Vellayan Subbiah, Chairman of Chola Investment and Finance, was named the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2024 at an award ceremony held in Monaco. He was selected from among 51 winners across 47 countries competing for the global title. Azerbaijan was represented by Ramil Rzayev, the winner of the national stage of ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year – 2024’ Award. Ramil is the founder of Baku Holiday Travel (BHT) that launched the country’s first dedicated travel website (www.bht.az). We asked Ramil to tell us about the inspiration behind creating what was effectively Azerbaijan’s first travel website.

My journey into the tourism industry began with a deep love for my country and a desire to showcase its beauty to the world. Azerbaijan has a rich culture, ancient heritage, and stunning landscapes, and I wanted to create a platform that made it easy for people to explore these treasures. The idea for bht.az came from recognizing the potential in our local tourism market and wanting to make travel accessible for everyone, regardless of their location or budget.

What makes bht.az unique compared to other travel websites? After all, consumers in this modern day and age need to be able to compare and choose what they feel is more suitable to them.

That is a fair point. That’s exactly how consumers are entitled to feel. What sets bht.az apart is its innovative design and user-friendly interface. We’ve made it incredibly easy for users to create detailed travel packages in just a few minutes. Whether someone is looking for a local adventure within Azerbaijan or an international trip, they can find and book accommodations, flights, and excursions seamlessly. We’ve partnered with over 55 suppliers overseas to ensure our customers get the best deals available. Our platform is designed to cater to a diverse range of preferences and budgets, making travel planning a hassle-free experience. This is one of our biggest selling points – we strive to rid our clients of stress and time-wasting!

How did you manage to establish such strong partnerships with so many suppliers?

It may appear as a simple thing, but quite frankly it took us a lot of hard work and building trust within the industry. We focused on creating mutually beneficial relationships where both our suppliers and customers see the value. By offering a platform that reaches a wide audience and providing consistent, reliable service, we were able to attract and maintain these partnerships. It’s all about maintaining quality and ensuring that we deliver what we promise to both our partners and our customers.

With the travel industry being so competitive, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology and customer expectations. To achieve this, we’ve invested heavily – not just financially, but also in terms of time and energy – in artificial intelligence and data analytics. These tools help us understand our customers better, optimize our operations, and develop new solutions that make the travel planning process even more efficient. Another challenge is maintaining the quality of our services as we expand – slowly but steadily – but our strong partnerships and dedicated team have been crucial in managing this growth effectively.

Speaking about of growth, there have been a few statements by you in public domain about ambitious plans to expand BHT on a global scale. Could you share more about these aspirations?

Certainly, there is no secret in what our ambitious objectives are. Our goal is to position BHT among the top 50 companies globally within the next five years. We plan to achieve this by continuing to innovate our platform and expand our services to more international markets. We’re also looking into developing new travel-related solutions that leverage advanced technologies. By staying ahead in terms of tech and customer service, we believe we can compete on a global scale and bring more attention to Azerbaijan as a top travel destination.

Quite an exciting vision. How do you see the role of technology evolving in the travel industry?

Well, technology is revolutionizing the travel industry in many ways. I have already mentioned that we use various resources – from AI to data analytics – to optimize our products and get the best possible deals for our customers. In the meantime, these technological advancements allow us to personalize travel experiences, predict trends, and streamline operations. At bht.az, we’re incorporating AI to provide tailored recommendations based on user preferences and past behaviors. Data analytics assist in understanding market trends and customer needs, enabling us to offer the most relevant and attractive deals. We’re continuously exploring new technologies to enhance our platform and provide the best possible service to our users.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to make a significant impact in their industry?

My advice would be to stay passionate about your vision and be resilient in the face of challenges. Building something new and impactful requires dedication and a willingness to adapt and learn. Focus on understanding your market and customers deeply, and leverage technology to create innovative solutions. Most importantly, build strong relationships within your industry – whether they’re with partners, suppliers, or customers. These connections are invaluable in driving your business forward.

