Hans Willimann, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Vail, Announces Retirement (United States)
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Hans Willimann, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Vail, Announces Retirement (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Careers
- Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2012-03-29
Legendary Four Seasons General Manager to leave the company after 33 years of service.
After an esteemed 33 years with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Hans Willimann, general manager of Four Seasons Resort Vail, will retire effective April 30, 2012.
“I’ve had an incredible time working with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts,” says Willimann. “This is not the end, but the beginning of a new chapter.”
A graduate of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, Swiss-born Willimann is a true hotelier, fluent in four languages and known for imparting an impeccable level of guest service. More than 33 years ago, Willimann joined the company as Hotel Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. He also held the same position at the Inn on the Park in Houston before being promoted to General Manager, a position that he also held at Four Seasons Hotel Boston. In 1988, Willimann transferred to Chicago to open Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Under his leadership, the Hotel became one of the best hotels in the world, setting new standards for excellence. The Hotel was awarded the Mobil Five Star award and AAA Five Diamond award, as well as voted the number one hotel by international hotel critic Andrew Harper.
Willimann was affectionately known as the “Mayor of Chicago,” and recognized for his contributions by the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association by receiving the prestigious Ambassador of Hospitality Award for all his civic contributions during the twenty years in which he served as the General Manager in Chicago.
A lifelong skier and lover of the mountains, Willimann always had his heart set on living in Vail, Colorado, and when given the opportunity in 2009, he accepted the position of opening General Manager at Four Seasons Resort Vail. During his tenure, Willimann has established an extraordinary leadership team and has positioned the Resort as one of North America’s best luxury ski resorts. Under his term as General Manager, Four Seasons Resort Vail has won awards including the Forbes Travel Guide Five Stars Spa award and Forbes Travel Guide Four Star Hotels award, the Condé Nast Traveler 2011 Hot Hotels list, the Travel + Leisure magazine 2011 It List, the U.S.News & World Report’s list of Best Hotels in Colorado, and numerous other accolades.
Willimann is looking forward to remaining active in the Vail Valley and enjoying more time with his wife Louise, son Sasha and daughter Melanie.
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