An interview with David Murdock: leading by example.

Q: What inspired you to create the California WellBeing Institute and Four Seasons Hotel concept in Westlake Village, California?

A: Look around you--America has the highest obesity rates in the world. Sixty percent of people are overweight and 40 percent of them are plain obese. The children growing up are learning from their obese parents, and they're suffering the consequences of poor diet and inactivity. It breaks my heart to see so many people getting sick from what is an entirely preventable condition, so I wanted to create a place to teach people the right things to eat so that they can stay healthy.

I want people to understand that to avoid weight gain and health problems, you don't have to go on some fad diet or starve yourself. I am a fish-vegetarian, and I eat wonderful food that tastes good and looks good, that's beautifully prepared, healthy and yet satisfying. At home I've created my own fitness suite to make exercise enjoyable. I wanted to share all that with others, by creating an oasis of luxurious healthy living right here in my own neighborhood, at the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains. I've always drawn inspiration from these surroundings, so I hope my guests at the California WellBeing Institute and Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village will too.

Q: How does your facility differ from other wellness centers and spas that might be competitors?

A: I've traveled around the world to investigate how various places approach health, nutrition and wellness. I'm also no stranger to the task of creating luxury resorts, like the Four Seasons Resort Lana'i at Manele Bay and The Lodge at Koele. I wanted to create a destination that would consolidate and integrate the best of everything--the best wellness programs, the best spa services, the best cuisine, the best accommodations, the best medical science, and the best meeting facilities--all under one roof. I've even gone one step further by building in my own television production facility where I plan to develop health-oriented programming.

The biggest differentiator, though, is that many of these other places, like Canyon Ranch, are places people go to relax, or lose weight. I want so much more for our guests, I want them to experience the possibility of making the kind of life changes that will keep them healthy in the long run. I want them to take away more than happy memories, I want them to gain the knowledge and motivation that will help them continue to keep making the right choices for their health throughout the year--year after year.

Q: You obviously bring a lot of passion--and knowledge--to the subject of health and nutrition. You've invested millions in this facility, and in other nutrition education projects. Why?

A: When my wife and the mother of my children was stricken with cancer two decades ago I was devastated. She was only 42 when she died. I thought we were living a healthy lifestyle at the time, but in fact we never paid attention to how we ate. So, all of a sudden I thought about what I could have done to save my wife, and wanted to learn what I could do to help others. I began by making drastic changes in my own lifestyle. Now I avoid saturated fat like the plague, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and exercise most days of the week. As a result I've never felt better in my life; all my health indicators are excellent and I've got more energy than most people I know half my age or younger.

In addition to trying to lead by example, I wanted to develop resources that could help people. I wrote the Encyclopedia of Foods with UCLA and the Mayo Clinic. I created the Dole Nutrition Institute, which publishes newsletters, brochures, cookbooks, articles, magazines--all on health and nutrition. I've produced videos that play on the airlines, teaching people about the benefits of healthy eating in ways that are interesting and not pedantic. I have leveraged my relationship with grocery stores that sell Dole products to get materials about nutrition into the hands of consumers. I've mandated that all our packaging convey health and nutrition information. I've even started putting interactive, touch-screen nutrition education kiosks in produce sections so people can access information and healthy recipes. That's on top of the nutrition education we've advanced in schools for decades, providing information to teachers, parents and children about proper diet and fitness.

I've earned a reputation in business for being tough, but the truth is nothing makes me feel better than passing on the knowledge and the tools for helping people live better, longer, healthier lives. Here at the California WellBeing Institute, people are going to have the opportunity to experience healthy living at its finest. I predict it will be a transformative experience for most people-they're not going to want to go back to the way they lived before.

Q: What will the facility have to offer other businesses and corporate executives?

A: We're going to have the most comprehensive executive health evaluation services--and we're filling a great need for businesses that want local, top-notch meeting and event resources. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has experience like no one else in the hospitality industry when it comes to supporting business and social events. Everyone wants to have their company meeting at a Four Seasons Hotel because they know that's a name associated with unrivaled expertise, sophistication and accommodating service.

The facility offers nearly 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor function space, including a stunning 11,600-square-foot ballroom with silk-paneled walls and 21 crystal chandeliers. Nine function rooms--all elegantly appointed--work well for meetings of all sizes. Again, I wanted to make sure this was the kind of place that I would like to do business with my peers, so in addition to the standard meeting space, we also offer a wood-paneled library and an executive boardroom. Needless to say, all the meeting space is supported by state-of-the-art technology access and support.

We will also offer executive health evaluations to rival the kind of resources found at the Mayo Clinic, but our guests will be able to receive these services in a luxurious environment that enjoys spectacular weather year round. Plus, no other executive health facility in the world offers the proprietary DNA testing that will measure the level of DNA damage and provide a benchmark against which to gauge the positive effects of the kind of lifestyle changes guests will learn here.

Q: You've been involved with every aspect of the design and landscaping of the complex--from the meeting facilities you describe above, to the gardens, to the 270 guest rooms. What are the kinds of details that reflect your taste, and how have you developed your distinctive style over the years.

A: As chairman and owner of Dole Food Company, I am constantly traveling the world to visit our various global operations. I am fascinated by different cultural and artistic traditions. I took several trips to pick out the marble and semi-precious stones that you'll see throughout the complex. I love natural materials and the beauty of nature, but I also have preferences when it comes to design. I like happy colors, bright yellow, cobalt blue, crimson, sage green. My architectural tastes tend toward the Regency style.