John Stauss, general manager of the Four Seasons hotel London, has been named Caterer and Hotelkeeper’s 2005 Hotelier of the Year.

Stauss collected the prestigious title at an award ceremony at Gleneagles in Scotland, which was attended by former winners and leading lights of the hotel industry.

He became the 23rd winner of the title, succeeding Gleneagle’s general manager and director Patrick Elsmie.

Past winners also include Robin Hutson, former owner of Hotel du Vin, Peter Crome, now general manager of the Carnegie Club’s exclusive Skibo Castle in Scotland, and Gordon Campbell Gray of London’s One Aldwych.

Stauss, who was born in America, said he was absolutely “delighted” to receive the award, which is nominated and judged by hoteliers and hotel inspectors.

He has worked for Four Seasons for nearly 25 years, moving to London in October 1994.

Two year’s later he was made regional vice-president with responsibilities overseeing two other Four Seasons hotels in the UK.

Stauss joined the group in 1982 as a resident manager of the then Four Seasons hotel San Francisco.


by James Garner