Natacha Fazal-Karim is a successful visionary and serial entrepreneur. Among other impressive ventures within the interior design and hospitality space, she is also the proud founder of Locanda Le Piazze, One Belvedere Tuscany, Tavola di Guido and QB Cucina —all of which are living testaments to her belief that true luxury is found in the harmony of the senses.
Read our interview with Natacha to discover more about her professional journey and the stunning boutique retreats and restaurants that embody beauty, balance and sustainability in the heart of Tuscany.
Natacha, you were born in Paris and travelled extensively across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Please tell us more about how these experiences have influenced your career choice and approach to business.
I was born in Paris, but I was shaped by movement. Travelling across Africa, Europe, Asia and the Americas did far more than introduce me to different places. It opened my mind and my heart.
Each culture offered a distinct perspective on what truly matters: our relationship with time, community, nature and purpose. Travel teaches humility. It reminds you that your way is not the way, but one among many, and that listening is often more powerful than leading. I have been privileged to meet extraordinary people across continents, each carrying resilience and wisdom rooted in their own realities.
These experiences deeply influenced my career choices and my approach to business. I do not see business as transactional, but as a human and cultural exchange. I am drawn to creating environments, whether in hospitality, design or entrepreneurship, that are respectful, meaningful and emotionally resonant. Places where people feel grounded, seen and connected.
Travel sharpened my adaptability and curiosity. It taught me to observe before acting, to design with sensitivity, and to build systems that honour both people and place. Above all, it reinforced my belief that true success is not defined by scale alone, but by integrity, relationships and the impact we leave behind.
Every journey has been a classroom. Every encounter is a lesson. I remain deeply grateful to have learned through the world itself.
Tuscany is home to your boutique retreats and restaurants, as a well-travelled individual what is it about this region that attracted you and tell us more about making your vision a reality here.
Tuscany entered my life through a blend of serendipity and a long-held dream. Despite extensive travel, I was not searching for a business destination, but for a place of meaning. A place where art, food, culture and nature coexist in harmony, and where I could deepen my connection to life by adding another language to my journey.
What initially brought me to Tuscany was a very human desire for a family retreat. Castellina appeared almost by chance, one of those moments that feels guided rather than planned. Once there, everything aligned.
Bringing my vision to life meant listening carefully to the land, the traditions and the people. I did not want to impose a concept, but allow it to emerge organically. The retreats and restaurants grew from a desire to honour what already existed, while gently weaving in my own sensibility: soulful hospitality, regenerative practices and spaces that nourish both body and spirit.
Sustainability and authenticity are at the heart of all you do. Please tell us more about why these aspects are so important to you, how you frame them for guests, and how you promote beyond your properties.
Sustainability and authenticity are not concepts I adopted later in life. They are part of who I am. I often say I am a child of Africa. I was raised on the islands of the Comoros, barefoot, surrounded by ocean, wind, soil and sky. When you grow up close to the elements, your relationship with nature is instinctive and respectful.
That early connection shaped my understanding of balance, interdependence and responsibility. You learn quickly that nature is not something to dominate, but something to listen to. Resources are precious. Waste is visible. Community matters. These lessons naturally became the foundation of how I live and create.
For our guests, sustainability is experienced rather than explained. We do not preach; we invite. It is felt in the quality of the food grown in our soil, in spaces that breathe, in the rhythm of the land and in the warmth of the people who care for it. Authenticity comes from alignment, when intention, action and experience are coherent.
Beyond our properties, I share these values through stories, collaborations and lived practices rather than slogans. Through design, hospitality, agriculture and wellness, I aim to show that sustainability can be elegant, soulful and joyful. At its core, it is an act of gratitude for the land, the cultures that shaped us and the future we are responsible for.
To be successful in any market, one must be attuned to customer demands and industry trends how do you satisfy (or exceed!) your specific customer needs whilst maintaining the integrity of your own philosophy?
Integrity is not negotiable for me. It is the anchor of every decision. While listening to guests and understanding industry trends is essential, long-term success comes from staying true to the promises you make, not from reshaping yourself to meet every demand.
