How do four seasons' managers think about what should be centralized and what should be decentralized?

Four Seasons' managers typically emphasize centralizing functions that benefit from consistency and brand control, such as marketing and quality standards, to ensure a uniform guest experience across locations. Conversely, they believe that operational decisions, such as staffing and local service offerings, should be decentralized to empower individual hotels to adapt to local market conditions and cultural nuances. This hybrid approach allows for both brand integrity and personalized service, which are essential to their luxury positioning. Ultimately, the goal is to balance efficiency with the flexibility to meet diverse customer needs.