The Serai Resorts has appointed Saibal Sen as chief operating officer, effective 6 February 2026, in a leadership move aimed at strengthening operational excellence and supporting the luxury brand’s long-term growth strategy.
In his new role, Sen will oversee day-to-day operations across The Serai’s portfolio, lead strategic initiatives and support the brand’s expansion plans. He reports to Malavika Hegde, chairperson, and M. Venkatesh, director, The Serai Resorts.
Sen brings extensive experience in hotel operations, asset management and business development to the position. He holds an Executive MBA from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research and has built a career spanning nearly two decades across some of India’s most respected hospitality brands – beginning with the Taj Group, where he served in food and beverage management at Taj Krishna Hyderabad before progressing to general manager at the Taj Garden Retreat in Kumarakom, Kerala.
His career trajectory subsequently took him through senior leadership roles at The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, Four Points by Sheraton (under the erstwhile Starwood Group) in Jaipur, and Sarovar Hotels & Resorts in Bengaluru. Sen then moved into business development and general management at UMIL Hotels, where he played a key role in the pre-opening and launch of India’s first Howard Johnson hotel in Bangalore – part of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts’ expansion into the Indian market. He also held a general manager role at Radisson Hotel Group before joining Evolve Back Resorts.
Most recently, Sen served as vice president – operations at Evolve Back Resorts, a luxury experiential resort brand with properties in Coorg, Kabini and Hampi. In that role, he built a track record of driving profitability, enhancing operational efficiencies, strengthening asset-owner relationships and leading high-impact sales and marketing initiatives.
Commenting on the appointment, Hegde said, “Saibal’s appointment as chief operating officer marks an important step in strengthening The Serai Resorts’ leadership team. He brings a strong balance of operational rigour and people-centric leadership. We look forward to his contribution in further elevating our brand promise as well as driving long-term value for all stakeholders.”
Sen said of his new role, “It is a privilege to join The Serai Resorts at this exciting phase of the brand’s journey. Hospitality, at its core, is about consistency of experience, empowered teams and thoughtful operations. I look forward to working closely with the leadership and resort teams to further strengthen operational excellence, elevate guest experiences and build sustainable long-term value.”
The Serai Resorts is the luxury hospitality arm of Coffee Day Enterprises, the conglomerate founded by the late V.G. Siddhartha – best known as the creator of Café Coffee Day, the chain that popularised coffee bar culture across India. The parent company owns approximately 12,000 acres of coffee estates in Chikmagalur, Karnataka, and it was amidst these plantations that The Serai first took root nearly two decades ago as a destination-led luxury experience.
The brand has since expanded to four properties across southern India and the Andaman Islands. The Serai Chikmagalur is set across 70 acres of coffee plantation in the Western Ghats, offering 29 private pool villas. The Serai Bandipur sits on the edge of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve within the Nilgiri Biosphere, with 24 luxurious residences overlooking the Nilgiri mountain range. The Serai Kabini offers a waterfront resort experience along the Kabini River, known for its proximity to rich wildlife habitats. The portfolio also includes Barefoot at Havelock in the Andaman Islands, a beachfront property on Radhanagar Beach – frequently cited among Asia’s finest beaches.
Each property is positioned around immersive, location-specific experiences – from coffee plantation walks and Malnad cuisine masterclasses in Chikmagalur to jungle safaris in Bandipur and river-based wildlife encounters in Kabini. The brand describes itself as being “inspired by nature in and around” its destinations, blending understated elegance with authentic storytelling.
Sen’s appointment comes at what the company describes as a pivotal phase for the brand, as it seeks to consolidate its positioning within India’s premium experiential hospitality segment. With India’s domestic luxury travel market continuing to expand – driven by rising affluence, a growing preference for experiential getaways and increased interest in wildlife and nature tourism – The Serai is well placed to capitalise on these trends under strengthened operational leadership.
His experience at Evolve Back, a brand operating in a comparable luxury experiential niche, makes the transition a natural fit. The appointment signals The Serai’s intent to sharpen operational consistency across its portfolio while preserving the distinctive character that has defined each property.
