Four Pillars Hotels

Source: Retail Digital

Date :5/10/2007 12:43:09 PM

Four Pillars Hotels: Community minded thinking at Four Pillars Hotels

Four Pillars Hotels has already established a reputation for creating places where guests feel welcome and valued. Now the company wants to build upon this success and spread the word about its culture of care which has staff and guests feeling equally at home

Written by Donna Harle & Produced by James Smith

Four Pillars is an independent hotel group based in Oxfordshire with a portfolio of five, four and three star luxury hotels, situated in city centre and rural locations such as Oxford, Bristol, Tortworth, Abingdon and Witney.

The company is currently building its sixth hotel based in the Cotswolds, near Cirencester. The Cotswold Water Park Resort is the newest luxury development in place, and is set to become one of the country’s leading conference and events venues. The company is set to open the resort in April this year, providing myriad services to perfectly fit the bill for a variety of customers.

Four Pillars has recognised the Water Park Resort as a potential tourist destination and has invested over £30 million into the luxury four star hotel, holiday apartments and an exclusive spa and fitness centre all within the grounds of the resort.

The new luxury development offers hotel and holiday living in a picturesque lakeside setting, and will feature a four star hotel, health spa, leisure club, luxury apartments and extensive conference and banqueting facilities. The company is also the provider of a wide range of services including outdoor events, team building for businesses and speciality weekends. Four Pillars supplies its clientele with en-suite bathrooms, restaurants, bars and lounges, most of which have leisure facilities and all specialise in short breaks, conferences, business bookings, functions and weddings.

The company believes the special qualities offered by Four Pillars Hotels are best expressed in its slogan ‘with us you are at home’.

Vision and values

Four Pillars believe in building a culture of care and is creating environments where guests and staff feel at home. The company respects the environment, striving to achieve an environmental best practice throughout its business activity, and strives to engage in a process of continual improvement in this respect.

The company has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK in a major national award. Four Pillars was commended in its category second only to Four Seasons Hotels. The award is specifically designed to promote recruitment best practice in the UK hospitality sector.

Katherine White, Group Human Resources Manager commented on why the group has such a healthy relationship with its employees. “Four Pillars is passionate in its belief that happy staff result in happy customers, we have many schemes in place to ensure the wellbeing of our staff and their career development. We have long service awards, with many members of staff staying with us for over 10 and 15 years, which speaks for itself.”

Four Pillars has been Investors in People accredited since 1996 and runs a Mentoring Scheme as well as a Buddy Scheme for all new members of staff to help them find their feet in the first few weeks in their new job. Further staff incentives include good quality accommodation at all five hotels and a lively social life outside working hours.

As part of the success building criterion the company has decided to introduce some changes to the company image - Four Pillars believes that the special qualities it offers are best expressed in its slogan. The company had decided to update the company logo, keeping the essential elements but giving it a fresh and contemporary look.

Special treatment

Blakes, Peels, Jeromes and Willows are all leisure clubs established at Four Pillars hotels. The leisure clubs provide a range of services, including spas, saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools and gymnasiums.

The company are due to open a new luxurious and indulgent spa and fitness centre in the Cotswolds. Spa 6 is being developed in partnership with the world famous Decléor, promising world class spa treatments. Decléor specialise in aroma-therapeutic skincare, and offer a range of treatments and experiences for clients at Spa 6 based on the Decléor aromatherapy philosophies. The treatment menu will include everything from aromatherapy treatments for the face and body to pamper signature treatments exclusive only to Spa 6.

Spa 6 and leisure facilities are not the only special treatments in place at Four Pillars,

loyalty schemes are in place for more regular customers. The scheme is called “Rewards”, where members can benefit from preferential offers not available to anyone else. The rewards scheme allows clients to accumulate points onto the card, giving the customer money off discount on the next booking.

Aid organization

The company has been raising money since 1999 and when it first joined forces with FOX FM its aim was to raise money for local charities on an annual basis and improve the quality of life of the beneficiaries where possible. Four Pillars had raised £440,000 by March 2005. Funds are distributed to three charities on an annual basis whereby all three share half the money raised between them. The remainder of the money is shared amongst many other smaller charities.

Each year the company’s staffs host numerous in house events, all of which is done on a voluntary basis by management and staff. In addition, the Group also hosts events in the Hotels at cost price, as well as sponsoring events, therefore ensuring that the majority of the money raised goes directly to the charities.

For 2007, the selected beneficiary is Help A Local Child. HALC awards grants to some of Oxfordshire's most underprivileged children, especially to the smaller groups that find it more difficult to fundraise for their very worthy causes.

Every year, applications are welcomed by the Grant Panel, who are responsible for distributing the money raised. So far in 2005, almost £100,000 has already been awarded in grants to groups, especially those working with children for projects and equipment.

Together with the company’s approach to its staff and its customers, this wider social conscience is indicative of the community minded thinking that is enabling Four Pillars to continue with its growth and expansion plans.