With the arrival of Juergen Kreipl, Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta welcomes a seasoned hotelier with more than thirty years of experience in global luxury hospitality. With an illustrious career spanning premier destinations such as Berlin, Kuwait, Bangkok, Shanghai and most recently Geneva, Juergen is now poised to elevate the team member and guest experience at the top urban retreat in Indonesia’s capital.
Growing up in the suburbs of Munich, Juergen was immersed in the traditions of hospitality from an early age. Helping at his family’s restaurant, he learned the value of building personal relationships with guests, which has held him in good stead for decades. Interestingly enough, he initially gravitated towards a career in engineering – “in my previous life,” as he quips – until a chance encounter brought him up close to the world of luxury hotels. The instantaneous connection inspired Juergen to pivot and strike out in an entirely new professional direction.
After graduating from the German Hotel School, he honed his skills at top-tier hotels in Munich, Colombo, Rome and Berlin, including a memorable stint as executive manager of Berlin’s four leading opera houses. He gained valuable experience as director of food and beverage at premier properties in Bangkok and Kuwait before landing his first general manager role at a resort in Phuket.
From 2012 to 2015, he led the pre-opening of three luxury hotels in China, followed by a rewarding eight-year tenure across China and Switzerland with InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. Most recently, he served as general manager of the brand’s acclaimed “diplomatic hotel” in Geneva, where his team hosted US President Joe Biden for an official state visit. The stay concluded with a personal thank-you note from President Biden to Juergen, an act he cherishes as an excellent example of Four Seasons Golden Rule – “to treat others as you wish to be treated.”
Now at the helm of Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta, Juergen brings a well-honed approach centred around treating every guest with the highest care and attention. “I’m thrilled to join such a highly regarded brand as Four Seasons,” he shares. “Our vision is to continue being the ultimate destination in Jakarta for discerning travellers seeking meticulous, personalized luxury.”
Just a few weeks into his new role, Juergen’s enthusiasm is already driving results, with exciting new programming in the pipeline. With the Hotel elevating its long-term partnership with Museum MACAN, guests can look forward to a remarkable blend of contemporary art, music and mixology in the coming months, with opportunities to discover a line-up of exceptional local artists.
When it comes to leadership, this General Manager sees himself less as a “general” and more as a motivator, entrepreneur and guide. “Positivity is where we all thrive,” he says. “When the work environment is infused with positivity that feeling cascades through all interactions – between team members and guests.”
Juergen enjoys playing tennis and practicing yoga when he is not at work. His love of contemporary art leads him to galleries near and far, while his background in engineering forms the basis of a long-standing appreciation for unique architecture. Most of all, he loves to absorb local culture in incognito mode – bicycling down quiet streets, wandering through lively markets, and simply enjoying residents’ genuine warmth and friendliness.
