Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan welcomes Uday Rao as Resort Manager. A long-time Four Seasons veteran, Uday is excited to be part of the Bali team. Uday was born in India and his name means “sunrise,” honouring the fact that he was born at dawn. When he was 16, he immigrated to San Diego, California. After studying business management in the United States and Tokyo, Japan, he naturally gravitated to the world of hotels. As he explains, “my family is in the hotel business and I practically grew up in hotels.”

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 20 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.”

Uday is very excited about being in Bali. “During my stints in Singapore and Tokyo, I visited Bali many times. Each time, I felt closer to the country and more connected with the people and culture.” Now he’s thrilled at the opportunity to live here.

Hidden in the island’s lush central highlands near Ubud, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is an intimate sanctuary with only 60 villas suites and villas. “Sayan is impressive in endless ways – the setting, the size, the people that work here. This place is magical and very spiritual.”

As Resort Manager, Uday is responsible for day-to-day operations – from overseeing front office, housekeeping and restaurants to security and engineering – ensuring a smooth and memorable guest experience. Right now is an especially exciting time at Sayan. “My main focus in the months ahead is relaunching our 42 private villas, which have been enhanced with a mix of contemporary and Indonesian décor, bringing a greater sense of place.”

When Uday is not being social and meeting guests around the Resort, 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. Sayan provides the perfect amount of quiet and serenity. But when I can travel, I never hesitate to jump on a plane and explore someplace new.”