Rayna Tours and Travels is among the most familiar names in the UAE’s travel domain. From free independent travellers to agents, operators, and small- and mid-size agencies, many individual travellers and travel businesses benefit from Rayna Tours’ intuitive platforms on B2C and B2B.
But, did you know that behind this ever-growing travel domain is a passionate entrepreneur whose love for travel has redefined how people view travel? He is Manoj Tulsani, who founded Rayna Tours and Travels in 2006 and today it’s one of the leading tour operators and destination management companies in Dubai.
Manoj, born on 14 August 1978, is an Indian and a native of Ajmer, Rajasthan. He did his schooling at DAV Senior Secondary School before he enrolled at the University of Mumbai, and he majored in commerce for his graduation.
After this, he flew to Dubai to join his first job as a marketing executive at the Safeer Group of Companies in 1999. He later peaked in his career when he became the Marketing Head of the Time Machine Group of Companies.
Startup Story of Rayna Tours
It was when considering a career change that Manoj came up with the idea of Rayna Tours and Travels. He was just 28 when he realized that most people travelling to Dubai focused only on reserving their accommodations in advance but somewhat ignored other aspects of a holiday, such as activities planning, sightseeing, etc.
Thus, he co-founded Rayna Tours and Travels in 2006 with Kamlesh Ramchandani, whom he met and became friends with at Safeer Group of Companies.
They launched their new venture from a small outlet inside Dubai’s Flora Grand Hotel. They started by offering tours and packages to the hotel guests.
Growth Story: From a single outlet to a destination management company
Both Manoj and Kamlesh Ramchandani came from the trading industry, and they didn’t possess any experience or knowledge in the service sector. It was highly challenging for the duo to take the business forward in the beginning because they ran out of funds and had to face competition without a mentor or proper business plan.
But their unrelenting faith in their concept and staunch commitment to making their services accessible to all in the travel community began to fetch them the desired results. Their idea clicked as they operated over 15 similar outlets in less than two years.
After the major expansion, Manoj’s next step was to make its offerings big by elevating the business’ status as a leading destination management company in 2009.
With Rayna Tours’ main office at Abu Hail’s Old Labour Building, the business thrived as they opened new branches in India, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. The company further gained immense popularity for its direct-to-customer approach through substantial investments to strengthen its asset portfolio by adding desert camps and an exceptional line-up of vehicles, cruise vessels, etc.
Acquiring Arabian Explorers, owned by Mr. Yasser Noman (now Rayna Group’s Executive Chairman) in 2018, has also heightened the company’s market presence.
Success Story of Rayna Tours
It is because Manoj has never lost sight of his vision to stay on top of the game. Once he established his company as one of the top travel providers in the scenario, he also took steps to boost the brand’s presence on the web.
He launched a dedicated technical house, Technoheaven Consultancy, to create a comprehensive platform that combines all their products, services, and packages, backed by a high-end service and price filtering system and secured payment gateways.
Beyond a reliable online travel platform, Rayna Tours’ apps, the brand-new QR Trips, and loyalty programs, including R Points, are now an incredible hit among travellers.
Manoj’s insight into tackling even the most hard-hitting situations is equally awe-inspiring. An example of this is the pandemic phase when the company demonstrated unmatched adaptability and resilience under his leadership.
They harnessed the power of the internet and social media to engage and inspire their patrons at this unprecedented time. They further re-aligned and pivoted their products and services to cater to the sudden shift in travel trends, ensuring a more immersive, personalized, and safer experience in the second round. All these helped them set a new benchmark for travel in the industry.
Rayna Tours and Travels, the destination management company in Dubai, is now one of the industry leaders. As a one-stop solution provider in all aspects of travel, it offers international visa services, all-encompassing holiday packages, global hotel reservations, guided excursions, safaris, and luxury tours (like yacht cruises and limo rides), to name a few.
With its dedication to top-notch customer care services, Rayna Tours is the winner of several esteemed awards, including the Arabian Travel Award for the Best B2B Portal and the Best Destination Management Company, TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, and the Best Partner for Dubai Parks and Resorts.
Future Plans
The company’s services are now available in over ten countries, apart from their strong demand in the UAE and the Middle East. Manoj says, “One of our major objectives is to expand our reach to more destinations and make Rayna Tours a globally recognized brand. We also look forward to building our existence in other spheres, as we recently forayed into real estate and construction.“
Manoj Tulsani’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to the fact that nothing can stop you if you are determined to transform your dream into a goal and, finally, a reality.
He faced many challenges, but he identified possibilities in every circumstance, even in the toughest phase of the pandemic, to take his business forward. It makes him a true inspiration for those looking to pursue their passion without any experience or business background.
