Vince Leo has been promoted to chief concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Maryah Island. Leo has worked with the Four Seasons brand since 2016, working his way up the ladder and proving himself as an impassioned and gifted concierge.
Leo is also a member of Les Clefs d’Or UAE, a league of world-class concierges with around 4,000 members globally. He has been part of the UAE association since 2016 also.
Vince Leo working his way up Four Seasons
That same year, he began as part of the concierge task force for Four Seasons Resort along Jumeirah Beach Road in Dubai for six months. He later became a concierge at the Four Seasons in Abu Dhabi, moving up to concierge supervisor in 2018.
Also working as a designated trainer with the hotel, he has been celebrated by the property for his passion for the role.
“What I love about my job is meeting all our guests and being able to help them have the best experience of Abu Dhabi,” said Leo. “I really appreciate the trust our regular guests place in us. It’s funny, but they often only want to speak to one specific concierge at the desk. They’re willing to wait. They might be a very prominent person, but they want to speak to me personally. That inspires me to do my very best to assist them.”
He continued: “I always believe that attitude comes first. Excellence is not a skill; it’s an attitude. We never give up. Finding a solution is a must in everything we do – especially when we have to live up to the legendary Four Seasons reputation for service right here in the most vibrant city in the world Abu Dhabi.”
Vince Leo’s path to hospitality
In his younger years, Leo planned on being an architect or interior designer, but when he checked the curriculum at his university in the Philippines, he realised he wouldn’t enjoy all the maths. So, he walked around the campus and saw a special event organised by the hospitality department.
He said: “I was fascinated by all the pictures of the alumni travelling and meeting interesting people. That reminded me of another childhood dream. My father worked as a seafarer and he always travelled the world. He sent us pictures and postcards and he’d share stories whenever he was home. I realised that working in the hotel industry would give me the opportunity to travel and see the world myself.”
Before Four Seasons, he was a concierge at Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel, during which time he was also part of Les Clefs D’or Qatar.