Three Years of Avanti Holidays: What the Journey Has Taught Me
Today, Avanti Holidays (OPC) Private Limited completes three years.
When I started this journey way back in the year 1999, I don't think I fully understood what it meant to be a travel entrepreneur. I knew I loved travel, wildlife, birds, exploring new places, and helping others experience the joy of discovery. What I didn't know was how much this journey would teach me about people, resilience, trust, disappointment, gratitude, and myself.
My journey began with birding and wildlife tours, something that remains very close to my heart even today through IT Nature Club, which continues to be an integral part of Avanti Holidays.
Then came COVID.
Like many in the travel industry, I watched bookings vanish, tours get cancelled, and years of effort come to a sudden stop. There were financial losses, sleepless nights, and moments when I wondered what lay ahead. Survival meant adapting. Slowly, I expanded beyond wildlife tours into flights, hotels, cruises, holidays, cultural tours, and customized travel experiences.
Looking back, I realise that travel is probably one of the few professions where people see only the final outcome.
They see the beautiful safari.
The luxurious hotel.
The dream holiday.
The happy photographs.
What they don't see are the hundreds of calls, endless coordination, last-minute changes, delayed flights, supplier issues, visa concerns, missing confirmations, and emergencies that happen behind the scenes.
They don't see the travel agent standing between airlines, hotels, transport providers, local operators, cruise companies, and travellers, constantly trying to make everything work seamlessly.
And despite our best efforts, things don't always go according to plan.
Over these three years, I've learnt to distinguish between people who are genuinely interested in travelling, those who are simply gathering information, and those who are looking for complimentary experiences while offering little in return.
I've learnt that trust is earned slowly and can be lost quickly.
I've learnt that some travellers become clients.
Some clients become friends.
And a few friends become family.
I've also learnt that challenges don't always come from where you expect them to.
There have been occasions when trusted associates on the ground, people who had delivered excellent service time and again, suddenly disappeared midway through operations or failed to honour commitments. Those are the moments nobody sees.
The traveller only sees the holiday.
The travel agent sees the crisis.
But that is our job.
To solve problems quietly and ensure the traveller continues creating memories.
If there is one thing that has become harder in today's world, it is dealing with instant judgement. Social media can be wonderful, but it can also become a weapon. Most travellers understand that travel involves many moving parts and appreciate genuine efforts to resolve unexpected problems. Others don't.
A single online comment can sometimes cause more damage than years of goodwill can repair.
Yet those experiences have taught me resilience.
Another lesson I've learnt is that being small is not necessarily a disadvantage.
Over the years, there have been travellers who happily booked through Avanti Holidays, appreciated the personalised service, trusted me repeatedly with their travel plans, yet hesitated to mention that their holiday had been arranged by a small company.
Perhaps a large brand sounds more impressive.
Earlier, that bothered me.
Today, it doesn't.
Because I know how much heart goes into every booking I handle.
I know that every itinerary carries my personal commitment, and every traveller who chooses Avanti Holidays places their trust directly in me.
And that means everything.
As I look back on these three years, gratitude is the overwhelming emotion I feel.
I am grateful to every traveller who trusted me.
Every partner who supported me.
Every person who recommended my services.
Every challenge that forced me to learn.
Every mistake that made me better.
Every disappointment that made me stronger.
Most importantly, I am grateful to the people who believed in me.
A special thank you to Subir, whose unwavering faith, encouragement, patience, and support carried me through some very difficult moments. There were times when I doubted myself, but your belief never wavered.
To my genuine friends and family, thank you for standing by me when things were uncertain, difficult, or simply overwhelming.
And then there is someone who deserves more thanks than words can adequately express.
My daughter.
Building a travel business often meant being away from home. It meant early mornings, late nights, emergency calls, and frequent travel. There were times when work took me away for days, and she had to accept those absences with far more maturity than any parent would hope their child needs to have.
For her patience, understanding, and love, I will always be grateful.
I am equally thankful to my neighbours, who long ago stopped being just neighbours and became family.
During my travels, they looked out for my daughter, spent time with her, cared for her, and gave her companionship when I could not be physically present. The peace of mind they gave me cannot be measured. Their kindness helped make this journey possible in ways they may never fully realise.
No one builds anything alone.
Behind every entrepreneur is a circle of people who quietly help hold things together.
This anniversary belongs to them as much as it does to me.
One thing that has remained unchanged from the beginning is my belief in giving back. Whether as a proprietorship or now as a private limited company, I've always believed that a portion of what we earn should be used to support causes close to our hearts.
Because success means very little if it doesn't help someone else along the way.
All these years later, I am still learning.
Still growing.
Still solving problems.
Still making mistakes.
Still dreaming.
And still deeply passionate about travel.
To everyone who has been part of this journey, whether for a day or for years, thank you.
You have all been part of my learning journey.
And for that, I will always be grateful.
With love and gratitude,
Geetanjali Dhar Founder & Director Avanti Holidays (OPC) Pvt Ltd IT Nature Club
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