(A 15–minute read)
Since this letter was written, the Regent has changed it's name to the Four Seasons Hotel.

I'm sure you remember Stan Bromley. I gave him the Edward Carter Hotelier of the Year Award when he was running The Clift in San Francisco. A couple of years later, he won it again for having transformed the Four Seasons in Washington, D.C. More recently, he has been the Regional VP for Four Seasons, in charge of Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston, and will soon be opening the new Four Seasons in San Francisco.

Many of the senior management of the Four Seasons around the world have been lucky to work with Stan. He's a taskmaster but he's fair, and in my opinion, is more responsible for the enormous success of the chain than almost anyone else in the organization. There is such loyalty to Stan that everyone who has worked for him, proudly wears a green cap that says just that! Watch for those caps; they are all over the world.

Stan is the first to acknowledge that he couldn't pull off his immense job without Gail Bennett. Gail is… should I say his 'Girl Friday?' More like 'Monday through Sunday.' In any event, she makes Stan's life possible… and my life fabulous!

I called Stan a while ago: "I need to get out of here. My house is being torn apart for a new kitchen and dining room, and I need to update my little black book about the Far East and Southeast Asia."

"Hold on," he said; "here's Gail."

What resulted was a series of trips to Southeast Asia, the last of which ended only a few weeks ago. Gail helped with all the arrangements, and I met some fascinating people and stayed in some fantasy resorts. Most of the Four Seasons in this part of the world are overseen by Neil Jacobs who is also the GM of The Four Seasons hotel in Singapore (not to be confused with the Regent, also a Four Seasons hotel in Singapore). He's another extraordinary guy, about whom I write you much more in due course.

Inevitably, I also experienced some disappointing establishments, but by reading about them, you can save time, travail, and money.