TORONTO
Attention to detail in the design of every single experience has made Four Seasons synonymous with luxury. This dedication to the guest experience and a belief that no detail is too small is the inspiration behind the new Four Seasons Research and Discovery Studio—or R&D Studio—a workshop designed for experimentation and play that was unveiled at the company's global headquarters in Toronto.
Complete with graffiti walls, communal meeting and workspaces, and multiple testing areas where ideas can be explored in greater context, the R&D Studio is a collaborative workspace where Four Seasons considers everything from table settings and lighting specs to staff wardrobes and bathroom amenities.
"One of the most frequent comments we receive from guests is, 'How do you do it?’” said J. Allen Smith, president and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. "It takes a tremendous amount of effort to create seemingly effortless experiences every single day, at each and every one of our properties around the world. We start by hiring the right people—exceptionally talented individuals who are passionate about what they do, who share a commitment to service and an almost obsessive attention to detail—and give them the tools and freedom to create the experiences that have come to define Four Seasons."
The R&D Studio is a creative workspace and global resource where employees from across the organization can come together to experiment, simulate challenges, test ideas and find inspiration.
The space includes work areas dedicated to the fundamental touch points that create the Four Seasons guest experience, including the Four Seasons Bed, a fully-functional bar for testing coffee and cocktail equipment, an atelier to sample and model employee wardrobes, and a table-top staging area to experiment with different combinations of glassware, tableware, and cutlery.
Four Seasons was the first hospitality company to provide bath amenities in each guest room—a practice that is now an industry standard. The R&D Studio includes a dedicated area where Four Seasons can build on this legacy, testing the scents and aesthetics of various bathroom amenities.
The centerpiece of the R&D Studio is a space where Four Seasons builds three-dimensional cardboard replicas of guest rooms. Designed to scale and customized with beds, closets, end tables, doorways and chairs, the Modular Room creates the opportunity to manipulate space and test unusual layouts and particularly challenging room designs in a cost-effective setting before moving into production.
"The R&D Studio is a critical tool for us because it allows us to make detailed decisions in a holistic environment,” said Dana Kalczak, VP, design, Four Seasons. “When we bring everything together in this space, we better understand how the different elements energize and inform one another.”
