From Hospitality Job to Travel Startup Success : Journey Of Abhishek Sengupta

  From Hospitality Job to Travel Startup Success : Journey Of Abhishek Sengupta In the world of travel entrepreneurship, few stories are as ...

 

From Hospitality Job to Travel Startup Success : Journey Of Abhishek Sengupta

In the world of travel entrepreneurship, few stories are as inspiring as Abhishek Sengupta’s journey. A former hotelier turned travel entrepreneur, Abhishek is the founder of OnzeVoyagez HotelTravelia Pvt Ltd, a growing travel company that helps people explore the world with ease, trust, and personal care. His mission is simple: to make travel planning stress-free, reliable, and customized for every traveler.

The Spark That Started It All

Abhishek was born into a humble family where government jobs and stability were the norm. But deep inside, he was always curious, always exploring ideas beyond the ordinary. His career began in the hospitality industry after he graduated from the prestigious Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Kolkata. He started in the front office of top hotels, learning how to serve guests and solve problems with a smile.

Soon, he discovered his real strength in hotel sales. He began managing room bookings, events, and building strong networks. These years helped him understand what people want when they travel: comfort, trust, and smooth experiences. He met celebrities, top business leaders, and thousands of travelers, learning from each interaction.

The Big Decision: Leaving Comfort for Challenge

Even with a successful hotel career, Abhishek felt something was missing. He wanted to build something of his own. Something that carried his name, his values, and his ideas. He left his steady job to start a travel business. Many thought he was making a mistake. But Abhishek had a clear plan.

He launched hoteltravelia.com, an online travel portal. But the business didn’t do well. It failed to compete with bigger online travel companies. Instead of quitting, Abhishek chose to pivot. He turned the online portal into a brick-and-mortar travel company. He used his old hotel contacts and industry experience to get clients.

Building Back: One Trip at a Time

With this change, Abhishek's journey truly began. He focused on offline bookings—planning travel for clients personally, not just online. His personal touch and trustworthy service brought clients back again and again. Slowly, his brand HotelTravelia started to grow.

He found his first niche in leisure travel—planning holidays for families, couples, and friend groups. This helped him build a unique identity in a crowded market. He added new travel services like group tours, corporate travel, fixed departures, and incentive tours.

Innovation, Strategy, and Going Digital

Abhishek knew he needed to keep improving. He redesigned the website, added social media marketing, and created e-books and travel guides. He shared useful content like visa tips and destination information. This brought in new audiences from India and abroad.

He officially registered the company as OnzeVoyagez HotelTravelia Pvt Ltd in 2018. He also secured the HotelTravelia trademark to protect the brand. With a solid foundation and structured company, he expanded services across India and internationally.

Surviving the Pandemic: Innovation in a Crisis

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the travel industry. Flights were cancelled. Borders were closed. Most travel companies suffered heavy losses. But Abhishek didn’t stop. He added a travel advisory and consulting vertical, helping people with travel rules, border updates, and virtual support.

This kept the company connected to its clients during lockdowns. When travel slowly returned, his clients came back—stronger and more loyal.

The Author and Mentor Behind the Brand

Abhishek Sengupta is not just a businessman. He is also an author and content creator. He has written three books. His first two books, Entrepreneurship Through My Lenses and Fighting the Fear of Entrepreneurship, share real stories of starting a business. His third, Dew of Bengal Winter, is a collection of poetry inspired by emotions and Bengal’s beauty.

Through his blogs, LinkedIn newsletter, and personal website (abhisheksengupta.co.in), he shares business ideas, startup tips, and personal lessons. Thousands follow his writing to learn from his experiences.

The Purpose Behind HotelTravelia

HotelTravelia is more than a travel company. It is built on Abhishek’s belief that travel should be joyful and hassle-free. The company’s mission is to offer trustworthy, personalized, and smart travel solutions to every client. Its vision is to become a global name in value-driven travel experiences without losing the human touch.

What Makes HotelTravelia Different

HotelTravelia stands out because of its client-first approach. Unlike large OTAs, it offers custom-made travel plans, not just bookings. The company combines online presence with personal consultation. It values relationships over transactions. Every trip is planned with care, detail, and clear communication.

Its content-rich platform gives travelers helpful tools before they book. From visa support to curated itineraries, HotelTravelia is a one-stop travel guide.

Future Goals and Growth Strategy

Over the next few years, HotelTravelia aims to:

• Expand international travel services with stronger vendor partnerships.

• Launch destination-based mobile apps and AI-driven travel tools.

• Strengthen content and educational travel guides for global travelers.

• Scale fixed-departure group tours for students, corporates, and women travelers.

• Collaborate with influencers and global travel advisors to reach new markets.

The company is also exploring travel-tech innovations to bring smarter booking and customer service features.

Lessons from the Journey

Abhishek Sengupta’s story teaches us that failure is not the end. It’s a way to learn and grow. He proves that hard work, patience, and smart decisions can turn small ideas into big dreams. From hotel lobbies to boardrooms, his journey is filled with courage and clarity.

For young dreamers, his advice is simple: Start small, learn fast, and always stay true to your purpose. HotelTravelia’s journey shows that when you blend passion, planning, and people-first thinking, success will follow—one trip at a time.