In 2006, Rayna Tours began as a small counter in the Flora Grand Hotel in Dubai, with a simple promise: provide travelers with transparent prices, honest advice, and tours tailored to their interests. The vision came from Manoj Tulsani, who left a marketing career to enter tourism with no prior industry experience. His determination to build a transparent, customer-first company laid the foundation for Rayna Tours and Travels. There was no deep industry playbook, just long days, a lot of listening, and the practice of explaining every inclusion and exclusion before a guest pulled out a card. Word blazed through hotel corridors faster than any ad.
Within two years, that single desk had evolved into a 15-outlet network in top properties, each staffed with trained professionals dedicated to asking the right questions and resolving real, on-the-ground challenges for tourists. That early muscle memory still defines how the company operates with clear promises and correct executions.
The Spark: Trust, Clarity, and Grit
The tourism scene in Dubai at that time was crowded, competitive, and often overwhelming for newcomers. Rayna Tours decided to compete on the fundamentals: transparency, timely operations, and guides who could read a room. Pricing wasn’t really a mystery. Itineraries were custom-made for individuals, not reused. If a family with kids wanted a little less activity in the desert and more time at the pool, which was part of the plan, too. And if a solo traveler wanted culture first and nightlife later, that’s just how the day went.
It wasn’t the flashiest of strategies, but it was lasting. There were fewer complaints and more grateful guests, which led to more referrals from them. The vendors saw the constant volume and began to pay attention to the team. That flywheel spun fast because it was moored in trust.
Scaling Up Without Losing the Human Touch
Once the business grew beyond just desks, a more important question arose: how do you ensure quality when several third parties control the main or core experiences? The solution was to hold more of the chain.
Strategic Investments
Rayna constructed its own desert camps, has a dedicated transport fleet, and brought cruise operations in-house. The ownership of the infrastructure also came with control over safety checks, meal standards, guide training, vehicle maintenance, and scheduling. It also meant the team could prototype new experiences, phase out weak ones, and address problems without waiting for someone else’s availability.
Results for Travelers
The difference was felt where it counted, among the guests. Pickups arrived on time. The safari camps were clean, brightly lit, and well-kept. Food matched what was promised. City tours didn’t hurry you through photo stops; instead, people were given ample time to wander. Since no middlemen were taking a cut, again,Dubai packages became more competitive without cutting corners. That reliability became word of mouth, and first-time guests became repeat customers, and many hotels eventually named Rayna Tours as a preferred partner for their guests.
Going Digital Before Everyone Else
As bookings shifted online, the team quickly adopted technology. Rayna’s official website brought flights, hotels, activities, and visa support all under one roof, allowing travelers to plan a trip without toggling between tabs. The B2B portal provided its agents near-real-time inventory, immediate confirmations, and easy payment flows that worked perfectly. Over time, it expanded into a platform that thousands of partners used to list tens of thousands of activities across multiple cities and connect to hundreds of thousands of hotel options.
The true advantage was not about numbers, but about steadiness. Travel partners could confidently quote prices because they knew that the availability information was accurate. Customers had options regarding how they wanted to pay, and the system immediately verified bookings. For the operations team, it meant less surprise. They could see how many vehicles, guides, and meals were required each day and plan accordingly.
The platform also provided means of promoting new ideas. If travelers expressed interest in a balloon flight, a dune buggy trip, or an evening cruise, these could be added easily. If something didn’t work, it could be easily removed, and a preferred experience could be added. This gave the company freedom to experiment without too much risk.
Beyond Sightseeing: Adventure, MICE, And Real-World Impact
Expanding Experiences for Every Traveler
Diversification came from keeping a close watch on traveler behavior. Some groups sought traditional city tours and cultural heritage activities. The rest chased adrenaline or quiet luxury. Rayna created a blend that covered both extremes. Balloon flights took guests over the desert at sunrise, accompanied by falcon displays and an exotic local breakfast. Paramotoring was thrilling enough for the thrill-seekers who preferred a safety briefing and a certified pilot. At sea, the cruise experience transformed evenings into effortless victories for families and couples who wanted a luxurious experience without the price shock.
Delivering for Corporations and Complex Itineraries
Corporate customers required something unique entirely. MICE work involved creating incentive trips, conferences, and off-site experiences that resonated with the culture and goals of the team. The operations discipline that they created in the consumer business has translated well here with precise manifests, a schedule that sticks, and contingencies for windy mornings or sudden rain. The brand earned a reputation for doing complicated itineraries smoothly because it had already taught itself to do the basics properly every single day from the beginning.
Resilience Through the Pandemic
Then came the pandemic. Global travel collapsed. Many companies went bankrupt. However, Rayna Tours retained employees, instituted flexible booking policies, and stuck around for guests who valued clarity over a pitch to buy, not the other way around. The team spent the downtime sharpening products, refreshing training, and bringing new experiences to life, so that when borders reopened, travelers found something fresh on the other side.
That resilience was important internally at the company and outside in the market. When travel demand roared back, Rayna was ready with upgraded desert camps, a brand-new cruise operation, and a widespread menu of day trips. Recognition flowed, but the truest reward came in five-star reviews and repeat bookings from families, honeymooners, and groups finally reuniting after years apart.
What Comes Next: Momentum with Purpose
Today, Manoj Tulsani remains at the helm as CEO and co-founder, supported by a seasoned leadership team: Yasser Noman as Executive Chairman, Himanshu Laul as Managing Director, and Senthil Velan as CEO. Together, they continue to expand Rayna’s reach while refining its customer promise. Corporate groups combine work with mindful breaks like sunrise rides or cultural workshops. Delivering something that feels simple at scale takes owned assets, disciplined operations, and mature tech. That’s what lets Rayna Tours deliver consistently and earn lasting trust with every journey.
