Spenta world

"I was lucky and very privileged to be selected to service WZCC (World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce) for their annual global meet held in Singapore in January 2013. It has been a challenge handling high profile passengers. The participants were all senior global representatives,” says Hoshang Jalejar of Spenta Travel and Tours Private Limited. Spenta is a professional tour operator, conceptualized as far back as 1987 and registered in 1995.
Travel expectations have transformed over the years, Jalejar says. "Clients are now better informed and actually decide their future destinations. So I am quick to take note of this newness and present them with novel experiences and packages.”
The magic of the mountains of Himachal, royal rewards of Rajasthan and charms of Karnataka still rate highly with tourists, as do the mystique of China, East Europe, Turkey, etc, he notes. "I try to promote those destinations which are difficult for the client to access independently, for example South Africa or China where people are uncomfortable with local languages. A lot of time and strategic planning is involved,” he asserts. The most popular destinations are those places which his customers dream of visiting once in a lifetime, maybe after retirement or before health problems restrict travel mobility. Large groups, of course, make logistics more difficult. "If I have sourced the right supplier, the credit is shared and I am complimented. If not, the responsibility is borne by me and my team who need to put in double the effort to make the tour a success without inconveniencing the client.”
The Eduventure Club for schools is a new initiative. It seeks to teach skills to build confidence, team spirit, adaptability to face challenges, etc through activities like white water rafting, rappelling, rifle shooting, kayaking, valley crossing, rock climbing, tent pitching, map reading, etc. "There are types of adventures which do not necessarily mean a risk to life. Crossing a busy Bombay street or boarding a local train involves alertness which is an element of adventure. The Club aims to provide an environmentally educating experience as also a sense of pride in being part of this experience,” he explains. For school children, day return treks, overnight camps or visits to forts build up interest. For regulars or senior citizens, forest walks, waterfall treks or houseboat stays make adventure a breeze!
Spenta now offers packages to East Europe, East India and Greece. Supporting Hoshang in his venture are his wife Tannaz and 18-year-old son Tushad who volunteers for operations involving large groups. "Customers come to me mainly by word of mouth and so it’s mostly an emotional connect between my clients and Spenta. Many customers are Zoroastrian — senior citizens who join group tours and individual families who seek more from their holidays. The rest are cosmopolitan clients from corporate offices, clubs, federations, associations, educational institutions, etc,” Jalejar elaborates. The word Spenta means "bounteous” and "furthering,” he says. "It was my dream to have a sustained business which would not be affected by age or time. I have realized this dream through my motto: ‘Come as a guest and leave as family.’”