Salim El Khayati

Director of Food & Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta

: What are your responsibilities?

Salim: As a leader, my goal is to constantly take care of my team and make sure they feel proud, empowered and happy in their workplace. As a director of food and beverage, my job responsibilities include working with the team on promotions and activations for the venues, connecting with our clients and ensuring they are having a great experience, as well as making certain that we are in line with our financial targets.

: What makes a typical day?

S: It begins with greeting the guests and checking on them during breakfast and continues with joining our operational morning briefing, then walking through the venues to ensure organization and adherence with quality and cleanliness standards. Moreover, my day stays busy with meeting our VIPs and event organizers, attending team briefings, as well as testing and tasting some food orders.

: Your best attribute?

S: I am a friendly and honest person. I am creative and I feel fortunate to be able to apply my creativity every day.

: Team player or team leader?

S: I don't see one existing without the other. In my opinion, a leader must be a team player. You should never ask the team to do something you can't do.

: Who has been the most influential figure in your career to date? S: My mentor since my time at The St. Regis New York. His name is Manuel Martinez. He is a true hotelier and a man of his word. He has always been present for me and showed his support through the years.

: Name one really special thing about your hotel?

S: Our architectural interior design is a strong point that distinguishes us from others. Each place in our hotel has a character and a special feel. In addition to that we do have very talented and out-of-the-box thinkers on our culinary team.

: How do you unwind?

S: I enjoy physical exercise and training. I also like walking the streets, taking photographs and drawing.

: Dead or alive, who would you like to take out to dinner?

S: My best time going to dinner is with my wife. We are like-minded and it makes the experience so much better. If Beyoncé, Nelson Mandela or Roy Lichtenstein wanted to join, they would be more than welcome.

Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta