Isprava Group, the Indian luxury real estate and lifestyle platform, has brought in Dr. Sanjay Sethi as strategic adviser for its hospitality division and Lohono Stays. The move signals the company's intent to deepen its footprint in the country's high-end non-urban residential and hospitality segments.
Dr. Sethi, whose career spans nearly four decades, will focus on strategy and development. His remit covers Isprava's integrated ecosystem of luxury homes, hospitality services, and private membership offerings. The appointment comes as the group looks to scale without diluting the brand equity it has built since its founding in 2016 by brothers Nibhrant and Dhimaan Shah.
A track record of scaling hospitality businesses
Dr. Sethi's resume includes 14 years with the Taj Group, where he held senior operational roles, and co-founding Keys Hotels & Resorts. Most notably, he served as managing director and CEO of Chalet Hotels Limited, steering the company through its initial public offering in 2019. That experience in taking a hospitality asset company public is likely to inform his guidance as Isprava expands its portfolio.
Nibhrant Shah, managing director and co-CEO of Isprava Group, underscored the strategic rationale. "Sanjay's understanding of hospitality, combined with his experience of building businesses at scale, will help us bring greater depth and consistency to that experience as we grow," Shah said. The company has positioned itself as a player in the luxury second-home market, with properties in destinations like Alibaug, Goa, and Coonoor.
Dr. Sethi's appointment also aligns with broader trends in the luxury travel sector, where integrated residential and hospitality offerings are gaining traction. As luxury hotel groups accelerate expansion in Asia, Isprava's move to bolster its advisory bench reflects a similar appetite for high-end experiential stays.
On his new role, Dr. Sethi remarked, "Isprava has done the difficult part already: built a brand people trust, in places that are genuinely hard to build in. Growing that without diluting it is the real test." His comments point to the challenge of maintaining quality while scaling, a concern that resonates across the hospitality industry.
Isprava's evolution from a luxury home developer to a broader lifestyle platform mirrors a wider industry shift. Travel professionals are increasingly looking at how to blend real estate, hospitality, and membership models to create recurring value. The company's partnership with Lohono Stays, which manages private villas and residences, is central to that strategy.
For travel advisors and luxury tour operators, the appointment could signal new opportunities in the private-stay segment. As demand for exclusive, non-urban accommodations grows, Isprava's enhanced focus on hospitality may lead to more curated offerings for high-net-worth clients.
Dr. Sethi's industry standing is likely to open doors for Isprava in terms of partnerships and talent acquisition. His experience with Taj and Chalet Hotels gives him deep insight into both branded luxury and asset-heavy operations, which could prove valuable as the group considers new projects.
The move also comes at a time when India's luxury travel market is expanding, with domestic and international travelers seeking unique stays beyond traditional hotel circuits. Isprava's portfolio, which includes villas in scenic locales, is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.
As the group continues to grow, the appointment of a seasoned adviser like Dr. Sethi underscores its commitment to professionalizing operations. For industry observers, it is a sign that Isprava is serious about becoming a major player in India's luxury hospitality landscape.
