restaurants and a Kids for All Seasons Centre, for younger guests.
Mr Pirkle said: “I’m very excited to be moving to such a beautiful country as Bahrain and feel privileged to have been appointed as general manager for such a wonderful property as Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay. To all our future guests who will be staying with us I can only assure you as of now a Four Seasons Experience at its best in a one-of-a-kind iconic landmark.
“The growth of numerous five-star hotels in the market is a sign things are looking up economically for Bahrain after the recession and political unrest of the last few years.
“More companies are using Bahrain as a place to conduct business and the numbers of people visiting from neighbouring GCC countries are increasing.
“The kingdom’s proximity to Saudi Arabia and its international sport and leisure attractions including the annual F1 Grand Prix, remain key factors in driving future tourism receipts.
“As Bahrain’s tourism product improves and efforts to promote the country overseas increase, we expect to see growth in the volume of tourists from outside of the region in the coming years and we will work on reinforcing that by partnering with our sister properties in Asia and offering ‘stopover packages’ to travellers visiting Asia.”
The Four Seasons runs in Mr Pirkle’s blood and their 24-year relationship could not have been more rewarding. Married to Sherry for the last 21 years, the two met while they were both working at Four Seasons Hotel Boston.
He first joined the company in Boston in 1989 as a director of housekeeping and enjoyed a rapid ascent to senior executive positions within the respective properties he worked for, such as Pierre Hotel (New York), Regent Hotel Jakarta, Four Seasons Resort Wailea, Maui, Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma, Bahamas, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, Big Island of Hawaii, Four Seasons Resort Langkawi in Malaysia and Four Seasons Hotel Riyadh across the causeway in Saudi Arabia.
He said: “We, as a Four Seasons company, are relentless in our pursuit of excellence. It is what separates us from the competition and why Four Seasons has always been, and will continue to be, the leader in luxury hospitality.
“While each hotel is different and reflects the current locale and culture, there is a consistency in our service that our guests value. Our guests come back to Four Seasons because we focus on highly personal experiences – full customisation, which is about knowing and understanding our guests and their preferences.
“We are in the business of exceeding expectations, which means regularly evaluating our programmes and services to ensure that each guest interaction is living up to the experiences we’re trying to create.
“As for attracting clientele, we will do that by making sure to rely on our international customer base and reputation for superlative service. While our opening in Bahrain will be refreshing to the market, we’re not here to compete with anybody. We’re here to do our thing and do it well.”
The Pirkles have been looking around the island and have signed up to move into an apartment a short distance from the hotel site.
Mr Pirkle said: “After several visits to Bahrain, I found it to be very welcoming and a pleasure to visit. It is generally a relaxed city, and Bahrainis are friendly, well-educated and nice to be around.
“The contrast of old, traditional and modern architecture and buildings all over Bahrain is fascinating to me. The selection of great shopping malls and fantastic restaurants is evidence that there is nothing to need for in Bahrain. I will be moving to Bahrain in the beginning of April with great excitement. This will be my first time working and living there.”
Once settled the couple will continue a united quest to help unwanted and abandoned animals, a task they should not find difficult pursuing in their new home bearing in mind the numerous reports on the subject which abound the national press.
Mr Pirkle explained: “In addition to being a pet lover I am also an active advocate of animal welfare. Whenever the opportunity allows I am more than willing to contribute to the education as well as rehabilitation and rescue programmes for neglected and abused animals.
“I currently have three rescue cats, one is a three-legged female which we found abandoned at a local store in Riyadh. All three will be joining us in my new assignment in Bahrain.”
The recent unrest did not deter him from taking up the post. He explained: “I have recently been closely following the troubles and unrest in the Kingdom of Bahrain which I consider very unfortunate. I can say that these incidents have not affected the work progress of Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, which is my main focus and concern. On a personal level I believe that there are no indications that expatriates are being targetted directly in these incidents therefore I can honestly say that my mind is at ease for now regarding this matter.”
The hotel’s opening will also provide a golden opportunity for young Bahrainis keen to get a step on the hospitality industry ladder.
“Four Seasons is known for investing in the communities where its properties are based.
“At Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay we will be providing around 650 jobs at its peak and work on offering attractive prospects for young educated Bahraini nationals, creating opportunities for them to participate in the development of their own country.
“Our training and recruitment plans are designed to help these nationals improve their experience and performance levels – a strategy which serves to add strength and value to the Bahrainisation national policy,” Mr Pirkle said.
Company executives are convinced they have the right man at the helm of the Bahrain project. “Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay will be an iconic property, a landmark for Bahrain and a towering symbol of Four Seasons aspirations across the region,” explained Christopher Norton, executive vice president global product and operations.
“With proven leadership expertise and a strong passion for his team and operational excellence, Greg is the ideal person to introduce a new standard for luxury hospitality in this important and burgeoning Gulf market.”
Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay marks one of several key openings planned for the region over the next few years. Projects are at various stages of development in destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.
