Ekaterina Saburova Appointed as Director of Marketing at Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island

Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island announces the appointment of Ekaterina Saburova as Director of Marketing. Arriving at the 34-storey address following a dozen years at Four Seasons properties in Russia, Ekaterina is enthusiastic to inspire the team to promote the Hotel and the cinematic capital of the United Arab Emirates around it so that guests will fall head over heels for the destination, as she has.

"I was in love with Abu Dhabi before I got here, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to highlight the renowned Four Seasons in the city," says Ekaterina. "There is so much for guests to do and enjoy here, and I look forward to keeping them engaged. From views of the capital to our menu of international dining experiences such as the vintage Chicago-style steakhouse Butcher & Still and renowned Italian cuisine of Café Milano, to the therapeutic services of Pearl Spa & Wellness, we offer so much for guests to have an expansive stay in Abu Dhabi even if never leave the property."

Ekaterina's role includes oversight and innovation of marketing and sales for the eight-year-old Hotel, as well as public relations, digital marketing, events, revenue management, and reservations. She leads a team of 20 covering all of the above and sees their diversity - not unlike the broader Hotel team, which counts more than 40 nationalities - as key to the experience and perspectives they offer.

Ekaterina's route to Abu Dhabi took some interesting twists and turns. She grew up in Russia and studied at the State University of Management in Moscow. The Master's degree and PhD she earned in economics left her set for success in finance and insurance, and it didn't take for her long to secure employment in the same. But, soon enough, she found the work tedious and turned instead to hospitality, drawn by a long fascination with hotels.

She got her start with an international hotel group before joining Four Seasons in 2014 as Director of Sales in St. Petersburg. She later switched to marketing, leading efforts for two Hotels over six years, including as Regional Director of Marketing working with properties in GCC countries.

Then Ekaterina began two years as Hotel Manager/acting General Manager for Four Seasons in St. Petersburg. There was a lot for her to learn, she admits, but the experience gained was well worth the challenges from a management standpoint, opening her eyes to the crucial role that each team member plays in the guest experience. Meanwhile, she continued to grow her expertise with a Hospitality Management 360 certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

Now back in the saddle leading marketing in Abu Dhabi, Ekaterina has many missions, including getting word out that Four Seasons is a leader in hospitality in the UAE. "I see our team as ambassadors for the company and the destination. If the only thing guests experience in Abu Dhabi is their time with us, they're going to want to come back for more."