VISHWAS MAKHIJA – PRESIDENT          

Vishwas is an achiever in the true sense. At a time, when people in India were not even aware of Tourism as a career, he was well on the way to trekking through the Himalayas – his first love during the late 1980s.

From a modest career starting as a Trekking Camp Assistant at a young age of 18, trapezing through India as a whole, to being the owner of Luxury India Holidays, he has come a long way in a span of 34 years.

The journey itself has been quite fascinating. His first steps towards entrepreneurship were in 1996 when he set up his first company – India Insight Tours as One of India's Premier Adventure Travel Companies. Since then, there has been no looking back for him. Vishwas travelled the globe over the next decade setting up collaborations & partnerships with like-minded Travel companies. His open- minded honest approach to business won him great appreciations and admirations and people from around the world embraced him.

Vishwas, always followed the principal of doing B2B model in his business despite various challenges he faced and the boom of Dotcoms and other online business globally… He kept his loyalty towards his business partners, and they did the same.

Soon after in 2004, he set up his second company Luxury India Holidays, for the discreet high end special traveller as he saw an opportunity and a Gap in the market then. Over the last 19 years Luxury India Holidays has become a global Brand for the Indian Subcontinent in executing perfectly Tailored Customized Holidays for some of the worlds special privileged people. Vishwas vision was clear, and he saw it back then how the special traveller's interest and demand would grow many folds over the coming years.

Also, with an active experience in the Himalayas from 1987 till 1996, he developed a separate portal for adventure tourism by the name of India Adventure under the umbrella of India Insight Tours. Vishwas has held the post of Vice - President of American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) – India Chapter in the past.

Vishwas has also had the privilege of serving the Indian Tourism fraternity in various roles. He is the current Immediate Past President of Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (National Tourism Body).

He is also a Board member of National Tourism Advisory Council set up by Ministry of Tourism Government of India.

He is also currently the India Ambassador for Adventure Travel Trade Association, One of World's Leading Adventure Travel Association with a Worldwide membership of over 1700 people. Vishwas constantly involves himself with sustainability aspects of tourism, upliftment of local communities, creating livelihoods for local women and is a torch bearer for movement against Single use plastic in the travel business.

Other than travel, Soccer is another passion Vishwas has. So much so that he is the President of The Football Club Barcelona, India Chapter. He loves to cook as well. He can whip up some amazing Lamb curry or shrimp curry. His friends all over can vouch for his exceptional cooking skills. Vishwas is a people's person. Quite popular among business partners, friends, and his working team. Vishwas believes in living life to the fullest. Synonym to his name (Vishwas which means Trust), he firmly believes in putting faith in people and life. And his faith is reflected in this decision to open 03 overseas Sales & marketing offices for Luxury India Holidays through his friends – in USA, Europe & Russia for B2B working.

Post pandemic in the spring of 2022 he decided to shift his home to the beautiful Kullu Valley of the Himalayas along with his Father. He lives there now and enjoys his time partly working, walking, hiking and just being in mother nature & doing his driving trips across the Himalayan valleys. He is fully involved in business & keeps a close eye on all aspects.

His Loyal team which he is so proud of followed him to the Himalayas and they have just finished setting up a full-fledged office of Luxury India Holidays in the Kullu valley affective 01 st June 2023 Vishwas continues to share his stories, his experiences with everyone around and continues his quest in uplifting everyone around him and marching forward with them.

PRERNA PRADHAN – DIRECTOR, PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT   

Prerna is a born leader and a go getter. She has inherent leadership and management qualities. Born and brought in Jammu city in the northern part of India, known for its diversity & deep cultural ties.

She completed her schooling from the prestigious St. Mary's Presentation Convent School followed by bachelor's degree in science from Jammu University. This gave her a solid foundation to look ahead.

Being from the State of Jammu & Kashmir which has thrived on Tourism over the last several decades, she decided to pursue her master's degree in Tourism Management and was the topper of her batch. While doing her master's she firmed up her thoughts of making a mark for herself in the Tourism Industry.

Prerna got selected during the campus interview and joined Luxury India Holidays in the year 2007. She never looked back from then onwards and has come a long way over the last 16 years. She quickly learnt about the work of all major departments and with her hard work, intelligence and will power, she became a team leader in a short span. She was programmed to lead from the front. She continued to show results with her meticulous work and great leadership skills and became Manager – Sales & Operations Department in 2009. This was quite an achievement for her in a short span.

