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Four Seasons Hotel Sydney

  • 199 George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia
SYD_1278_square_300x300

Uday Rao

General Manager
“My family is in the hotel business and I practically grew up in hotels. I love the experience of meeting new people from all walks of life from all over the world.”

 

Four Seasons Tenure

  • Since 1991
  • First Four Seasons Assignment: The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (A Four Seasons Hotel)

Employment History

  • 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; Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so (formerly a Four Seasons hotel); The Ritz-Carlton Chicago (formerly a Four Seasons hotel)

Birthplace

  • Delhi, India

Education

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

Languages Spoken

  • English, Hindi and conversational Japanese

A long-time Four Seasons leader, Uday Rao is very excited about his role as General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.

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 joined the team at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney at a very pivotal time as Australia reopened to the rest of the world. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of the luxury 531-room city hotel as well as its award-winning restaurant and bar, ensuring a smooth and memorable guest experience.

“I am excited to be part of the team in Sydney and immerse myself in the Australian culture,” says Rao. “Embracing the city’s sophistication and the Hotel’s iconic location along the sparkling harbour and the buzzing CBD, we provide unique experiences that can only be found here in Sydney.”

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.”