Chetan G Punjani
General Manager
With over 20 years in the travel industry in various countries, Chetan has successfully conceptualized and implemented travel brands like Overseas Holidays, and Doha Explorers and provided expertise to Qatar Airways for their package holidays before QRH was incepted. He is entrepreneurial and has done startups of TMCs, and has diverse experience in GSAs of airlines, and GSRs of hotel chains. He led the distribution of luxury travel products with travel agents & tour operators in the Gulf countries such as UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman & Bahrain, and Eastern Europe, and India. He successfully expanded Oceandusk Group’s Dubai office and relaunched and enhanced its B2B online systems strengthening direct connectivity, channel managers, and payment gateway.
His passion is travel, cooking, and reading. His favorite cities are Prague, Singapore, Dubai, and San Diego. He actively supports social justice causes, environmental campaigns, and plant-based investments.
His passion is travel, cooking, and reading. His favorite cities are Prague, Singapore, Dubai, and San Diego. He actively supports social justice causes, environmental campaigns, and plant-based investments.
Natalia Vakulenko
Advisor
Started her career in the hotel industry; Natalia worked for international enterprises including Le Meridien Middle East, handled various worldwide markets, represented Le Meridien Hotel group in GCC countries; headed the Event Department for the Doha Asian Games 2006, Qatar. Throughout her career, Natalia worked closely with tour operators in CIS countries/Eastern Europe and poses extensive knowledge of GCC Hospitality and Travel markets such as UAE, Kuwait, KSA, Bahrain, and Oman. She had key roles with global bed-banks such as Jac Travel UK, WebBeds EMEA, HotelsPro, Turkey, and Cosmobeds, Greece where her contribution to product development and distribution was immense. Natalia stands out with in-depth technical knowledge of all aspects of customer distribution (API, Caching, B2B systems) and product procurement (Channel Managers, Switch, Third Party)
Natalia provides advisory services including travel and hospitality market feasibility, operators searches and selection, operational assessments, and market entry strategy. Her hobbies are tango, swimming, and reading, and her favorite countries are Japan and Argentina
Natalia provides advisory services including travel and hospitality market feasibility, operators searches and selection, operational assessments, and market entry strategy. Her hobbies are tango, swimming, and reading, and her favorite countries are Japan and Argentina
Farukh Sardar
Advisor
An expert travel management professional, Farukh has established a well-recognized travel and service-related business for Mannai Corporation in Qatar during his tenure. He is a role model and inspiration for many travel professionals within the Middle East region. He has expertise in corporate travel management, representing TMC’s – BCD Travel, leisure travel, revenue management, and GSAs for airlines.
Farukh provides management consultancy and advisory services for start-ups, TMCs, airline sales distribution channels, and yield management.
His hobbies are horticultural and is a naturalist and loves the outdoors, his favorite cities are Mumbai and Halifax.
His fun activities are gardening and reading and supporting any cause that will help reduce individual carbon footprint.
Farukh provides management consultancy and advisory services for start-ups, TMCs, airline sales distribution channels, and yield management.
His hobbies are horticultural and is a naturalist and loves the outdoors, his favorite cities are Mumbai and Halifax.
His fun activities are gardening and reading and supporting any cause that will help reduce individual carbon footprint.