travelog

Hurtling Towards a COVID-19 Christmas - London/ Shrewsbury - November 2020

6/12/2020

My Fortnum & Mason and Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Christmas decorations are up in The Barbican. I adored the Christmas trees at Four Seasons at Park Lane, The Dorchester & Claridges's. I am just a little sad that Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square & Threadneedles Hotel will not reopen this year.

Today I learnt my brother had sorted out his flight home. This, combined with the fact my sweet young niece will be in Shropshire for Christmas, means my COVID-19 Shrewsbury Christmas is shaping up well.

Last week John (GM of 45 Park Lane) showed me their stunning new swimming pool. I was one of the first non-staff members to see it, and have agreed not to post my photos, but can assure people it is one of the most beautiful indoor pools have ever seen.

This made me think about the fact I was shown the Private Members Club at Four Seasons at Ten Trinity Square, before its members, and stayed at Four Seasons Resort: Dubai at Jumeirah Beach & Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay before they were open to the public. My meeting with Four Seasons Founder & Chairman Mr Sharp, as his private home in Toronto, really did change my life.

On the #travelblog front, it was also interesting that Grant Campbell has been appointed as the first GM of Nobu Hotel London Portman Square & Anne Golden at the first GM of Pan Pacific London. Despite the damage the COVID-19 restrictions have wreaked on the hospitality industry, it does not seem to have reduced my extensive network of General Manager contacts.

England's lockdown2 was made better for me by more Daniel Humm breakfast granola from Claridge's. I am still using the Davies & Brook jar it came in this time and was honoured to be one of the only people to see the Claridge's lobby during lockdown2. I also managed another Shrewsbury trip, ladened down with Fortnum & Mason gifts again.

People who see me over Christmas & New Year should feel free to ask me about the November 2020 photos below. Hope everyone has a special Christmas & better 2021!

Never a Dull Moment with Coronavirus/ COVID-19 - Shropshire & London - August 2020

1/9/2020

The reopening of Four Seasons at Park Lane allowed me to try a new lobster dish personally prepared by Executive Chef Henry Brosi & there was complimentary Ruinart champagne to celebrate.

During August my Middle Eastern banking work was overshadowed by the tragic explosion in Beirut.

The UK Government's 'Eat Out to Help Out' initiative meant I had the best (steak) burger for years at Paternoster Chop House, with a breathtaking view of St Paul's Cathedral; drunk Thums Up Cola at Dishoom for the first time since my India trips, while working for the Bank of England; ate truffles at breakfast outside at The Connaught & saw their new 'coffee foam art'; ate Dim Sum from heaven with caviar, edible gold & black truffle at Hakkasan, Mayfair; ate Mark Hix's exquisite food again at 1 Lombard Street, with their sublime service; & ate the best cooked rump steak of my life, with anchovy hollandaise & triple cooked chips, all for GBP10 at Hawksmoor.

At the same time I was honoured to be invited to revisit the Four Seasons' Private Members' Club in London. This gave me the first chance to view Four Seasons' 'Lead with Care' global COVID-19 safety program formulated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International's assistance.

I also managed to visit my indomitable parents in Shrewsbury again & see my exceptional Qatar friends at the Everyman Cinema at King's Cross before they, finally, headed back to Doha.

Hope the photos below, which include ones of my niece (now an elegant young lady), my dashing godson & legendary parents, put smiles on your faces & illustrate what a busy month it was. It was also the month where my face was the first thing you saw on the Virgin Active website!

Celebrating a Birthday in the Midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Crisis - Shrewsbury, Shropshire, UK - March 2020

28/3/2020

When I received this personalised Veuve Clicquot signature arrow tin with its iridescent lid, I felt confident about my 2020 birthday. The original plan was to stay at the new Four Seasons in Madrid to celebrate, I know their General Manager from New York & Hong Kong and so it would have been an exceptional trip.

Since then the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has halted travel, closed hotels, restaurants, gyms etc and changed our lives.

I am now in Shrewsbury in Shropshire helping my parents with their self-isolation. My birthday will, therefore, be a small family affair. Today is my 'Birthday Eve' and so I have decided to post some photos to cheer us all up.

