In many Four Seasons properties, testing for guests can already be conducted within the hotel, a move the group said was part of its enhanced health and safety programme, Lead With Care. 

The brand said on-property access to testing is “potentially going to become critical”, and seeks to offer a testing option wherever possible within its hotels, or in adherence with local guidelines, what is not possible, will advise and steer guests to the appropriate location for a test. 

A spokesperson for the group said: “Whether as a departure requirement or simply for peace of mind, all Four Seasons properties globally can facilitate access to Covid-19 testing for guests. In most cases, testing can be arranged on-property, with a third-party, to ensure a convenient experience. In some markets, availability and regulations prevent on-property testing; in these instances, Four Seasons can facilitate off-site testing for guests.”

The group added that Lead With Care preventative measures such as Four Seasons Global Guest Mask Policy remain in place without exception “even if a guest can show proof of a recent negative test or complete vaccination”.

Properties in Europe that will be offering on-site testing include Paris, Lisbon, Madrid and Milan, and both the group’s hotels in London.

“We are extremely happy to be at the forefront of this initiative, another step towards normality, even if it is a new normal,” said Guilherme Costa, general manager at Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. 

“Together with Lead with Care, which has been put in place throughout the entire portfolio, in Lisbon we are now also rolling out a new service which we believe will bring great commodity and benefits to our guests. We are working with a certified Portuguese company to test guests on property: this is a game changer, as it makes guests’ lives much easier, so that they do not have to go to a clinic to get tested,” he added.

Lead With Care was a frontrunner among the world’s luxury hotel groups, launched as a comprehensive programme for guests and employees in May 2020, so that Covid-19 health measures could be implemented worldwide. 

Meanwhile, the group is further expanding its footprint in Europe, with the signing of a project in Majorca.

Partnering with Emin Capital, Four Seasons will manage the former Hotel Formentor on the Spanish island.

Originally opened in 1929, the existing hotel will undergo extensive renovations before it becomes a Four Seasons experience in 2023, offering 110 rooms and suites on a 3,000-acre plot of the Formentor peninsula.

In 2020, Four Seasons signed nine new hotel, resort and residential projects, tying a record for the most new deals in the company’s 60-year history.   

It amped up its Four Seasons Private Retreats selection, which includes villas, penthouses and chalets in more than 20 destinations, and a further 16 locations will be added by 2025.

Four Seasons Private Retreats are also included in the group’s Extend Your Stay programme, whereby guests receive a range of benefits when booking stays of 30 days or more.