Join Renae Leith-Manos in this captivating episode of the Where2FromHere podcast as she delves into the dynamic world of Four Seasons Hotels with a very special Sydney based guest, Uday Rao. Recorded in Sydney, this episode where Renae interviews Uday Rao offers a deep dive into Uday's illustrious 33-year journey with Four Seasons, beginning in Chicago and stretching across Southeast Asia, with notable stints in Bali and Jakarta. This is Uday's first ever podcast interview. Uday shares his personal story, from his initial dreams sparked by a childhood book he read on hotels to his surprising start with Four Seasons in Chicago due to a five star hotel name change with the Ritz Carlton. He reflects on the substantial roles and responsibilities that come with being a General Manager and the pivotal cultural elements that define Four Seasons' massive global success. The discussion also explores Uday's recent relocation to Sydney from Four Seasons Bali, the challenges of adapting to the Australian workforce dynamics, and his insights into maintaining high standards in the competitive Sydney hotel scene. Four Seasons Sydney is a grand dame of the luxury hotel world in Australia, and he explains how he makes everything old new again. Further, Uday offers a glimpse into the anticipated new Four Seasons in Melbourne and discusses the broader impacts of tourism on local environments, emphasising the importance of sustainability. With a blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights, this episode not only illuminates the evolving landscape of luxury hospitality but also celebrates the journey of a visionary hotelier who continues to set benchmarks in the industry. Chapters of the interview between Uday Rao and Renae Leith-Manos : 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet Uday Rao 01:06 Why do great hotels come from India 02:40 His journey to the United State 04:35 First impression of America 05:50 His first General manager roles 06:33 Reality vs Dream 07:45 Secret to the success of Four Season Hotels 09:11 Good people in Australia 10:40 Moving to Australia 13:49 Four Season Melbourne 17:32 How he attract locals 18:00 Sustainability 21:53 Clients 22:50 Best parts of his job 24:00 How he travel 25:40 Where to from here 26:28 Closing *** Subscribe above for the best and latest regular luxury travel updates. For collaborations, contact us at: renaemanos@mac.com *** Host & Executive Producer: Renae Leith-Manos Editor: Muhammad Hamza Graphic & Design: Giang Nguyen For more luxury travel go to: www.renaesworld.com.au For Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, click here: www.fourseasons.com/sydney/ For Luxury Hotel Consulting: www.luxuryhotelconsulting.com Listen on: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7kciRY8... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Follow our socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renaesworld... Website: https://renaesworld.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/renaesworldaus/