A region famed for its tea plantations plays host to Karma Group's new Indian resort. International Karma Group continues to cement its status as one of the world's leading resort companies with its latest acquisition of not one, but two new locations. Joining its new Egyptian-based addition the elegant cruise ship Karma Kanak, is Karma Munnar, a destination nestled among the famously green rolling hills of the state of Kerala in India.
Karma Munnar offers guests a chance to escape to the village of Munnar, a place famed for its collection of evergreen tea plantations. Not to mention it's the meeting place of a trio of major local rivers; Munnar in fact means three rivers in the local language of Malayalam.
The resort itself is perched among the rolling hills of the region, with many of its 22 designed suites and amenities boasting unforgettable views of the surrounding landscape. Visitors are welcomed to spend their time exploring the trekking trails which wind their way through the surrounding area, or make the most of the ample amenities at their disposal, from badminton courts to spice garden tours.
Karma Group Owner and Founder, John Spence, says: “The resort is ideally placed with beautiful large suites and a host of amenities such as restaurants, bars, games rooms, and has a magnificent view over the local hills and river. It is also ideally placed to enjoy in combination with our other resort in Kerala and the thriving historic city of Cochin. As elsewhere in this state the cuisine is superb and the culture, history and heritage of the region is omnipresent - I must confess to loving Keralan curry!”
Karma Group is an award-winning international travel and lifestyle brand offering extraordinary experiences in the world's most beautiful locations. The company is headed by Chairman and Founder, John Spence, a former Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and member of the judging panel for the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year. Among his numerous other awards, John was honoured with the Edward P. Bass Honorary Fellowship at Yale University in 2019 in the School of Architecture, marking the first time Yale has extended this to the same person more than once, and played a vital role in the university's production of the 2021 Next Generation Book.
The Karma Group comprises Karma Estates, Karma Resorts, Karma Retreats, Karma Royal, Karma Beach, Karma Spa, Karma Kasa, Karma Club and Karma Boutique. The Group has developed and is currently operating 44 resorts in more than 101 countries, including Australia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Four of these resorts were acquired in the past six months with Karma Group demonstrating an ability to acclimatise quickly and successfully to a drastically shifting landscape, with the company choosing to focus on domestic travel markets.
These new additions to the company's ever-growing portfolio include the opulent Karma Seven Lakes in India's romantic Udaipur, and the historic Karma Salford Hall, a former residence of King Henry VIII in the English countryside. There are presently seven properties in development, with Karma Group negotiating further acquisitions in Australia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Spain and the UK.
In 2021 a series of new offerings were introduced, including private member's club with a difference, Karma Club, and the establishment of a brand new bespoke service for existing Karma Group members in Karma Concierge. The Karma Kasa brand was also welcomed in response to the growing demand within domestic markets for rural escapes, consisting of a collection of intimate escapes located regionally yet within a two hour drive of major metros where the majority of members are based.
Karma Group is additionally involved in the world of fine wines and spirits. Since 2016, John Spence has been collaborating with key winemakers across the world to produce bottles that have formed the Karma Wines offering, from Tuscany to Bordeaux. A signature craft gin distilled in small batches for the Karma Group has also just been welcomed, a spirit crafted from botanicals sourced from the destinations where the group's resorts, hotels, Chateaux and retreats are located.
Outside of the hospitality realm, Karma Group remains a company devoted to supporting its surrounding community. Karma continues to run and support a number of charity initiatives worldwide under the Karma Cares banner. These include key sponsorship of Bangalore non-profit Christel House, sponsorship of The Bali Life Foundation for disadvantaged children, and involvement in ongoing scholarships and fundraisers annually. More recently, Karma Group spearheaded the drive for mass vaccination in Bali, and joined forces with Operation Recuperation, a UK initiative focusing on supporting front-line healthcare providers recover from the fight against Covid-19.
