In fact, Four Seasons had a two-stage contract with Leela (Captain Nair) and the first stage involved them overseeing a major renovation and re-design of Leela Goa, together with hiring and training staff. The second stage of the contract was to actually manage the resort, but Captain Nair fired them before the second stage took effect.

I was staying there in the first week of re-opening and by the time I arrived, Four Seasons Goa had been transformed into The Leela Kempinski Goa (or rather transformed back, as Kempinski were the original management group). They had brought in Reto Torriani from Bora Bora to crisis manage for Kempinski. They had stuck little stickers over the Four Seasons toiletries and the staff could not stop talking about how wonderful Four Seasons had been.

I doubt very much if Four Seasons will create a Tented Camp style property in India because the Golden Triangle version in Thailand was created and built by Bill Heinecke and it took a lot of persuasion to get Four Seasons to manage it. These days, Four Seasons are much happier with a 300-key business hotel, I feel.

Four Seasons would have to find an enlightened owner in Kerala and Rajasthan in order to create magic and right now, those owners are either doing it themselves or are turning to Taj and Oberoi, who are past masters at managing India's luxury properties. I also do not believe that Four Seasons can compete with Aman on any level in India, so maybe that is why Four Seasons are sticking to what they know best - business.