Leading from the fore

Category : Best Business Travel Operator
Winner : Carlson Wagonlit (Ind Travels)

Praveen Gandhi, CEO, Carlson Wagonlit (Ind Travels)

We are honoured and truly privileged to be conferred with the title of Best Business Travel Operator. At the very outset, I would like to say that we wouldn't have made it without all the partners in the game, including our shareholders and customers.

The mantra has been very simple; it's no rocket science really. You have to identify your focus areas and try to build on them in such a way that the customer receives the best end-product. We at Carlson Wagonlit Travel have studied the market and tried to understand the needs and expectations of the people we serve.

Travel is a dynamic market - there is evolution and innovation happening every day, and as if to complete the cycle, customer expectations keep on changing as well. Our products need to be in tune with the changing times and I think that is where our strength lies. We have evolved with time and created a niche for ourselves. Last year (2006-07), we recorded a turnover of Rs 1.16 crore - a figure I am proud to say that no other company has attained. It makes us even more committed to attain the goals we have set for ourselves. We are looking at a turnover of Rs 1,250 crore in the coming year 2008-09.

We don't plan to do anything differently just because we have won the award; we will follow the same strategy of delivering the very best customer product and hope that it is well received. The award we have received today is a testament to the fact that we have been moving in the right direction. We need to now look forward into the future and assure our customers that the best is yet to come.