| | July 20183siliconindia | | October 20172Q. How has the Indian market responded to a membership based resort chain?So far, the response has been extremely positive. We started the Karma Group in Goa, back in 1993, where we developed our first resort. Today, we have multiple properties in the South East Asian region, with a total of 27 assets, located all over the world. As a result of operating in so many different countries, we've gained a rather unique perspective of the industry. The Indian market has displayed a considerably smooth growth, and progress so far has been excellent.One of the primary reasons of our success was being able to identify the massive market opportunity, very early on. While focusing on developing our properties in Europe, we discovered the untapped potential of the emerging Indian middle class. As a result, we started establishing our presence in India and focusing on developing properties in the country. This eventually led to the addition of resorts in Rajasthan and Kerala to our expansive repertoire.Q. What makes Karma a destination within itself?The primary differentiator for Karma is our ability to offer an all-round experience consisting of a wide range of exciting activities and entertainment options. While most other hotel chains focus solely on accommodation or holiday packages, we pride ourselves on offering a customised experience that is in tune with each and every customer's innate desire; an amazing holiday. As a result, we have been able to create a tight-knit community of loyal patrons, owing to our brand essence, and our emphasis on creating spectacular experiences.The biggest indicator of Karma's explosive success is the phenomenal rate at which our customers keep returning to spend their holidays at our properties. Our network continues to grow through a system of referrals by existing members, because of which, we make sure to communicate regularly with them. We have a brand new app coming up which is extremely cutting edge, as well as a revamped website which will focus on engaging with our existing customers, as well as enticing new ones.Q. The idea of branded resorts is interesting, but there are already a lot of Getaway hotels in India. How do you ensure the level of exceptional standards?While India is of massive importance to us and also the place where we began our journey, most of our resorts are located internationally. In the East, we have established our brand's presence in places like Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines, Japan, and Australia, while in the West, we have a number of properties in Mykonos, Crete, the Bavarian Alps, France, and England. We are also planning on expanding into the Caribbean very soon. Our commitment to providing such excellent, all-round experiences in each of these resorts has been our biggest reason for success, unlike other existing brands which are focused exclusively on India.Q. What are your observations regarding the current global hospitality trends?On my first visit to the country, my strategy for Karma involved appealing to local markets through a number of specially developed holiday destinations. Owing to the exotic appeal of India, Thailand, and Bali, at the time, and the affordability they offered, many Europeans used to flock to this region regularly. Since they possessed adequate financial means, we focused heavily on this segment at the time. However, today, things have changed considerably and as a result, we've started acquiring several properties in Europe, with our sights also set on America and the Caribbean. We are also marketing our resorts aggressively to our clients in South East Asia, since they've now emerged as our primary target demographic.Q. How is your experience with India when it comes to conducting business as opposed to elsewhere?My experience in India was quite challenging, possibly because it's where my journey first began. However, now that I look back on it, I realise just how lucky the country has been for us, and the important role it continues to play in our success. Despite being present in 15 countries around the world, including South East Asia, India continues to be our preferred destination when it comes to conducting business. For all its challenges, I've always had a soft corner for India because it always feels like home, something that I honestly can't say about a lot of other places.The Indian and English methods of doing business share many commonalities, not to mention our mutual respect for each other's cultures. The current trends have been quite encouraging, and continue to reflect an immense potential for further growth. Thus, we look forward to continuing our developmental endeavours in the country, and adding many more resorts under our banner.In Conversation withJohn Spence, Founder,Karma GroupThe Karma Group is an internationally renowned hotel and resort brand, beloved by travellers for its impeccable range of comprehensive, multifaceted, and luxurious offerings. The unparalleled experience of which it boasts can be easily attributed to its world-class restaurants and bars, premium beach clubs, glamorous fashion shows, rejuvenating spas, and pulse-pounding performances by world famous musicians and DJs. The Karma Group operates under the unconventional philosophy that great vacations shouldn't merely be defined by clean linen and comfortable accommodation, but rather, by a plethora of specially curated individual offerings, like entertainment facilities, exciting activities, and all but the finest amenities. John Spence, Founder and Chairman, Karma Group, sheds light on his organisation's tireless dedication to revolutionising the standards of services and offerings in the hospitality industry thereby creating a customer experience that surpasses expectations.
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