During her earlier years at Luxury India Holidays, she got to travel across India to enhance her knowledge of various destinations and products. She has great communication skills and her special abilities to find solutions in the most challenging moments have always won her applauds from not only her colleagues at the company but from overseas partners as well.

Prerna took a sabbatical from work to her raise her daughter in the early years and joined back the company again in 2018. She now takes care of the Presales Department and heads the Product Development for the company. Her commitment to crafting journeys that inspire, captivate, and exceed expectations continue to leave an indelible mark among the clients. She is very popular with our partners around the world, as currently she is the oldest serving employee of the company.

Prerna tries to maintain a good balance between professional and family life. Her family is her biggest strength and keeps her going. She is an excellent home chef, loves Bollywood movies and music and is a dancing star!

STANZIN OTSAL – MANAGER, OPERATIONS

Stanzin hails from one of the most beautiful places in India – Ladakh, The land of the Moonscape.   Born & Raised in the picturesque Nubra Valley, she has been away from her home town ever since she finished High school.  She completed her education in Chandigarh, the planned city of North India, and then from Jammu   “the summer capital of J&K state” .Ever since she was a child, Stanzin had been intrigued by the growing number of people who started visiting Ladakh, high up in the mountains. She would see more and more people coming into her hometown, as she grew older and tourism to Leh and the surrounding monasteries increased.  This keen interest led her to choose Tourism as her subjects of masters at University.

At an on campus interview, she was selected among many of her batch mates to come and work for Luxury India Holidays.  She has been associated with us ever since.  Stanzin is one of the core members of the Luxury India Holidays team and is responsible for Groups & FIT Operations.  Although she seems petite, her resolution is pure steel. Her intrigue is ever present and she puts it to good use, working in the Pre Sales Team, designing new programs and special interest, theme programs especially for groups... During her journey with us, Stanzin has accumulated a lot of knowledge about India, and has travelled extensively all over the country, gaining product knowledge as well as firsthand experience to a very good extend...

Stanzin along with her capable team, looks after the Entire operations for both Luxury India Holidays as well as India Insight Tours. Her endeavor and Motto is to deliver the best attentions to the guests, right from the time a guest comes up with a thought to travel to India through us, till the time we bid them farewell, she is wholly dedicated to giving the most memorable experience of their holidays and customizes it to the core to suit the travel needs of the guests.

She strives for perfection and gets there....always.

YOGRAJ – MANAGER, ADVENTURE TOURS   

With a heart as vast as the majestic Himalayas, Yog Raj is the embodiment of adventure and exploration. Born amidst the awe-inspiring peaks of Himachal Pradesh, he carries the spirit of the mountains in his very soul. Trekking and mountaineering run through his veins, as natural to him as the air he breathes. As soon as he entered his teens, Yog Raj embarked on his maiden trek and embraced the call of the mountains. His journeys forged an extraordinary path that shaped him into an exceptional leader.

 

Yograj's journey to becoming a great mountaineer span over 15 years of remarkable exploration in the Indian Himalayas. Yog Raj's qualifications as a Mountaineering Guide and seven-year tenure as a respected Mountaineering Instructor confirm his profound knowledge and abilities. He embarked on renowned routes, conquering challenging terrains like the Alpine Trek, including Pin Parvati, Pin Bhaba, Hamta circle & Hamta Pass, Beas Kund Trek, Bhrigu Lake Trek, Chika Debo Tibba Base trek, Chandra Taal, Baralacha la, and the mysterious Malana Route. Venturing into Zanskar and Ladakh, he unraveled the secrets of these mystical lands. With his mountaineering prowess, Yograj scaled peaks such as Friendship Peak, Pha Konda Peak, Shetidhar Peak, and Stok Kangri.

 

In 2010, Yograj joined Luxury India Holidays, where his wealth of knowledge has been an invaluable asset to his team and clients. His personal experiences and encounters in the mountains have fortified him with a deep reservoir of wisdom and insight. Ever the storyteller, he graciously shares his captivating tales with the pack. 