Vellayan Subbiah, Chairman of Chola Investment and Finance, was named the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2024 at an award ceremony held in Monaco. He was selected from among 51 winners across 47 countries competing for the global title. Azerbaijan was represented by Ramil Rzayev, the winner of the national stage of ‘EY Entrepreneur of the Year – 2024’ Award. Ramil is the founder of Baku Holiday Travel (BHT) that launched the country’s first dedicated travel website (www.bht.az). We asked Ramil to tell us about the inspiration behind creating what was effectively Azerbaijan’s first travel website.

My journey into the tourism industry began with a deep love for my country and a desire to showcase its beauty to the world. Azerbaijan has a rich culture, ancient heritage, and stunning landscapes, and I wanted to create a platform that made it easy for people to explore these treasures. The idea for bht.az came from recognizing the potential in our local tourism market and wanting to make travel accessible for everyone, regardless of their location or budget.

What makes bht.az unique compared to other travel websites? After all, consumers in this modern day and age need to be able to compare and choose what they feel is more suitable to them.

That is a fair point. That’s exactly how consumers are entitled to feel. What sets bht.az apart is its innovative design and user-friendly interface. We’ve made it incredibly easy for users to create detailed travel packages in just a few minutes. Whether someone is looking for a local adventure within Azerbaijan or an international trip, they can find and book accommodations, flights, and excursions seamlessly. We’ve partnered with over 55 suppliers overseas to ensure our customers get the best deals available. Our platform is designed to cater to a diverse range of preferences and budgets, making travel planning a hassle-free experience. This is one of our biggest selling points – we strive to rid our clients of stress and time-wasting!

How did you manage to establish such strong partnerships with so many suppliers?

It may appear as a simple thing, but quite frankly it took us a lot of hard work and building trust within the industry. We focused on creating mutually beneficial relationships where both our suppliers and customers see the value. By offering a platform that reaches a wide audience and providing consistent, reliable service, we were able to attract and maintain these partnerships. It’s all about maintaining quality and ensuring that we deliver what we promise to both our partners and our customers.

With the travel industry being so competitive, what are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that we stay ahead of the curve in terms of technology and customer expectations. To achieve this, we’ve invested heavily – not just financially, but also in terms of time and energy – in artificial intelligence and data analytics. These tools help us understand our customers better, optimize our operations, and develop new solutions that make the travel planning process even more efficient. Another challenge is maintaining the quality of our services as we expand – slowly but steadily – but our strong partnerships and dedicated team have been crucial in managing this growth effectively.

Speaking about of growth, there have been a few statements by you in public domain about ambitious plans to expand BHT on a global scale. Could you share more about these aspirations?

Certainly, there is no secret in what our ambitious objectives are. Our goal is to position BHT among the top 50 companies globally within the next five years. We plan to achieve this by continuing to innovate our platform and expand our services to more international markets. We’re also looking into developing new travel-related solutions that leverage advanced technologies. By staying ahead in terms of tech and customer service, we believe we can compete on a global scale and bring more attention to Azerbaijan as a top travel destination.

Quite an exciting vision. How do you see the role of technology evolving in the travel industry?

Well, technology is revolutionizing the travel industry in many ways. I have already mentioned that we use various resources – from AI to data analytics – to optimize our products and get the best possible deals for our customers. In the meantime, these technological advancements allow us to personalize travel experiences, predict trends, and streamline operations. At bht.az, we’re incorporating AI to provide tailored recommendations based on user preferences and past behaviors. Data analytics assist in understanding market trends and customer needs, enabling us to offer the most relevant and attractive deals. We’re continuously exploring new technologies to enhance our platform and provide the best possible service to our users.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs who want to make a significant impact in their industry?

My advice would be to stay passionate about your vision and be resilient in the face of challenges. Building something new and impactful requires dedication and a willingness to adapt and learn. Focus on understanding your market and customers deeply, and leverage technology to create innovative solutions. Most importantly, build strong relationships within your industry – whether they’re with partners, suppliers, or customers. These connections are invaluable in driving your business forward.