REEMA LOKESH – Mumbai
Veena Sudhir Patil, the erstwhile MD of Kesari Tours Pvt Ltd is set to launch her new venture Veena Patil Hospitality Private Limited and the brand (VeenaWorld-travel, explore, celebrate) on the 18th of June 2013 along with husband Sudhir Patil and Sunila Himanshu Patil. It’s first branch office is scheduled to open tomorrow in Kandivali Mumbai, which will be inaugurated by Raj Thackeray.
Plans are underway to open 6 branches within a month and a half across Mumbai and one branch in Pune taking the total to seven. 50 agents have already signed up as partners for the new venture. Apart from Kandivali, VeenaWorld will open in the following areas in Mumbai as well namely, Ghatkopar, Thane, Dadar, Dombivali, Vile Parle. Speaking about the venture, in an exclusive with Express TravelWorld, Veena Sudhir Patil, said, “I firmly believe that travel should be affordable to everyone and it is not only meant for the rich and famous. Through my new company I wish to offer travel to one and all from the budget to the affluent traveler. My team with me is extremely passionate which is my strength. My company is yet to begin but I am glad they have faith in me to start out on our new journey. I am also proud to say we did not poach anyone from Kesari Tours but people came along only on pure trust. We will take few months to settle but we have got tremendous support also from our trade partners.” She further added that, “Though we were planning to start on 2nd July, we felt 18th June was right to set on this new journey.”
Veena Patil took over as MD Kesari tours in 2007. The turnover of the company then was approximately 239 crores per annum and on 31st of March 2013 the company clocked a turnover of approximately 728 crores per annum. Kesari Tours, is one of India’s well established family owned tour company and it recently witnessed a management change in its leadership. Veena Patil as the managing director quit the company and is replaced by her brother Shailesh Patil. She eventually disassociated her name from the company. Kesari Tours is now being headed by a new management team under Shailesh Patil with Kesari Patil who continues as the chairman of the company. Shailesh Patil, MD, Kesari Tours said, “To bring in a new management change in the company was purely based on the decision of the chairman Kesari Patil. The new management will work with a mission to only further improve the efficiency of Kesari. Further, I am also aware that Veena Patil is ready to set up a new company and I feel this move will be beneficial to tourists in Maharashtra as they will have the option of dealing with another quality tour company.”
