Uday Rao

Four Seasons Tenure

• Since 1991
• First Four Seasons Assignment: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (formerly Four Seasons hotel)

Employment History

• Four Seasons Hotel Sydney; Four Seasons Resorts Bali; Viceroy Resort, Maldives; Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai; Four Seasons Hotel Singapore; Four Seasons Resorts Maldives; Four Seasons Resort and Club Dallas at Las Colinas (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (formerly a Four Seasons hotel)

Education

• Business Management, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan; BA in Business Administration, Coe College, Iowa, USA

Birthplace

• Delhi, India

Languages Spoken

• English, Hindi and conversational Japanese

A long-time Four Seasons leader, Uday Rao is ecstatic about his role as Regional Vice President and General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi.

Uday was born in India and his name means “sunrise,” honouring the fact that he was born at dawn. Uday immigrated to San Diego, California after he finished high school in India. After studying business management in the United States and Tokyo, Japan, he naturally gravitated to the world of hotels. As he explains, “My brother was the reason why I joined the hotel industry as we loved all the exotic locations we could possibly work in."  

Uday started with Four Seasons in 1991 in Chicago, working as an overnight receptionist, then ascended through various positions, transferring to Tokyo, Singapore, Dallas and the Maldives. He returned to India in 2006 to open Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, serving as Hotel Manager.

Though he has occasionally worked with other hotel companies, Uday keeps coming back to Four Seasons. “I have spent more than three decades years with Four Seasons in various parts of the world at various stages of my career. There’s no better place for me than Four Seasons. This is where I belong and feel the best fit with the company culture, the philosophy and the people. It's home and in the blood."

Recently managing both Four Seasons resorts in Bali, Uday found a spiritual connection with Bali and connected with the people and culture. “Bali is captivating in endless ways – the people, the island and the aura of this island has been transformational, a place I will always be returning to time and time again."

Uday Rao now takes on a pivotal role at Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi, overseeing the operations of the luxury hotel and providing strategic guidance to other Four Seasons properties in Japan, including Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto, and the newly opened Four Seasons Hotel Osaka. With a wealth of global experience, Rao is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and ensuring a memorable guest experience across all locations.

“I feel I have returned to a country that I love, respect, and admire for what it stands for,” says Rao. “Blending the essence of traditional Japanese hospitality with Four Seasons luxury service philosophy, we aim to create heartfelt connections and unforgettable memories for our guests.”

When Uday is not being social and meeting guests at the Hotel, he enjoys quiet times at home. “I’m very content as a home body – listening to blues music, sipping a glass of bordeaux and cooking. But I also never hesitate to jump on a plane and explore someplace new.”