THE ROCKSTAR HOTELIER

We chatted with John Spence, owner of international travel and lifestyle brand Karma Group on his fascinating journey spanning decades and continents, the future of the travel industry and why luxury means simplicity to him

- SAMREEN KHOJA

THE PASSION TO EXPLORE the unexplored, enjoy exciting experiences and create memories worth treasuring, are the primary factors for any luxury vacation. And the Karma Group has emerged as one of the frontrunners in the experiential travel space, with its diverse and curated offerings. It includes world-class restaurants and bars, beach clubs, fashion shows, spas, and more.

However, it was an impromptu visit to Goa in the early ’90s that transformed John Spence, an aspiring guitarist and music band manager, into a property mogul. A strong believer in the Indian philosophy of Karma, you reap what you sow; Spence has set up a unique chain of boutique hotels.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

“My early life was quite interesting; I thought I was the best guitarist in the world. I swiftly learned I was the worst guitarist in the world. This was back in 1980 in London when you had to be pretty bad to be deemed a bad guitarist. So I drifted onto the business side and became a tour manager.