Her social media is always buzzing with posts that clearly indicates 3 things about her – her love for Travel, her passion for Cooking good food and her affection for her sonny boy. Karishma Kazi, Managing Partner, Explora floated her company 5 years back and hasn’t looked back since. Always a people’s person, being a PR was her calling and Representation business her passion. Here’s a brief look into her journey in the travel trade.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
A Mumbai girl who always believed in living life on her own terms, Karishma loved to travel since forever and knew that ultimately it would be the travel industry only that would be her calling. Thus, even while she was working with the Reliance Group as their HR Head, the idea of forming her own company was a secret passion she nurtured, waiting for the right time to make it happen. A graduate in Arts with specialisation in Sociology as my main subject, Karishma entered this beautiful industry joining her father and brother’s company and in the beginning, used to handle all women Group Departures and B2B sales for long haul destinations. Explora today is a boutique Travel Representation company having a bouquet of luxury hotels & resorts along with experiential DMC partners, being led by Karishma Bijlani Kazi and Sunny Katara.
So, did she feel that the travel trade in India was a conducive place for women entrepreneurs? “Yes personally I feel that our industry is a perfect conducive place for a woman entrepreneur. A lady can just do perfect justice through her aggressive promotional skills to promote nice travel through a perfect blend on social media platforms,” she explains.
Was managing work and home front together, tough? “Absolutely not! I balance my professional and personal life very well. My husband takes full charge and has been my strongest support when I am busy travelling for work or have to explore new products and destinations. It’s all about time management, I work for 8 hours dedicatedly, spend time with my family, never miss having fun with my 2 Labradors and still find time to do chores that I love, such as cooking!,” adds the enthusiastic lass.
So what message would she like to out to the women in the travel trade? “Over the period of years I have noticed that our industry is well connected, they share contacts to help each other on files etc., but I truly feel and even recommend that there should be a women’s travel association to discuss about travel, health and women related issues – pertaining to the travel industry,” she elaborates, adding, “My mantra in life is – when it rains, it pours – we know, but soon, the sun shines again. Stay positive. Better days are on their way. If we all are positive, we will surely see opportunities instead of obstacles.”
- Which is your favourite Travel destination in India?
My personal favourite remains Puducherry! It’s so so colonial!!!
- What is the one change you would like to see in the Travel Trade Industry?
To be positive even during challenging times – Coronavirus is the best example here.