I listen carefully, not to dilute our philosophy, but to refine how we express it. Our role is not to compromise who we are, but to deliver our commitment with care, detail and consistency. When expectations align with our values, we exceed them. When they do not, we choose coherence over convenience.
Guests today recognise authenticity and value consistency. By remaining faithful to our principles of sustainability, care, quality and human connection, we build trust. That trust allows us to exceed expectations in meaningful ways. Integrity is not a limitation. It is our strength. It creates clarity, loyalty, and a sense of reliability that no trend can replace.
Beyond your own client portfolio demands, what are your predictions for the foreseeable future of luxury travel?
The future of luxury travel will be slower, mindful, more conscious and deeply human. Guests will prioritise places that respect the environment, honour local culture and offer emotional value rather than abundance. True luxury will lie in space, silence, time and meaningful connection, not in excess or standardisation.
What is the most surprising lesson you’ve learned working in the luxury hospitality sector?
What has surprised me most is how deeply guests respond to sincerity. True luxury today is less about excess and more about how a place makes you feel. When care, intention and human presence are genuine, they are felt immediately and remembered long after. Guests may forget the thread count or the design details, but they always remember how a place made them feel. Emotional intelligence, care and intention are far more powerful than any material offering
When you travel or stay at a luxury property as a guest, what are the little touches you especially appreciate or critique?
I appreciate simplicity that feels intentional, spaces that breathe, and environments where the lighting is softly dimmed rather than overstated. Scents matter deeply to me. They should be natural, discreet and grounding, never overpowering. Even the smallest gardens reveal whether a place truly cares about life beyond aesthetics.
I pay close attention to how responsibly a property interacts with its ecosystem. Sustainability should not be performative, but embedded in daily operations. When handled quietly and intelligently, it elevates the entire experience.
Above all, I notice people. Present, sincere staff who take pride in what they offer create an ease no design can replace. I quickly sense anything that feels scripted or disconnected. For me, luxury is coherence, when simplicity, environmental respect and human authenticity come together seamlessly.
We mentioned earlier that the properties and restaurants in Tuscany are just part of your professional interests. “Her Me Now” is a project you also founded that is designed to empower women with visibility, education, and opportunity. Please tell us more about this initiative and the work it does.
I believe in kindness. I believe that love is the answer. Beyond colour, borders, and religion, my journey has been shaped by extraordinary women and communities who supported me, taught me, and walked alongside me. I have been deeply fortunate to learn, to travel, and to grow through these connections.
Her Me Now is my way of giving back — of transforming gratitude into action. The initiative is designed to empower women through visibility, education, funding, and opportunity, but just as importantly, through connection. At its core, it is about nurturing potential and creating spaces where women feel seen, supported, and encouraged to expand beyond perceived limits.
I believe empowerment is never a one-directional act; it is a ripple. When women are supported, families are strengthened, communities grow, and future generations benefit.
Ultimately, this initiative reflects my belief that success is incomplete if it is not shared. Gratitude becomes truly meaningful when it is expressed through generosity, and Her Me Now is a living expression of that commitment.
How would you like your legacy to be remembered?
I would like my legacy to be remembered not in terms of scale or visibility, but in terms of impact and intention. If people remember that I led with kindness, acted with integrity, and created spaces where others felt seen, respected, and empowered, that would be enough.
I hope to be remembered for building with care, honouring people, cultures and the land, and for sharing what I received with gratitude. If my work helped nurture connection, inspire responsibility, and encourage others to live and lead with more authenticity, then my journey will have served its purpose.
Ultimately, legacy is not what we leave behind, but what continues to grow because we were here.
Luxury is highly subjective; what does it mean to you personally?
For me, luxury is not material. It is, above all, time, integrity, and authenticity. The privilege of feeling grounded and respected, and of being truly connected to a place, to nature, and ultimately to yourself.
What is your life motto? If you have one.
Lead with kindness, live with integrity, and let love be the answer.
Discover More
Follow Natacha on LinkedIn
Read more about One Belvedere Tuscany
Read more about Locanda Le Piazze
