Taking each day as it comes
From flying kites in his childhood to flying people around the world on well-curated itineraries, Riaz Munshi, Managing Director, N Chirag Travels and President, OTOAI, has had a whirlwind journey! Juggling between the two roles didn’t come easy to him, b
An advertising agency as family business did not much appeal to who found his calling in the business of travel. “I started working in 1990, when my family had an advertising agency and both my brothers were helping my father. Hence, I also started helping by working with one of my brothers who had come from Ahmedabad to Delhi. However, I always wanted to do something different, and was always looking for an opportunity. I would often visit a travel agent whenever we had to travel from Delhi to Ahmedabad, or make arrangements for a guest who’d want to visit Srinagar - a popular destination at the time. On every visit, I would see the agent earn a sum of money on every airline or railway ticket. That inspired me. After I got married, my wife (Samina) and I got involved in this business. We started with ticketing and till 2001, we were only focusing
Riaz Munshi,
on corporate ticketing. Then, we diversified into outbound travel and there has been no looking back ever since,” says Munshi.
From ticketing to outbound tours to now curating ultra-luxurious itineraries, Munshi has come a long way. “We are trying to position ourselves as a luxury and experiential travel company. Hence, we are making different itineraries for both new and existing destinations. Our itinerary designs are different from what people generally use. Hence, we are currently on the lookout for niche markets,” he shares.
Today, Munshi’s children also work with him at their new office, which resonates with their new business approach. “My children have been working with me for the last couple of years, and changes have come to business because of them only. We realised there was a big gap in the market and decided to offer products that appealed to the emotions of the traveller and showcased the world from a different perspective. While existing itineraries of already popular destinations have been redesigned with more authentic, local experiences, we continue to focus on new and unexplored destinations in our vision to become one of the most innovative travel companies in India. Over the last two years, our guests have gone on incredible safari experiences, gorilla treks, Antarctic expeditions and stayed at intimate and exclusive lodges in Lapland to give a few examples. The feedback has been spectacular. This motivates us to constantly reinvent ourselves,” he adds.
Travelling means different things to him at different times. “When I am going with Samina, I prefer to go on a beach holiday so both of us can relax and spend quality time. With friends, I like to go to places where we can party, like Ibiza or London,” he shares.
Besides travel, Munshi’s other loves are cricket and flying kites, a hobby he picked up in Ahmedabad. He also loves skydiving and adventure sports, making New Zealand one of his favourite destinations. Munshi also religiously works out every day when he is in town. “If I am not travelling, I have to hit the gym for at least an hour in the morning. I have been following this regime for years. This kick-starts my day,” he says.
Another hat that Munshi dons is that of President of Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), and it’s not easy to juggle between office, travel and responsibilities. However, it now comes effortlessly to him.
“For the initial few months, I was stressed because I had been travelling a lot and simultaneously, I had to manage the affairs of OTOAI. Now, I am getting used to it and easing into the rhythm, because I have started enjoying it,” he adds.
(Through the column, Guldeep Singh Sahni highlights the lives of trade partners, beyond business.)