Travelers look for convenience all the time. While researching traveling convenience, we came across Luxurybookings.ae. To learn more about this lifestyle luxury travel agency, we interviewed Abdul Rashid, the Founder & Managing Director of the company.
He is a dedicated entrepreneur who is using his extensive experience in the hospitality industry to bring growth to Luxurybookings.ae. The agency also has a social media presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.
Our interview below lets us learn more about Abdul Rashid and his agency.
Explain the background of you and the company in detail.
My name is Abdul Rashid, and I am from Karachi. After completing my Intermedia Education at Premier College Karachi, I went to the UK for higher Education and completed my Hospitality Degree from the University of Wales, England, UK.
I did several internships and part-time jobs at different hotels during my university time in the UK. My first job was at Marriott London Heathrow Hotel as a receptionist, and this job gave me a boost, and my interest in the hospitality industry took a whole new level. I used to enjoy meeting high-profile personalities from across the world from multiple countries, cities, and backgrounds.
After studying in the UK, I came to Dubai to seek better opportunities and got a Managerial position at Dubai Media City Hotel. I worked in 4-5 hotels before I started Luxurybookings.ae in January 2022.
Being a hotelier and travel expert, the best business option I saw fit was owning a travel agency to fulfill travelers’ requirements and make their life easy.
We are based in Dubai, Al Barsha 1, just next to the Mall of Emirates. Our main products and services are Hotels Accommodation Bookings, All UAE Excursions Booking Services, Luxury Yacht & Car Rentals, and Meeting & Events services.
What are your goals?
My main goal is to make Luxurybookings.ae UAE’s No 1 Luxury Travel and Concierge company where all domestic and international travelers can book all they need under one umbrella.
What do you feel is the biggest strength of yourself/company right now?
Our main strength right now is that we provide all-in-one travel services in a single platform. If travelers are planning to come to Dubai, they don’t have to check multiple websites for different travel-related services. Instead, they will get it all in a single platform i.e., Luxurybookings. ae. This can make their travel planning seamless and convenient. From flight booking, hotel, and airport pickup to all UAE excursions, car rental, meetings, and events, we are a one-of-a-kind company in the UAE, providing all travel solutions via a single point of contact.
What was the path you/your company took to get to where you are today?
For me, it was difficult to leave the job and start a business and jump into the big market where many big giants of the travel industry are already established and working for a long time. However, I took the hard decision, and thanks to God, we are achieving our monthly targets and moving forward towards our yearly goal and achievement.
Why did you start (or want to be the head of) this company?
After staying In UAE for 7 Years, getting valuable experience, learning from travel leaders, and attending different event exhibitions, seminars, and workshops, gave me confidence. It was a boost for me to start a new business and take big risks to do something out of the box, and Alhamdullilah, God gave me strength, made my journey easy step-by-step, and still progressed towards our goal.
What have been the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For me, the biggest challenge was to leave the job and start everything from scratch after working as a professional in different hotels in the UK and UAE. It was not an easy decision for me to start a business, but Alhamdullilah, all went well with God’s help and support.
Give us one word that describes you the best.
Risk Taker
What makes you excited about Mondays?
Monday has always been a very good, energetic, and positive day for me, with new clients, new meetings, and new motivations.
What do you value most about your culture and vision?
Respect is the most touching part of every culture and to achieve the professional vision. I value respect, whether it is respect for different cultures, norms, values, or religions. Respect leads everyone to safely feel equal in this world.
Tell us about a project that forced you to be innovative and creative.
LuxuryBookings.ae is one of the projects which pushed me to be innovative, creative, and competitive in the global market. It is a one-stop solution for your luxury trip in the UAE. You name it, and we provide it. You can book luxury accommodation, luxury cars & yachts, luxury UAE excursions, or meetings and events halls through one website.
What are your company’s strategies, and how do they stand unique from your competitors?
Luxurybookings.ae provides unique customer service to our client, like a personalized service via WhatsApp 24/7, where we make sure the client is very comfortable and easy to reach us anytime 24/7. We are not a traditional Travel Industry which works Monday to Friday, 9 to 6 PM. This is the thing that makes us unique, and our clients love our super quick response 24/7. As a traveler, everyone wants to get their answers, queries, and issues resolved without waiting time.
What are the key values which helped you to overcome the roadblocks/challenges in your career? Tell us something about your memorable incident in your leadership.
In a problematic or haphazard world, I love to be solution-oriented. I don’t find any problem which doesn’t have any solution. And such a solution makes me feel calm about the way forward. This practice keeps me going to achieve the best.
How do you see the company changing in two years, and how do you see yourself creating that change?
I plan to start working outbound in the next two years after we are strong enough in the UAE market. We have many new hirings in the pipeline for next year’s projects.
Where is your leadership going? What benefits do your clients get from your company in this competitive world?
Inclusivity is the most important part of practicing leadership. I handle my clients with inclusiveness. I pay full attention to their problems, requirements, and goals to give them the best possible and most efficient solution. This practice goes from top to bottom and helps my subordinates to proceed with the same practice. So, for the whole team and me. Inclusivity is the most important leadership practice.
What are your company’s services/solutions or products per the current industry standards? Tell us something about your upcoming products or services.
Currently, we are focussing on the UAE market and providing all Hotel Bookings, UAE Excursions Meetings, Events, Luxury Yacht, and Car Rentals.
Our upcoming products will be Outbound Packages for Travellers who are planning to visit Europe. Middle East Countries as tourists looking for the best available packages from UAE with the best available options under one umbrella. All solutions will be available for UAE Travellers.
Connect with Abdul Rashid on LinkedIn.