Big Shot

How Issy Sharp Built The Four Seasons and Transformed The Hospitality Industry Forever (Part 1)

Jun 15, 2023

"Big Shot" welcomes Isadore (Issy) Sharp, the founder of The Four Seasons. In this episode, Issy shares his incredible journey, from growing up in construction to meeting his wife over 70 years ago. Learn about the concepts that made The Four Seasons successful, his fearlessness, and the best investment of all time.

01:03:10

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Episode guests

Isadore (Issy) Sharp

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Quick takeaways

Izzy Sharp's talent-spotting ability and collaboration with talented architects laid the foundation for the iconic and unique designs of Four Seasons properties.

The culture of hospitality and personalized service cultivated by Izzy Sharp and Ian Monroe created charming atmospheres and made Four Seasons a sought-after destination for travelers worldwide.

Izzy Sharp's constant thirst for knowledge, learning from various experiences, and his interactions with individuals enriched his understanding of hospitality, allowing Four Seasons to continually refine the guest experience.

Deep dives

The Genesis of Four Seasons: From Humble Beginnings to Global Empire

Izzy Sharp embarked on a five-year journey to build the first Four Seasons motor hotel in Toronto, with the vision of creating a unique and charming atmosphere for guests. Through his talent-spotting ability, he assembled a team of talented architects, including Peter Dickinson and Peter Webb, who designed the iconic inn on the park. This success led Izzy to pursue his interest in the hotel business and expand globally. He traveled to Europe and stayed at renowned hotels like the Dorchester in London, which fueled his ambition to bring Four Seasons to a larger scale. The encounter with the McAlpine family, who owned the Dorchester, eventually led to the construction of the London Four Seasons, marking Izzy's shift in career focus towards the hotel industry.

Introduction

2min

Issy Sharp's Love Story and Business Success

7min

Upbringing, Work Ethic, and Lessons from Construction

3min

The Importance of Architecture and Design in the Early Years

2min

Navigating Relationship Challenges and Parental Approval

4min

Reflections on Influence and Fearlessness

6min

Building the Four Seasons: From Construction to Hospitality

22min

Building a Hotel in the Suburbs

17min

Today we’re joined by none other than Isadore (Issy) Sharp, the founder of The Four Seasons. We’re talking about one, if not the most iconic luxury hotel brands in the world. His story is incredible. From growing up and working in construction. To how he met his wife that’s he’s still with over 70 years later. This episode was so damn good we had to split it into two parts. In part one, you’ll learn what Issy’s upbringing was like, why Issy has never felt fear, the most important concepts that made the Four Seasons successful, and arguably the best investment of all time.

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In This Episode, We Cover:

(00:00) Welcome to Big Shot and meet our guest Issy Sharp