THE AUDACIOUS HOTELIER

Unafraid to grab opportunities, even in the face of monumental risks, John Spence quit a cushy job to start a resort in Goa. 28 years later, with 44 properties in his portfolio, Karma is smiling upon him

-  VINITA BHATIA

John Spence’s life has been an adventurous roller-coaster ride. He dropped out of university after two terms thinking he was the world’s best guitarist. “I quickly realized that I am the worst guitarist after not getting a job even in a punk band,” he laughingly reminisced. He drifted into the road management and promotional side of the music business and managed several groups, including well-known ones like Karma Club, US Mix, and little-known ones like Banana Rama.

While living on the road was par for the course during this period, Spence enjoyed the travel, the planes, and the hotels. Slowly, he drifted into the property business in the 1980s, when he started working with a company in Tenerife and worked his way up to become the MD.

When he visited India in 1993, he was fascinated by the country and started his first resort in Goa, called Royal Resorts. Over time, he added more properties to his portfolio and renamed the brand to The Karma Group. This name underlines his firm belief that fate has been the guiding force in his life; offering him opportunities, which he quickly grabbed.

Always one to make quick decisions, Spence maintains that he is not in the lodging business, but in the entertainment one. Hence, he envisages The Karma Group not as a place to stay, but one that provides wholesome entertainment to guests – be it in the kid's clubs, bars, or restaurants. He tells Vinita Bhatia how he equates guest experience by leaving them with indelible, pleasant memories.