Four Seasons Dubai has appointed Leonardo Baiocchi as the new general manager.
Baiocchi arrives at the Four Seasons Resort, Dubai from his latest stint in Istanbul where he led both Four Seasons properties as the general manager for five years. “I was one of the pioneers at clustering Four Seasons hotels under the same management,” he says. “There are a lot of benefits and cost efficiencies to synergising management of hotels under the same ownership. It makes a lot of sense.”
In his new role Baiocchi will oversee operations at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach with the additional responsibility for oversight of the company’s sister property, Four Seasons Hotel Dubai International Financial Centre.
Born in Nairobi and raised Italian, Baiocchi grew up as “an expat living abroad.” He was drawn to hotels back in the 1970s and ‘80s “because they were the place to meet.” After initially pursuing political science, he switched to study hospitality in the Swiss tradition. He found opportunity right out of the gate, graduating from hotel school in December 1992 and landing at the front desk for the opening of Four Seasons Hotel Milano the following month. Later, he assumed his first General Manager position at Four Seasons Hotels Istanbul.