We will spend more time and more money to ensure the quality is there. You cant compromise on that its part of the experience
The French GM says his leadership style incorporates the “four Fs” — firm, fair, flexible, and fun: “This is what I strive for. Hopefully, the vibe that I send to people is to make sure that they come to work because they want to, not because they have to.”
While the hotel’s target market is “anyone who enjoys luxury”, Jardin is confident of the ability of the Kuwait National Development Plan, set to be realised by 2035, to further diversify the country. The priority for the hotel is the corporate market, followed by government business, and leisure. Saudi Arabia will play a big role in the latter.
“We have a strong presence in Saudi. I believe that market will come here as they know what to expect from Four Seasons,” he notes. “Even though we are a city hotel, we can expect some good weekend business. We have been asked why we are not on the beach, but I don’t worry too much about that because it’s all about the experience. I would describe this hotel as an urban resort.”
The operator has, of course, done its due diligence on the state of the market. Kuwait is expecting 570,000 international visitors by 2027, up from a 2017 visitor forecast of 368,000.
Jardin comments: “We have studied the market long and hard. The Kuwaiti market is a destination with about 45% occupancy, unfortunately. I think there might be opportunities in the future for this to grow. So yes, there are more people coming to the country, but there’s also more inventory of rooms. The question is how do you get your fair share of the market? We don’t go into the market to grab the business off everybody else.”
Jardin plans to stand out with his product’s offering. He explains that, while competitors’ entry-level rooms range from 28m2 to 40m2, the basic rooms at the Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait start at 45m2. It’s all about the experience, he emphasises. “We are not getting into the market to be the cheapest; we want to make sure that we retain quality, the promised service — and all of that comes with a price. We will spend more time and more money to ensure the quality is there. You can’t compromise on that — it’s part of the experience.”
Jardin asserts that it is the perfect time for Four Seasons to enter the Kuwait market. Kuwaiti travellers are a big market for the brand outside of their home country, and Jardin believes this brand recognition will provide a solid base within the local market. He also cites projects like the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, informally known as the Kuwait Opera House, and the first phase of Al Shaheed Park, as indicators of the country’s cultural growth.
“Kuwait is flourishing; it is the right time to come to the market. People are hungry for luxury, so [Four Seasons] is here,” he concludes.
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