Stay safe, healthy & positive all at this difficult time & hope the photos below make you smile too. My awesome mum will ensure I have a '7 teddies' (🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻) birthday tomorrow.

LVMH, Mandarin Oriental, Dorchester Collection & Four Seasons - London, UK - June/July 2019

4/7/2019

Over the last few months, other than a weekend in Berlin to celebrate the 50th birthday of some awesome friends of mine, & two weekends in Shropshire, to help dad with his new laptop & attend his birthday party, I have been helping the London based sister of Lord Foley (who I met in Bangkok) with a London focused luxury project.

During the course of this I have been stunned by the help and support I have received from friends at LVMH, Mandarin Oriental, Dorchester Collection & Four Seasons.

At the same time I have been working on my future as a Banking Consultant & I have been approached about roles.

This email, from a friend at LVMH, who I met while working in Cayman Islands, made my day.

I first met Mandarin Oriental GM Amanda in Bangkok & always adore our meetings.

I first met 45 Park Lane GM John when I was working in Qatar. On this occasion he asked me to try their new proposed shower gel.

Four Seasons @ Park Lane GM Lynn is always a perfect source of useful practical advice.

Complimentary Stay in a Four Seasons Executive Suite at the 'Very New' Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas: The First Four Seasons in Brazil & my First Four Seasons Executive Club Lounge - Sao Paulo, Brazil - December 2018

13/12/2018

Barcelona-based Ignasi Monreal's book of paintings 'Four Seasons: The Art of Hospitality' in the 12th floor Four Seasons Executive Lounge and my first negative edged indoor/outdoor swimming pool

I stayed at Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach & Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay before they opened to the public and wanted to stay at the first Four Seasons in Brazil, when I heard about Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas while staying at Mandarin Oriental Taipei a few months ago.

When I went to Mr Sharp's private home in Toronto, when I lived in Qatar, we discussed a Rio Four Seasons. However, Sao Paulo was the choice for the first Brazil Four Seasons in the end and GM Michael Schmid kindly offered me a complimentary stay, when I asked to try it.

I travelled overnight from Punta del Este, Uruguay to experience my first Four Seasons Executive Club Lounge; take a look at Barcelona-based Ignasi Monreal's book of paintings 'Four Seasons: The Art of Hospitality'; swim in my first negative edged indoor/outdoor swimming pool and encounter Four Seasons in Brazil.

It was a bit of a disappointed that, despite the effort I made to do this, Four Seasons Hotel Sao Paulo at Nacoes Unidas did not put much thought into the welcome amenities in my suite but the Brazilian owners of the property were visiting the hotel at the same time as me, so I guess the hotel was caught a little off guard.

Just as with Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, I have decided it is unfair to 'teddy score' the Sao Paulo Four Seasons at this early stage of its development. It is impressive that the 'spirit of Four Seasons' is firmly established in Brazil, after only two months, and the issues I encountered are just a feature of any new luxury hotel. I am confident they will be addressed very quickly.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok: An Unbelievable Stay, Even for a Mandarin Oriental Celebrity Fan, in Their Dame Barbara Cartland Suite - Bangkok, Thailand - October 2018

25/10/2018

My 'last' night at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. My face says it all about an evening with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson.

Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok is one of the world's legendary great hotels. It has been open for more than 140 years & is known as the 'Grand Dame' of Bangkok. I get nervous before each stay at this iconic hotel that it will not be possible to match my last experience but my stays keep getting better, which is truly unbelievable.

This time 'new' GM Greg & legendary Guest Relations Director Mayuree waiting outside for me in the steamy Bangkok heat; I was given the Dame Barbara Cartland suite; lunch with GM Greg; the pool staff welcome me back as an old friend & even presently me with a teddy bear of their own; and a final evening drinking with senior staff from Mandarin Oriental's Head Office in Hong Kong, having spent the previous evening with a senior member of staff from Jardine Matheson, blew my stay out of the water.

Spending Quality Time with my Exceptional Parents in Shrewsbury - Shropshire, UK - October 2018

19/10/2018

The 'Shropshire Frews' at a dinner I hosted while in Shrewsbury. You would smile like me if you were seated opposite my niece.

