The hotel above the clouds: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

(Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia)

I loved my undergraduate experience at the University of Central Florida (UCF). As a knight, I had the opportunity to grow as an individual and leader through my academics and involvement. The university's crowning jewel is the Rosen Hospitality College. Rosen is an incubator for the next generation of hospitality leaders. Given the university's proximity to Orlando, Rosen Students train to learn the ins and outs of the hospitality world. Although I was not a Rosen student, I knew many Rosen students through my involvement with Hillel, Student Government, KnightThon (UCF's Dance Marathon), and more. When I had the opportunity to interview The Four Seasons Philadelphia, I was amazed to find my interviewee to be another Knight. Alison Graul, C/O 2018, is the Digital Marketing Manager for the Property. I had the opportunity to speak with Graul to learn more about why you should stay at the hotel above the clouds.

(Video courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia)

1. 1. Why should someone visit Philadelphia and stay at The Four Seasons Philadelphia?

Our hotel is nestled in the clouds atop the Comcast Technology Center and is currently the highest situated hotel in North America. Every single room and space in our hotel has panoramic views of the city. So for me, being born and raised in Philadelphia, I gain a new perspective on the city every single time I'm upstairs. But not only that, we have world-class dining, too. We have four restaurants on property; Chef John George helms two of the restaurants in the Sky Lobby (JG SkyHigh and Jean-Georges) and local Chef Greg Vernick operates the two restaurants on street level (Vernick Fish and Vernick Coffee Bar). The Hotel and Spa gained Philadelphia's first Forbes Five Star Awards this past year. The views, experiences, and team are amazing. Our world-class team from around the world puts service at the pillar of everything we do.

(Image courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia)

2. How is the hotel adapted in the face of COVID-19?

Four Seasons partnered with Johns Hopkins University and their medical facilities to develop thorough guidelines and procedures for our team to follow called Lead With Care. The hotel offers virtual temperature screening when you walk in the door and elevated safety measures through all service points. Guests can feel confident that the team took that extra care to provide them a clean environment, and are following physical distancing measures and local guidelines. The main focus of this past year is to ensure our guests and staff feel comfortable and safe.

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3. What are the top sights to see in Philadelphia and how does the hotel add to that experience?

My favorite thing in Philadelphia is all of the incredible museums located here. We like to say you have art history and cultural experiences are right at your doorstep. From our hotel, you can see the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, Barnes Foundation, and the Old City. Our concierge team goes above and beyond to create curated experiences for guests. We have amazing partnerships with all of these local organizations to provide unparalleled experiences. For example, for the Barnes Foundation, you can have a private docent take you on a private collection tour. But in terms of a hidden gem, one of my favorites is the amount of public art as Philadelphia is the “Mural Capital of the World”. We have partner with Mural Arts Philadelphia to offer guided Mural Arts Walking Tours, which can take you throughout the city with one of their Art Educators who will explain explain the history and inspiration behind each of the murals. It's a great way to experience Philadelphia through the eyes of local Philadelphians.

(Image courtesy of wix.com)