 

Whether it's summiting towering peaks, immersing in the serenity of alpine lakes, or embarking on transformative treks, Yog Raj's infectious enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail ensure that each adventure is an unforgettable journey of discovery. As our adventure expert, Yograj leads the entire department, seamlessly orchestrating every aspect from the moment a query arises, to meticulously planning itineraries, calculating costs, curating magical experiences in the outdoors, and executing flawless operations in the field.

 

With him as our compass, we invite you to embrace the magic of the mountains and create memories that will last a lifetime.

SUNIL KUMAR – MANAGER, PRE SALES

Sunil was born and raised up in the picturesque valleys of lower Himalayas in the State of Himachal Pradesh, in the northern Himalayan region of India.

He comes from a very simple - humble farming family where one was taught all essentials of hard work, integrity & with a basic principle of less is more. Sunil was always ambitious and wanted to lend a helping hand to his family by moving away from the farming work and find a new path to walk on.

Sunil has a Degree in Commerce. However, his instincts and some of his close friends somehow lured him into taking up tourism related course post his Graduation. Sunil now says that was the best decision that he took in his life.

As luck knocked at his door, Sunil got campus placement with Luxury India Holidays in the year 2011 & thus began his professional career.

Starting from a Trainee Executive in operations, he soon showed his inclination and deep interest in itinerary planning which caught the attention of his seniors.

The company further invested in him by ensuring that he travelled extensively around India, Nepal thereby further increasing his knowledge about the various destinations & products. Sunil has been a quick learner, and this gave him an edge over others in the company.

After a period, Sunil was moved to Sales Department at Luxury India Holidays bringing with him a fresh approach to Itinerary planning and execution. His strong forte has been Wildlife Tours – especially the Tiger Reserves in India and Nepal. Kanha and Bandhavgarh in the heart of Central India remain his strongest favourite destinations.

Within a short span of time, Sunil started showing his dedication, and active involvement as a Team leader and over the years with his hard work, loyalty and dedication was rewarded to head the important Pre-Sales Department at the company.

Sunil now has a dedicated team under him who meticulously plan customized private trips for some of the most affluent travellers from around the world. Sunil is loved by our partners for his detailed work, attention to details and prompt replies. Due to his sheer consistent focussed work over the last decade, Sunil now is part of the core management team of Luxury India Holidays

Sunil is as well blessed with a lovely wife & two little daughters who are his world.

SAVINE POU – ASSISTANT MANAGER, OPERATIONS

Savine was born and raised in the state of Nagaland which lies in the North-East part of India. She comes from Poumai tribe who have origins from Myanmar bordering India.

She had very humble beginnings living with her parents on a farm as a child and as she grew into her teens the family moved to live around Dimapur where she did her schooling. Since her childhood she grew to be a survivor and was always a great learner of her surroundings.

She carries a great knowledge of plants including medicinal plants – Herbs, fruits etc., since working on the farm with her mother growing fruits, vegetables, and rearing animals from her childhood. She could easily pass as a Botanist.

Being the eldest of the 5 siblings, she always had a task at hand, and she set off on her journey at an early age to make a mark & chase her dreams.

She was the first in her family to leave home and move to Bangalore in South India to Study Tourism & Economics & earning a bachelor's degree there.

Tourism as a career prospective somehow creeped into her in Bangalore days and she ended up doing a master's in business administration (MBA) in Travel & Tourism Management from the prestigious, IITTM Gwalior.

Savine joined Luxury India Holidays in 2017 as a first job and since then has not looked back, her sheer hard work, honesty and ever smiling approach to toughest of situations. She is very popular among her colleagues and totally a Team Manager quality. She is adored by all the clients she interacts with and is loved by our partners around the world for her professional approach and work. Savine has great communications skills and clients love her soft voice and her eye for attention to details. She is a total professional and her dedication to work is unmatched.

She has worked her way up in the company over the last 6 years and is a key person handling the Operations department. She is a great asset to the company and still has a long way to go.

In ideal time, she loves to walk, is a great music lover and her favorite past time is trying different cuisines and fruits.

SUKRITI MAKHIJA – DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Sukriti Makhija has spent a huge part of her childhood travelling to different countries around the world. She often mentions that the first time she sat in an airplane was as a toddler.

She has had the privilege of walking the streets of Europe / North America & exploring the African Continent and so many more as a child & later into her teens. The people she met and the different cultures & cuisines that she was exposed to, has contributed so much to her as a person & personality, she has grown up to be and to be able to explore life in various ways.