Completing my 18 months in Cayman Islands gave me a chance to spend some quality time with my incredible parents, before another big adventure in. the Far East.

During my time in Shropshire my brother hosted an impressive family birthday Sunday lunch; I got to have lunch with my awe-inspiring godmother; went on a Tanners Cellar Tour with dad; visited Chester with mum & day, including lunch at The Chester Grosvenor; had lunch with a special family friend who got me thinking about Bank of Bermuda (now part of HSBC) etc; squeezed in a day in London to see the Bank of England & Annabel Shaw (Four Seasons Director of Residences Twenty Grosvenor Square - the former US Navy building) and I had drinks with friends from my Prestfelde & Shrewsbury School days. Hope the photos below help you understand what an unforgettable time I had.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻(7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - spending time with my unbelievable parents is always a '7 teddy experience' but so much else during my time in Shrewsbury & London could not have been better (eg lunch with my indomitable godmother). What UK memories to take to the Far East with me.

Another James Bond Moment at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort - Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas - June 2018

14/6/2018

I got to meet GM John, & his unbelievable team, when I arrived. It was such a thrill.

It was more than 15 years since I last visited Bahamas, when I came on a business trip from Bermuda, and I was keen to see the place again. It was around that time that I also started visiting Cayman Islands, also on business trips. In many ways Cayman Islands is a different place and so I was keen to see Bahamas again.

The One & Only in Bahamas becoming a Four Seasons in 2017 was the perfect excuse and learning the 2006 remake of Casino Royale was filmed there made me even more excited.

John Kentish-Barnes from Four Seasons at Park Lane was now the hotel Manager, while John Conway is still the General Manager, and so I knew I was going to have a memorable stay. However, the genuine warmth of the Bahamian staff blew me away. The word 'paradise' is sometimes overused but I think The Ocean Club, a Four Seasons Resort - Bahamas, and their extraordinary staff, truly deserve this description.

'Last' Night in London in an Exquisite Westminster Suite at Four Seasons at Park Lane - London, UK - April 2018

1/5/2018

The sitting room of my Westminster Suite with the Veuve Clicquot chilling and afternoon tea in the background.

I was nervous about staying at Four Seasons at Park Lane so soon after legendary GM John had left. However, Manager Mali ensured it was another memorable stay in opulent surroundings with exemplary Four Seasons staff.

It was just a pity I did not get to meet new GM Lynn, as she was not yet in place. However, I did leave a #travelblog www.sifrew.com. baseball cap for her.

Four Seasons at Park Lane remains one of the best Four Seasons in the group and a hotel Mr Sharp can still be justly proud of.

A Cold But Awesome Further Stay at Four Seasons New York Downtown, in an Executive Suite, for New Year - New York - December 2017 - January 2018

3/1/2018

The instructions for the hot chocolate left for Issy & me. Such a sweet gesture.

For my 16th New Year stay with Four Seasons in New York, I booked the Four Seasons New York Downtown again.

This was my third stay at this hotel and I was so pleased I did. They gave me a beautiful suite with train set, Veuve Clicquot champagne on ice, a cashmere Four Seasons hat to keep me warm and even left hot chocolate for Issy.

When I arrived Steven (Director of Rooms) greeted me before I even said my name and I immediately knew this was going to be an epic New Year stay.

Divine Christmas Stay in a Deluxe One Bedroom Suite at Four Seasons at Park Lane, London, UK - December 2017

29/12/2017

A Veuve Clicquot fridge was put in my suite with a magnum of Veuve Clicquot and so much fruit there were complaints from some of my Twitter Followers!

I have an incredible history with Four Seasons at Park Lane. I first stayed there as part of a Paris, New York and London Four Seasons 'themed' trip from Qatar. It had not been refurbished at that stage and I wrote to Mr Sharp (Founder & Chairman) saying it should not be part of Four Seasons. He wrote back 'agreeing' and it shut down shortly after!

I then stayed there again after the refurbishment, when they left Sichuan pepper and Parmesan popcorn in my suite, relating to an 'incident' three years before.

