New Luxury in Orlando Above & Beyond

An Interview with Thomas Steinhauer, An Interview with Olivier Bottois, , Four Seasons Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort A guest at Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort Vice President of Operations, Ladera Resort

EDITORS’ NOTE Thomas Steinhauer The true differentiator for us is concept is located on the top of the resort EDITORS’ NOTE Olivier Bottois is a assumed his current post in 2013. that we’re a luxury property, period. with incredible views of the fi reworks, and third-generation hotelier who stud- An 18-year veteran of Four Seasons, We’re not associated with anything with a display kitchen and a buzzing bar ied hospitality at Cornell University Steinhauer made the transition to else. Also, we’re in the actual Walt available to guests. Then you add quality of in 1989. In September 2011, Bottois Orlando in July, joining the pre- Disney World® area, but we are also food and beverage, and knowledgeable staff. was named Vice President of opening team as the Resort pre- just far enough away. While you can We also took that steak and seafood concept Operations of Ladera Resort in Saint pared to open in 2014. His more totally submerge into Disney, when and added a Spanish twist to it with our Capa Lucia. An expert in luxury, his expe- than 30-year management you want to come out of the parks, , which is designed with a matador rience includes time at some of the career has taken him across the we’re in the perfect location for which theme. world’s most iconic includ- globe. He has developed deep in- to get away. The main restaurant on the ground fl oor ing Hotel George V and Hotel Ritz dustry knowledge and expertise at We’re about 10 minutes away facing all of our beautiful gardens is called in Paris; The Connaught in London; key Four Seasons properties includ- from the Magic Kingdom by car and Ravello and offers a modern Italian approach. and Vier Jahreszeiten in Hamburg. Olivier Bottois and ing the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Thomas Steinhauer we’re surrounded by an incredible We have indoor and outdoor seating – a bar, He also worked at The Élysée the luxurious open-air New York and Four Seasons Hotel high-end, multimillion-dollar resi- counter seating, private dining rooms, and a in Paris as President Mitterrand’s accommodations at Ladera Boston. He also served as General Manager and dential community being developed. We’re separate display kitchen where we can have private maître d. Bottois moved to Resort Regional Vice President of the Four Seasons the anchor property sitting on 23 acres, just for cooking demo dinners. the United States with the Peninsula Resort Maui at Wailea. the resort itself. We designed the Italian concept to have Hotels Group in New York and then joined Four As a result, it was important to defi ne a market- It is rewarding to inspire, nurture, and mentor The oasis is created by the property being a lot of activity and we offer many interest- Seasons Hotels & where he fi ne-tuned ing strategy to differentiate Ladera in this new great people. PROPERTY BRIEF Set to open in 2014, Four directly bordered by woods all around us and ing dishes from different regions of Italy. We his leadership and management skills for over market. This has been my role since I joined A real success story was to promote our Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® the golf course. It truly gives one the feeling of have a bar associated with that restaurant, a decade. He transitioned into exclusive bou- the resort in 2011. long term Chef de Cuisine, Nigel Mitchel, Resort (fourseasons.com/Orlando) is located getting away. the Ravello Bar, which will be one floor up tique properties (Relais & Chateaux and Leading Where does the property stand today? to the position of Executive Chef instead of within the gates of a residential community, It’s important that when our guests visit – be on the lobby level. It will not be a typical Hotels of the World) in the United States and Ladera is now positioned as one of the relocating an ex-patriot, which most hotels Golden Oak at Walt Disney World® Resort, which it honeymooners, couples who want to get away, lounge but will have 160 seats with both in- Canada. top experiential properties in the world and do in the Caribbean. I am proud to have is just fi ve miles from the Magic Kingdom® Park or families – that we will be able to offer door and outdoor seating. It will be a fun we are proud to be the only hotel in the taken him to international food destina- and four miles from Epcot®. Accommodations something for everyone. Everything we have destination for small bites and great cock- PROPERTY BRIEF Ladera (ladera.com) is the Caribbean invited to the exclusive “Pure” ex- tions such as New York, where he had the include 443 guest rooms and 68 suites with ver- learned that Four Seasons guests are looking for tails, and will have an active atmosphere just only resort in Saint Lucia set in between the periential event in Marrakech for the opportunity to experience various culinary satile connecting options ideal for families and has been integrated into this property. off the lobby. Pitons, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exclu- second year. We are consistently on the top institutions. groups of friends traveling together. A Tom From a design perspective, we have a Outside, near the pools, we have a great sive eco-luxe resort is on a forested ridge 1,100 and resorts in the world. To Everything we do is local – all of our Fazio-designed golf course will be refurbished beautiful lazy river that meanders around a lake that meanders through our property and feet above the Caribbean Sea, perched on top of date, we are the only Caribbean resort ever vendors are from the local community. We and managed by Four Seasons. Indoor and out- palm island next to an incredible kid-friendly overlooking what will be PB&G restaurant, the Soufriere volcano. Ladera is the only hotel rated