When she was in high school, she wanted to be a photographer, as she wanted to capture the beautiful sights she grew up with and share them with the world, but as she grew up more & because of her interest in the world's Geo Politics, she became more interested in the political and sociological aspects of other countries and chose to study Political Science at the University and earned a Bachelor's degree from Delhi University.

However, after exploring some options and working in fields such as art and media, she realised that the one thing that she could do for a long time and be happy was sitting on an airplane & travel the world. She finally joined the family business at Luxury India Holidays which her father started way back in 2004. Sukriti says most people chose travel to get away from home and explore, but for her, choosing to work in the travel industry is a lot like coming home as she grew up with exploring India and rest of the world. She is ready to bring in new ideas, vision to the company & has been currently made responsible for nurturing business partnerships around the world.

TSERING ANGCHOK

Tsering Angchok (popularly known as Achuk), born & raised up in a beautiful place of Ladakh called Nubra Valley situated in the western Himalayas, accessible after crossing the awe-inspiring Khardung La, one of the highest motorable passes in the world (18380 ft). Being born in the mountains, Achuk has always admired his beautiful mother land being surrounded by snow-capped Himalayan ranges and its picturesque and breath-taking views which brought him closer towards the nature and pushed him to get into the tourism field to fulfil his dream. He was able to lay his base in this carrier while working for a well-established tour operator based in Leh city. His hard work and dedication rewarded him with a lot of opportunities which allow him to enrich his field experience in the field. He successfully summited Stok Kangri expedition (Altitude 6123 M) TWENTY-SIX times, Kangytse Peak (Altitude 6400M) SEVEN times and has been involved in numerous other treks and expeditions.

After having worked for almost 8 years in various roles in Adventure Travel, he took over the responsibilities of handling, managing & execution of India Insight Tours (unit of Luxury India Holidays Pvt Ltd) business in the Western Himalayas with his expertise. He is now the Face of the company in the Western Himalayas & more importantly in the Ladakh region including Zanskar. He along with his team is exclusively responsible for our guest and handling all kind of ground services.

Achuk himself leads important clients on various diverse tours across Ladakh & is an avid storyteller, His sense of Humour and calm nature wins him great appreciations from one and all. He and his team never fail to make the clients journey a memorable one fulfilling their expectations.

Achuk is a great asset for the company and all our clients who embark on the journey in the Western Himalayas.

RUSSIA And CIS

Maria Kovaleva - Business Development Manager

Maria Kovaleva has more than 20 years' experience in travel industry. Her career began in a large international travel company specializing in working with business corporation. It gave her experience and understanding of corporate culture and responsible to clients and partners. Maria also has experience in aviation business and her further occupation covered destinations such as Europe, Latin America, Thailand and China. Her knowledge and experience in the luxury segment, undoubtedly, make her successful in work with India, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri-Lanka, Maldives.

Her responsibilities include business development in Russia and CIS and coordination between clients / head office of India on sales issues.

NORTH AMERICA

CESAR BIGGERI – BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Began his career early as a tour operator-booking agent designing the most amazing and sophisticated tours for Latin America. His passion was always in hospitality and after working on the retail travel side, he transitioned to hotels. After a few years as a hotelier, he was welcomed into the Four Seasons family. Cesar worked at Four Seasons Beverly Hills in Corporate Sales looking after the UK and East Coast Entertainment markets and high-end leisure segments. He also specialized in and oversaw the Middle Eastern Royal Families staying at the hotel. Following Four Seasons, Cesar made a transition into Global Sales and worked 10 years for the Jumeirah Group representing their luxury portfolio including Burj Al Arab, the most luxurious hotel in the world.

As Jumeirah’s Global Director of Sales for The Americas, Cesar wore many hats selling Corporate Travel, high-end leisure travel and groups on the US west coast, east coast, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. Year after year, Jumeirah showed impressive growth in revenue and brand awareness.

With 30 years of knowledge and understanding of how each segment works, Cesar possesses impeccable customer service skills and invaluable international experience when it comes to luxury travelers, hotels and services. Cesar’s understanding of various cultures also brings the often-necessary flexibility required to meet and exceed the expectations of his clients and their most discerning travelers.