Himanshu Laul: The Success Story of a Self-Made Entrepreneur
The business world is not straightforward. Even when you have one of the most brilliant and unique ideas, there is no guarantee of a smooth journey. This is why most people take the safe route and go for a regular corporate job after graduation. But there is a group of people who consider taking risks worth it. They are ready to face struggles and challenges to make a mark in the world of business. This article is about Himanshu Laul, whose success story resonates with this idea.
Who is Himanshu Laul?
Himanshu Laul has been the managing director of Rayna Tours, a Dubai-based destination management company, since October 2022. However, Himanshu’s journey as an entrepreneur started long ago, in 2012. He was born and brought up in India’s capital, Delhi, where he completed his schooling. Later, he went on to do his Bachelor of Architecture from IIT(Indian Institute of Technology), Roorkee.
Ambitious Beginnings
Unlike others in his batch, Himanshu did not take up a job after graduating as an architect. He always dreamed of starting his venture and wanted to dive deep into it without much ado. The chance came in 2012, a year after his graduation when he and his friends, came up with the idea of starting an art café. The inspiration was a friend’s mother, whose cooking skills were a hit in his group. Himanshu and his friends wanted her cooking skills, flavors, and dishes to reach everyone in the community, leading to the opening of Kuzart Lane, a quaint art café in Delhi.
Kuzart Lane was not just known for its delicious and healthy food options but also for its décor, ambiance, and vibe. But the success of the café did not come without struggle. Himanshu says, “I was passionate about the business, but there was a lack of skills and expertise. However, the entire experience was a huge life lesson.”
First Innings with Rayna Tours
Himanshu Laul joined Rayna Tours as the director of business development in 2020, right when the world was on the brink of a lockdown. The company’s plan to expand to London was put on hold, and the entire business was paused for an indefinite period. “It was a grave time for the company, as travel was the most affected sector. But we knew we had to do something to stay relevant in the market”.
Himanshu, along with Rayna Tours’ founder, Manoj Tulsani, and its Executive Chairman, Yasser Noman, put their efforts into enhancing brand recognition. Himanshu particularly worked on improving Rayna’s marketing and branding strategies. His first step was to focus on organic marketing. Himanshu believes that aggressive marketing strategies like getting paid ads are impractical. They can bring short-term success in the form of leads but are likely to fail in the long term. Instead, Rayna Tours focused on organically building brand awareness.
With strategies like social media engagement, the company could reach a wider audience, which not only generated more leads but also higher conversions. “Our strategies did not provide quick results. But we were able to build a solid connection with our customers. By being directly accessible to them through different social media channels, we were able to gain their trust.”
Another thing that helped Rayna Tours form a good customer relationship was by providing them with the best customer service. Rayna Tours has all the essential resources to make a tour successful, so the need for a third party is minimal. This way, the company has complete control over providing the best experience to its customers, thus boosting customer satisfaction.
Becoming Managing Director: Looking into the Future
After his successful stint as Director of Business Development, Himanshu Laul took over the role of Managing Director of Rayna Tours in 2022.Currently, his main responsibilities are prioritizing, developing, and executing the company’s core strategies. He is also responsible for ensuring that the company is working in the right direction to achieve its goals.
Himanshu is also excited about the future projects of Rayna Tours, some of which have already begun. “Rayna Tours has earned its name in the tourism field, and we have branches in several countries around the world, including the UAE, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. We also have plans to open new branches in several other countries in the future,” says Himanshu. Apart from spreading wings in the tourism sector, Rayna is all set to begin other ventures. The company has already set foot in real estate and cruise holidays and plans to enter construction, transport, and digital
marketing.
Words of Wisdom
Himanshu Laul’s journey in the business world is nothing less than inspiring.He is a true example of the fact that one can achieve anything if one is passionate, hardworking, and determined to make it work. He advises those who want to become entrepreneurs not to wait for the right because there is no right time according to him. Business is laden with risks, competitions, and challenges; one must them head-on.He believes that while it is easy to put a new idea into action, it needs single-minded dedication to ensure its success.