number one by Conde Nast Traveler’s use area farmers and fi shermen to supply our door treatments will be enjoyed in the spa’s 18 activity area and we also have a separate where we’ve added a southern smokehouse in the Caribbean ever rated number one in the Best of the Best List. award-winning restaurant, Dasheene. Also, by treatment rooms and gardens. The fi ve restau- adult pool. In addition, we have two ball- and rotisserie to the traditional sandwich-type world according to Conde Nast Traveler’s Best of It’s now a couples-only resort, so no chil- hiring only locals, we keep the talent on the rants will include a modern Italian ristorante, rooms with very high-end fi nishes, which are offerings. the Best List. Over two decades ago, Ladera pio- dren. It’s all about romance. island. a southern poolside BBQ experience, and a the only ballrooms in the area offering natu- At the golf clubhouse that we’re presently neered the concept of the open-air, three-walled I tried to determine what would work What is the restaurant’s focus? 17th fl oor rooftop steakhouse with views of the ral light. renovating, we have implemented a Cuban guest suite that remains its signature design. The long-term, because I believe in consistency and We focus on fresh local cuisine, and our nightly fi reworks at the Magic Kingdom® Park We can balance the needs of different American twist to the burgers and salads. only authentic luxury Saint Lucia resort, Ladera continuity. I thought we should promote Saint Dasheene restaurant has been in operation for and Epcot®. guests based on our unique design and layout Here, you also need a great takeout place, prides itself on its handcrafted furniture made Lucians from within to continue creating jobs 30 years. The team in the kitchen have all been of the resort. something that gives guests a great option on- by local artisans and fresh local Caribbean on the island. there for at least 10 years. How will a Four Seasons property in Orlando What is the vision for your food and the-go, so we provide that in a fun place cuisine. I believe in hiring local talent and pro- We used to bring in chefs from England change the landscape? beverage product, and how challenging is called Lickety-Split. moting from within given the opportunity. It is and the U.S. who would stay a few years, then Orlando sees over 50 million visitors a it to be successful in that area? What is it about the industry that has What makes Ladera so unique? important to support the local economy and leave. In reality, the chefs we bring in from out- year given all of the attractions, Disney being Quality is key, and you need to understand kept you in it for your entire career? The authenticity, sense of place, and genu- create job opportunities for the new generation side don’t know anything about local products at the forefront historically. However, when your guest. If I’m in a city hotel and I’m sur- I’m still excited by being able to do things ine and friendly staff are what make Ladera on the island. and they don’t know how to use these products it comes to true luxury product, there are only rounded by all kinds of within walk- that make people happy. It’s irreplaceable. You so unique. Everything is handcrafted. We have Is there a similar feel throughout the as well as my local team. This is why I pro- a handful of properties currently in this city. ing distance, it’s a much different approach than fi nd people who are invested in this and make a well-established property with an amazing suites and villas? moted our local chef and now I only have Saint Either these other properties are fully when I’m in a resort that is basically its own sure they have the right tools, and the energy open-air concept – the fourth wall is missing It’s all traditional Saint Lucian ambiance – Lucians in the kitchen. surrounded by Disney theming – the Grand destination. When people are on , they then feeds into a great team atmosphere. in the rooms. We are on the UNESCO World everything is locally made tile and wood. All We have a very talented culinary team that Floridian comes to mind – or like with the prefer to stay on property if the dining options Four Seasons is a wonderful brand because Heritage Site, the Pitons, on top of the crater of of the employees are Saint Lucians – there are is invested in constantly evolving Dasheene. Ritz and Waldorf, which are considered luxury are diverse and of high quality. it gives one the ability to tap into a vast pool of a volcano. It’s all about adventure and experi- 140 employees and I’m the only one who is We support their travel overseas to gain expo- properties and wonderful brands, they are con- We looked at the most popular and de- knowledge. With all the locations we have, it ential travel. not Saint Lucian. This can be a challenge and sure to the world’s best restaurants. They have nected with big box hotels. The Marriott and sirable concepts, and then added a bit of an provides opportunities to challenge the people Ladera had been the only luxury property also an opportunity because you are dealing done a great job adapting the best of these ex- Hilton are right there and they share some of edge to them. For instance, the steak and who run the individual properties in specifi c in Saint Lucia for the longest time until five with a different culture – and Ladera itself periences to our local Caribbean cuisine. the facilities with those more group-oriented seafood concept has been popular. But in localities. It’s a great combination of brand new high-end hotels opened on the island in has its own spirit, because 80 percent of the People come to Ladera to experience Saint hotels and resorts. our particular case, our restaurant with this strength and entrepreneurial action.• 2008, which impacted the market signifi cantly. employees have been there for 15 to 20 years. Lucia, so that’s what we give them.• VOLUME 37, NUMBER 3 POSTED WITH PERMISSION. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LEADERS MAGAZINE, INC. LEADERS 101