When the Four Seasons opened its doors last month in the heart of Montreal, it marked the welcome return of a brand that has been missing in Canada’s French capital. For GM
Gonçalo Monteiro, it also marked his first time managing a property in North America.
Monteiro arrived in Canada last year from Portugal to help build the team that will lead the 169-room hotel to success. He’s schooled in the Four-Seasons approach, having worked at the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, the Hotel Cascais Miragem and the Four Seasons Hotel Macao.
Born and raised in Lisbon, Monteiro expressed an interest in cooking from a young age, intrigued by the parties thrown by his gregarious parents. “I always wanted to set the table and mix the drinks because I wanted to drink,” he recalls laughingly.
After studying hospitality management at university, he joined Four Seasons in his hometown as the company was reflagging the historic Hotel Ritz. There were two general managers onsite when Monteiro arrived: one departing and a new one from Four Seasons coming in.
“Each had a different direction and attitude,” he remembers. The dissimilarities proved enlightening. “It’s difficult enough, as an employee, to ‘manage’ one GM, even more interesting to manage two,” he quips. “I learned a lot from that.”
Monteiro leads a team of more than 200 hand-picked associates. “Ultimately, this place belongs to Montrealers,” says the hotelier. “We want to create a space where locals and international visitors can connect and interact. We’ve created a unique eco-system where visitors are surprised at every turn, that encourages social engagement, sets the stage for unexpected encounters and where unique moments and memories are created.”
In addition to the signature amenities that set Four Seasons apart, the Montreal property is also home to Marcus, the first Canadian outpost of renowned celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.
“Montreal continues to evolve, skewing very young, not only in age, but also in attitude,” says Monteiro. “People who visit and reside here want to get out and enjoy what the city has to offer. That opens the door for us to offer them new experiences and the best possible service, paired with a great location.”
