’’ Don’t wait if you have an amazing or revolutionary idea. Dive into it, and make the moment perfect and right for you to materialize your idea.’’_ Himanshu Laul
Himanshu Laul is Rayna Tours and Travels’ managing director. He joined the company in 2020, and since then, he has played a crucial role in devising new innovative strategies that have boosted its overall growth and success. We recently got the opportunity to strike up a conversation with this insightful entrepreneur, which we covered in this interview session.
He shared his entrepreneurial journey and the challenges with Business Upside. Here is the edited excerpt from the interview.
Edited excerpt from the interview
Business Upside [BU]: What is your role in the current business model? Please describe your role in it.
Himanshu Laul [HL]: I joined Rayna Tours and Travels (https://www.raynatours.com) in 2020. Over the past three years, my role in the company has evolved. I started as the Director of Business Development, where I mainly focused on identifying business opportunities and implementing strategies that boosted brand presence and engaged customers, especially during the pandemic. Two years later, in 2022, when I became the company’s Managing Director, my responsibilities shifted to managing key resources and delivering decisive guidance while ensuring its ongoing efficacy and growth.
[BU]: So, Himanshu Laul, what was your mission at the outset?
[HL]: Rayna Tours and Travels, launched in 2006 as a single travel boutique, is now a well-known destination management company built on customer satisfaction. Besides its main office in Dubai, UAE, it has branches worldwide, such as in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Israel, and South Africa, to name a few. From the beginning, the company has specialized in crafting products and services that resonate with unique customer demands and market trends. So our mission was and will continue to develop a strong service portfolio that offers tangible benefits to our customers, team, and business.
[BU]: How do you market your business, and which method has been most successful?
[HL]: I don’t believe in call to action or pushy strategies far from reality. While it might contribute to generating some traffic initially, the outcome will be mostly short-lived. So we place more emphasis on organic marketing strategies, as they help drive the potential audience to our services and platforms naturally. Even though it may take some time to achieve the desired result, it ensures the long-term success of a business. Yes, the payoff is an ever-growing yet tight-knit customer base that looks forward to our product launches, new deals, and informative or engaging content.
[BU]: What is unique about your business?
[HL]: I think it would be our efficient business processes. We are well equipped with all the resources necessary to take care of every minute aspect of a trip. We are specialists in international visa services, worldwide hotel reservations, activities and tour planning, and the arrangement of safaris, among others. For adventure seekers and cruise enthusiasts, we operate dedicated ventures, such as Balloon Flights (a hot air balloon ride) and Rayna Seacation. Besides our presence in the B2C vertical, we are active in the B2B segment, where we aid small and medium-sized travel businesses to grow their businesses. We have also diversified our portfolio as we recently launched our venture in the real estate sector, namely, Rayna Properties.
[BU]: How do you generate new ideas?
[HL]: It comes from various sources; it could be coincidental or arise from our existing business model, a current market trend, or simply while working with our team. Coming up with an entrepreneurial idea and turning it into a business is not a big deal now. Regardless of the source, what matters is how much you are disciplined, dedicated, and determined to develop this idea or business and make it a great success while tackling the ongoing challenges and sustaining the brand’s presence.
[BU]: If you had one piece of advice for someone just starting, what would it be?
[HL]: Most people wait for the ‘perfect’ moment to start a business. The reality is that entrepreneurship and running a business are all about uncertainties with lots of ups and downs. So don’t wait if you have a unique or revolutionary idea. Dive into it, and make the moment perfect and suitable for you to materialize your idea. It may not be easy in the beginning. The obstacles or struggles may get more intricate or demanding than you thought, but be consistent. After all, in the end, there is nothing as rewarding as pursuing your goals to fulfilment.
[BU]: What do you look for in an employee?
[HL]: While it varies from one role to another, an employee with an upbeat attitude, brilliant creativity, technical competence, and eagerness to learn is an asset to any workforce or organization.
[BU]: Do you believe there is some sort of formula or pattern to becoming a successful business model?
[HL]: I do not believe there is any magic formula to ensure the success of a business model. I think it would be essentially our ability to innovate and update our services and offerings as per the market’s pulse as well as our customers’ specific requirements. A well-crafted service portfolio that translates travel dreams and demands is the backbone of any travel business.
[BU]: What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
[HL]: It would be the chance I frequently get to interact with some of the brightest and most creative minds and further absorb a lot in the process. Apart from this, it is equally satisfying to be part of the entire business lifecycle and see the ideas (implemented) coming to fruition.
[BU]: What motivates you to become an Entrepreneur?
[HL]: I think it will be the freedom and flexibility it gives me to make business decisions based on my creativity, talents, experiences, and thoughts. Most significantly, it allows me to follow my passion and make a difference while attaining a triumphant sense of personal satisfaction and progress.
Also Read: Entrepreneurial Journey of Abhilasha Manchanda, the Founder at the Virtual Bliss
