1 Introduce yourself and briefly describe your background.
Mr. Mohamed Riyaz is one of the most accomplished, successful, knowledgeable and experienced person in the inbound tourism business in the country.
He achieved success through vision, hard work, personal relationships, travel trade network, determination, and innovative approach to business, philanthropic work and his passion for going to the extra mile.
Furthermore, he has earned the trust and respect of owners and operators of resorts, hotels, private islands, picnic islands, diving safaris, sailing cruise, transport providers (Seaplane and Speedboats).
Due to his success, professionalism, friendliness and high standing in the travel and tourism industry, he is able to maintain excellent relationships with all the concerned government authorities in the country, such as, the Ministry of Tourism, The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC), The Department of Civil Aviation, Department of Immigration and Emigration, Maldives Airports Company, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Maldives Customs Services.
As a result he is among the leading, most admired, most respected and reputable person in Maldives tourism industry.
Mr. Mohamed Riyaz started his carrier with the National Bank of the country ‘ Bank of Maldives where he had worked for over 13 years in various jobs of which the last was as a Manager for one of the banks branches.
After leaving the bank in 1996, he then joined the tourism industry and worked as a travel consultant for an inbound travel company. Then in 1999, he founded Inner Maldives Pvt. Ltd., with a partner, which became a successful inbound tour operator.
After 6 years with this company, he realized that his expertise, knowledge and experience could be better utilized in a new venture, thus came the new company Lets Go Maldives Pvt. Ltd.
By utilizing his expertise, knowledge, experience and industry network, he is determined to make Lets Go Maldives the most professional, reliable and high quality service-oriented tourism business in the country.
Source: http://letsgomaldives.com/lets-go-maldives/#managing-director
2. Why did you decide to go into this business? How long has it been established?
I believe that in Maldives tourism is our blood and if we want to established business it has to be tourism related. Country has less than 400,000 people, targeting business to them is not very attractive for me. We started in 2005.
3. Can you describe your services (and products etc)? What is your top offering?
We are presently owning the award winning and one of the largest inbound travel company in the Maldives, and owns the luxury Diving boat for divers and surfers, we offer almost all the resorts, all has the quality services and unbeatable rates. We will be opening our own concept of boutique hotel in this year to add to our products.
4. Who are your clients / customers? Why do they select you over others?
Our clients are all over the world, we target not only Asia but to Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East. We have an unique destination so it has its own attraction.
Why us? We do have 24hr service at the Airport and sales team do have 24 hour serves for our guest. Our rates are wholesale rates directly from the Resort, are very competitive. We are reliable, we are local experts in the field with years of experience in the field, this makes us unique. “you can rely on the unique expertise of those who know Maldives resorts than no one better”.
5. How has technology, such as computers and the Internet, impacted on how you serve or conduct business?
Technology is the main tool now for any business, specially for hospitality business without technology, products are hard to sell.
6. Do you plan to expand (range of offerings, service areas, geographical reach etc.)? If yes, how? If no, why not?
As said we are targeting to all over the world, we want every one to experience Maldives once in a life time, we are always looking for business partners from all over the world.
7. What are the biggest issues (serving your clients, running your business etc)?
Biggest issues are the airlines, we still don’t have national airline that can cater most of the destinations, and scheduled Airlines are not cheap for most of the travelers who wanted to come to Maldives.
8. What do you wish you’d done differently?
We wanted to provide more unique and attractive packages to Maldives so our clients are looking for something different in every year, varieties of choices to cater any budget and still they can spend holiday in the Maldives.
9. What are you glad you did?
We are happy to celebrate our 10th Year of Lets Go Maldives Pvt. Ltd. and award winning and the largest inbound tour operator in the Maldives and keep our services better and better we will open our own hotels and resorts soon.
10. Where do you see yourself and your business in a year’s time?
We are working on technology to achieve another 30% increment on next year. We will be having our own projects specially for divers, surfers and budget holiday makers.
11. Words of wisdom
I never did anything different, when I started in 2005 on my own. No, when I have fully decided that a result is worth getting, success comes with vision and hard work “never give up if you have a target to achieve”.
12. Please give your contact details so that your target audience will know how to reach you.
Mohamed Riyaz
Managing Director
Lets Go Maldives Pvt Ltd / Experience the Maldives with a difference!
1st Floor / Lets Go Tower
Male’ 20 – 025
Tel: +960 334 7755
Fax: +960 330 7755
Mobile: +960 7773111
www.letsgomaldives.com / www.anastasiayacht.com