Reinhold Nagler appointed Food and Beverage Director at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza

He took over his new position on December 1 and will oversee the Hotel's eight Food and Beverage outlets, in-room dining offerings, banqueting and outside catering services.

Austria-born Nagler, who has been with the Toronto based Four Seasons group since June 2002, has moved from Dubai where he was part of the pre-opening team at Four Seasons Golf Club at Festival City. Prior to this, he was with Four Seasons Riyadh, initially as Executive Chef and latterly as Director of Food and Beverage.

Nagler's 24 year career in the hospitality industry began when he was 15 and starting his Chef's apprenticeship. His training took him to leading kitchens in his native country before, eager to see more of the world, he headed for South Africa and a French fine dining restaurant in Cape Town. Furthering his career, he has worked with various five star luxury hotels in locations including China, Germany, the USA and has also spent part of his career 'on the high seas' with luxury cruise ships.

It is these combined experiences which have given him an all-consuming interest in cuisine and its delivery: 'Once I was exposed to real ethnic food from all the different countries I visited, there was no holding me back,' Nagler explained. 'My passion was endless and working with many experienced chefs developed my creativity.'

He admits that he was initially hesitant when he was given the opportunity to move from Executive Chef to Director of Food and Beverage while in Riyadh, 'But after a short period of time I realised I had found my niche and am delighted I made the transition. For a while, though, it was hard to stay away from the kitchens and not interfere!'

Nagler's immediate priorities at the 365-room Four Seasons Nile Plaza is to concentrate on menu changes and appraise theme nights, to offer regular new ideas to give guests a constant variety of dining options.

'The Hotel and its Food and Beverage operation is already established as the finest in Africa, and my goal is to ensure that whatever we do from now, it is spectacular and something that people will talk about for a long time,' he said.

An avid traveller, Nagler's pastimes are connected to activities which allow him to explore the outdoors and nature and he is looking forward to the challenges his new surrounds will offer both professionally and in his spare time. He also collects baseball caps from his world travels and professes to have 'too many to count now'. Eventually, he would like to see himself as a General Manager, and then retire to his own farm where he would grow vegetables and keep sheep '…and produce cheeses to sell at weekend markets.'

The 'good life' may be somewhat in the distant future, but at the moment Nagler is happy to be in a new country discovering new food styles and ingredients - and adding to his collection of baseball caps!