5. Gianluca Sparacino, Corporate Director of Food & Beverage for EMEA, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts
Four Seasons has moved away from the typical hotel restaurant and created free-standing restaurants and bars. Sparacino credits the commitment of his team of executive chefs and F&B directors in the region with the successful execution of the initial concepts. Following his graduation from hotel management school Les Roches in Switzerland, he has gained global experience, starting with Hyatt in Singapore, and continuing to concentrate on F&B with positions in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taipei.
Sparacino’s passion for food, wine, service and travel serves him well in his current position. With properties in locations such as Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Lebanon, Dubai, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, there are 12 hotels in Four Seasons’ Middle East portfolio. Within these, the company has a total of 69 restaurants bars and lounges, and each property also has a banquet and room service department. Four Seasons is poised for fast-paced growth in the region; next year it has three new hotels opening that will include a further 14 outlets. In 2016 it is also looking at strengthening its foothold in Dubai, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.
Bite-sized facts:
Number of years in the F&B industry: 15
Number of years with this company: 13
Number of years in this role: 4
Number of years working in the Middle East: 2
Number of F&B outlets in the Middle East: 69
Nationality: Italian
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