Founded in 2010, Waheguru Travels has grown from a regional travel services venture into a multi-market travel management enterprise spanning Africa, India, and the Middle East. Manoj Tulsiani, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, outlines how the company’s push into digital platforms, expansion across markets, and sharper corporate focus seek to position it as a globally competitive travel management brand with ambitious growth plans.
What began as a service-led business for leisure and corporate travellers has steadily grown into a globally connected brand, supported by IATA accreditation, a multinational workforce, and a strong focus on end-to-end travel solutions ranging from ticketing and visas to customised itineraries and corporate mobility. Today, the company operates across key international markets and serves a diverse client base. Its growth has recently been further strengthened by adapting technology and enhancing its B2B ecosystem.
Brand Overview
Tracing the company’s roots, Manoj says, “Waheguru Travels was established in 2010 in Benin, West Africa, and has come a long way. Today, we are celebrating 16 years of service excellence, with a presence in over 40 countries. We operate across corporate travel, MICE, medical tourism, cruises, and most travel segments, making us a one-stop shop for all travel requirements, across both outbound and inbound sectors.”
The company has a strong African operational base, with a multi-country footprint. Its growth story stands apart in an industry often dominated by metro-origin brands. Its foundation in African markets, particularly those driven by trade, infrastructure, and diaspora movement, has given it a distinctive viewpoint. Despite its wide footprint, the company has grown largely under the radar, building scale through execution rather than visibility.
Evolving Priorities
Over the past five years, the company has shifted from largely offline operations to a more digital, tech-led model, driven by changing client expectations. As Manoj puts it, “When we started, work was manual, but Post-COVID, client requirements have changed, and digital has become central to how we operate.” This has led to the launch of a B2B platform, and plans for an OTA in Africa are in the works. This corporate-first foundation continues to influence how the company is scaling. Much of its expansion has followed established travel corridors linking Africa with India and the Middle East markets, where demand is steady, and operational familiarity gives it a clear edge.
For Waheguru Travels, outbound demand continues to be led by Southeast Asia, with destinations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand dominating both leisure and corporate travel, followed by hubs like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. However, Manoj notes, “We are actively encouraging clients to look beyond these high-traffic markets, as these destinations have become very crowded. We are trying to shift our clients towards new places and different experiences.” This includes promoting emerging options such as Northern Spain and African destinations like Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Morocco. These markets, Manoj believes, remain underexplored despite their strong appeal. The evident intent behind encouraging tourism in less-saturated destinations is to address over-tourism. At the same time, it aims to unlock new experiences in unexplored destinations, aligning with evolving traveller preferences and leveraging its own on-ground strengths.
Corporate travel today contributes nearly 65 per cent to 70 per cent of the business, providing a steady backbone that insulates the company from the seasonality of leisure demand. MICE, in particular, has evolved into a key capability, supported by a dedicated team handling end-to-end planning and execution across markets. Beyond events, it has helped build stronger supplier networks and on-ground expertise in multiple destinations. The company delivers a wide range of corporate events, incentives, and group movements across markets.
New Products Offerings
Waheguru Travels is expanding its scope beyond traditional travel services, building stronger destination capabilities with the launch of its TMC module and a clear shift towards becoming a destination management company. At the same time, it is strengthening its digital ecosystem, with its B2B platform already live and an OTA for Africa in the pipeline, signalling a more integrated and focused approach to global growth.
As the company builds on its established strengths while expanding into relatively newer digital and destination-led offerings, its journey reflects a larger shift, where service-driven travel businesses are steadily evolving into more integrated, end-to-end ecosystems.
