By Salina Khuory

Opening a luxury resort is never simply about preparing rooms, restaurants and facilities for the first guest. For Kai Dieckmann, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort and Residences Red Sea at Shura Island, the success of a pre-opening begins much earlier—with the people, culture and confidence built behind the scenes. Having led the resort through its pre-opening journey and its opening ahead of schedule in May, Dieckmann believes that strong preparation, clear leadership and a sense of shared purpose are essential to creating momentum. One of his central priorities has been giving employees a clear understanding of the vision while creating an environment where teams from different professional and cultural backgrounds can work together effectively. During a pre-opening period, colleagues often spend long hours together, making trust and team culture particularly important. Dieckmann believes leaders must set the standard themselves, demonstrating the commitment and energy they expect from their teams while maintaining a sense of camaraderie and enjoyment throughout what can be an intense period. For a diverse workforce, he also emphasizes the importance of values that transcend language and cultural differences. Treating colleagues with the same respect and consideration one would expect personally can help establish trust, belonging and mutual understanding. At the Red Sea resort, that approach also extends to connecting the property’s culture with its Saudi setting. The resort has supported the development of local hospitality talent through colleagues recruited from the Red Sea Global Elite Graduate Program, which is designed to develop future hospitality leaders in Saudi Arabia as part of the country’s Vision 2030 ambitions. For Dieckmann, building momentum during a pre-opening is also about recognizing progress along the way. Every milestone, whether large or small, can help strengthen confidence within a team preparing to deliver a complex luxury operation. By combining preparation with flexibility, a clear sense of purpose with cultural awareness, and high standards with genuine care for people, the pre-opening process becomes more than a checklist—it becomes the foundation for the guest experience that follows.