The service & attention to detail in this uber luxurious Four Seasons is legendary and I knew I must stay there on this Christmas trip to wish Four Seasons star GM John congratulations on his 35 years with Four Seasons.

I was so glad I did. My suite, with a working fireplace, took my breath away and everything about the stay was beyond perfection. An incredible way to end Christmas before flying back to Cayman Islands for a night before Four Seasons New York Downtown again for New Year.

My First Red Carpet Welcome @ Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square, London, UK - December 2017

24/12/2017

The hotel literally rolled out the red carpet for me. With party poppers, a glass of cold champagne and a hug from F&B Director Antoine, it was an incredible way to return to this beautiful hotel.

I visited Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square in London on the first day it opened, and have been shown their private members' club and residencies, and they had been storing Veuve Clicquot I did not want to take to Cayman Islands for 8 months. This was, therefore, the natural choice for my first hotel of Christmas 2017.

I wanted it to be a special start to Christmas and Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square exceeded my expectations by far. It truly is a 'seven teddy' hotel now.

The Opening of Four Seasons, Ten Trinity Square, London, UK - January 2017

27/1/2017

Wharfy from the former Canary Wharf Four Seasons wearing his Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach robe; Pete from Four Seasons Tokyo at Marunouchi; Issy wearing his Four Seasons Bali robe and; John from Four Seasons Park Lane.

I am thrilled that Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square has opened in the City of London.

It is based in the impressive 1922 former Port of London Authority building designed by Sir Edwin Cooper and has been redeveloped by Chinese Reignwood Group. This is the building the inaugural meeting of the United Nations was held in in 1946 and it also appeared in the James Bond movie Skyfall.

Its location by the Tower of London means that, just as when I lived in Qatar for almost 10 years, I can walk from my Barbican home to a Four Seasons.

Using the 'Early Morning Arrivals Suites' at Four Seasons Park Lane - London, UK - May 2016

27/5/2016

The latest member of the 'gang' John & the stunning views of London from the spa on the 10th floor of Four Seasons Park Lane.

When I said I was travelling through London after my GCC Tour, John (GM of Four Seasons Park Lane) generously offered use of their 'Early Morning Arrivals Suites', so I could have a shower.

In the end I had a shower; got a delicious light breakfast; rested for a few hours while admiring the views of London from the spa at the top of the Park Lane Four Seasons; got my iPhone6 recharged; and gained a new member of the 'gang'.

I cannot thank John, & his brilliant staff, enough for all they did for me that morning.

🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻 (7 out of 5 ‘teddies’) - John Stauss is definitely another 7 'teddy' Four Seasons GM and his opulent London hotel, with its friendly & helpful staff, fully deserve this top rating too.

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay's 'First Customer' returns for a Third Stay in a State Suite - Manama, Bahrain - May 2016

24/5/2016

On the last day of the GCC Tour there had to be a 'group' photo & the Bahrain World Trade Center was the perfect backdrop.

I first stayed in Four Seasons Bahrain Bay before it was open to the public & officially became their 'first customer'. I have stayed there again since and decided a third stay had to end my GCC Tour.

Greg (the General Manager) & Bob (the Manager) feel like old friends now and the hotel has gone from strength to strength over the 15 months since it opened.

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay now exemplifies the best of Four Seasons in terms of service, F&B & facilities and I am so proud to be known as its 'first customer'.

Stay at the 'very new' Abu Dhabi Four Seasons - Abu Dhabi, UAE - May 2016

23/5/2016

The remote controlled jeep containing Issy, Abu & the camels, with GM Sam & me in the background.

Having known GM Sam from my stays at Four Seasons New York and Baku, I had to stay at Four Seasons Abu Dhabi, despite it only opening around the time when my GCC Tour started.

I arrived for a one night stay only 10 days after the hotel had opened, with less than 1/2 the rooms/suites ready for occupancy. I have, therefore, decided it is unfair to 'teddy rate' this hotel at this time, despite my memorably brilliant stay.

Sam is a 7 'teddy' GM, with an excellent management team in Abu Dhabi & I know this hotel will reach the 7 'teddy' score in time.

Stay at the 'new' DIFC Four Seasons in Dubai in a corner Studio Suite - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

22/5/2016

www.sifrew.com underwater in the 'Glassware' pool at the DIFC Four Seasons.

Having adored my stays in the Four Seasons Dubai at Jumeirah Beach, one before it was open to the public, after my coffee at Mr Sharp's Toronto home, I decided I must stay at Four Seasons' second Dubai hotel.

Friends in Qatar had said this boutique-style 106 room/suite hotel was "too small". However, I agree with their GM Carlo that it is a jewel. It reminds me of Four Seasons' Berlin hotel (now a Regent). The DIFC hotel has some of the same smaller Four Seasons magic that this Berlin hotel had.

Veuve Clicquot @ Four Seasons, Dubai, Jumeirah Beach with Mr Casson - what www.sifrew.com's dreams are made of - Dubai, UAE - May 2016

16/5/2016

Our smiles say it all.

I know Simon Casson from when he was General Manager of the Doha Four Seasons & have stayed at his Jumeirah Beach Four Seasons hotel in Dubai twice already. Once before it was open to the public, after my coffee with Mr Sharp at his home in Toronto.

I was thrilled when Mr Casson said he had time for a drink with me and rushed straight from Dubai airport for this. I was so glad I did. He is one of my favourite Four Seasons GMs and is always so much fun to catch up with.

Stay at Four Seasons, Doha in a 'Deluxe Executive Suite' - Doha, Qatar - May 2016

15/5/2016

The brunch at this hotel is regarded as one of the best in Qatar & was even better on this stay.

I lived in Qatar for more than 9 years & was a 'founding' member of the Doha Four Seasons' spa. I, therefore, had to make this hotel, & seeing my incredible Qatar based friends, part of my GCC Tour.

I was so glad I did. It was a perfect way to 'close my relationship with Qatar'.

www.sifrew.com & Four Seasons

9/4/2016

Azzi from Four Seasons Baku; Issy's Nevis cousin, a gift from John Stauss at Four Seasons Park Lane; Issy himself; one of my four mini camels from Four Seasons Dubai; Nahm from Four Seasons Chiang Mai; Dior from Four Seasons Hong Kong; & Sam from Four Seasons Koh Samui.

Today I let Mr Sharp (Founder & Chairman of Four Seasons) know I have decided not to let my issues at Four Seasons New York at New Year wreck www.sifrew.com and my special relationship with Four Seasons.

A huge weight off my mind.

Commercial Endorsements for #travelblog www.sifrew.com - April 2016

5/4/2016

I have been beavering away on #travelblog www.sifrew.com, getting increasing interest from places I have featured (eg Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Bali Cambodia etc); countries where I have many friends (eg the UK, US, Qatar, Australia, UAE, Germany, Bermuda etc); Canada - where Four Seasons has its Head Office - and countries that find my luxury travel subject matter interesting (eg Taiwan, Russia etc).

In the course of all this 'Noir: Dining in the Dark' in Saigon have featured my review of their restaurant on their website and Raffles & Four Seasons hotels have asked permission to use my images in their promotional campaigns.

New Year at Four Seasons New York - December 2015

2/1/2016

New York screams New Year and so, despite all my travel in the last few months, I booked Four Seasons New York to see in the New Year in perfect style.

Lunch & a Tour of Four Seasons Hampshire, UK - December 2015

24/12/2015

I had wanted to visit Four Seasons Hampshire since friends in Qatar told me about their stays there a few years ago.

Issy had his Santa outfit made by Four Seasons Sayan and the mother of my godson lives only 30 minutes from the hotel.

Four Seasons, Sayan, Ubud, Bali - December 2015

8/12/2015

When I first saw pictures of Four Seasons, Sayan, in a magazine while working in Qatar, I thought it was an artist's impression of a fantasy hotel.

It was, therefore, a dream come true to stay there and have a Veuve Clicquot party held in my honour on the Four Seasons Bali 'space ship' roof.

Four Seasons, Jimbaran Bay, Bali - December 2015

7/12/2015

Bali is another destination I last visited in the 1980s and I wondered how spiritual Bali had changed, with all that has happened since then.

My stay at Four Seasons, Jimbaran Bay demonstrated that the incredible beautiful spirit of Bali lives on.