The Journey from Scratch to Smash
Adventurer ~ Entrepreneur ~ Responsible Globe Trotter
An MBA in finance, she is the Co-Founder and on the Board of Directors at Holiday Moods Adventures Group of Companies – an ISO 9001:2015 certified experiential adventure travel company; top rated by National Geographic Adventure; recognised by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; winner of multiple awards. Holiday Moods Adventures is a leading company in Indian travel trade, specialising in active and adventure travel, promoting “Handcrafted Experiences, Stories & Adventures” for the Responsible Traveller. The group of companies has various verticals looking after Inbound to India, Outbound and their own adventure camps & centres.
Arshdeep has an experience of over 27 years in the Indian adventure travel trade industry and is well respected in the travel trade fraternity. Ever since founding Holiday Moods Adventures in 1997, she has played a pivotal role in the growth of the company.
Arshdeep has been globe trotting for nearly three decades and her footprints now reflect the global journeys promoting all 7 continents offered by the company. The adventure chronicles take travellers on expedition cruises to the Antarctic, Arctic, North Pole and mysterious river cruises in the world.
These journeys offer a combination of cultural and immersive experiences of native activities, hence supporting the principles of EcoTourism. Arshdeep’s beliefs, ethics and responsibilities towards nature have been instrumental in defining the road map of all business that she manages, guided by the principles of:
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- Mission – Promoting sustainable tourism with exceptional “Handcrafted Experiences, Stories & Adventures Across The Globe”
- Vision – Aiming to be India’s Premier Global Adventure Travel Company
- Values – Protecting the environment, respecting local cultures, benefiting local communities, conserving resources & minimising waste
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- Principle – Putting purpose before Profits
- Impact – Promoting lesser trodden regions and facilitating life changing experiences for both hosts & travellers
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS & RECOGNITION:
- Recognition as a “Women Achiever for Promotion Adventure Tourism 2022” a joint initiative by Informa Markets & TAAI (Travel Agent Association of India)
- Director – “Holiday Moods Adventures”
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- Top rated by National Geographic Adventure
- National Tourism Award for “The Most Innovative Adventure Activity Tour Operator”.
- Winner of the OTM’s NDTV Top 100 Travel Producers Awards
- Best Trekking Company Award by Adventure Sports Expo Asia 2018
- Director – “Camp Wild Dhauj in the Aravali Valley”, Faridabad District
- TripAdvisor’s 2016 & 2017 Certificate of Excellence – Camp Wild at Aravali Valley
- TripAdvisor’s 2022 Travellers Choice Award – Camp Wild at Aravali Valley
- Director – Snow Monk Camp, near Dharamshala
AWARDS
INDUSTRY APPOINTMENTS
- Vice President – Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI)
- Former Chairperson of ATOAI Women’s Collective – Arshdeep is the first chairperson of the ATOAI Women’s Collective which focuses to strengthen & empower women in adventure travel and explore innovative approaches to have appropriate representation of women in the Association, with objectives:
- To recognise the women in ATOAI & give them a platform to be visible
- To create a culture of inclusion where decision-making and power are practised collectively, and women members participate at all levels in the Association
- To create a local and national network of women for peer mentoring and sharing resources
- To address women safety issues in adventure travel
- To identify, encourage and empower women to become leaders
- To provide female representation at an international level of the global adventure tourism industry.
The Collective empowers the stakeholders through workshops, events, competitions, seminars, knowledge sessions & hands on experiences. CLICK HERE to watch the latest workshop on gender sensitization
PROJECTS DEVELOPING SUSTAINABLE ECO ADVENTURE TOURISM
Arshdeep has been involved in developing & setting up Adventure & Ecotourism trails in the Uttarakhand & Himachal Himalayas over the span of 20 years. “HEAT” Treks were organised majorly in the Uttarakhand & Himachal Himalayan regions. Objectives of Ecotourism were well attained with capacity building, waste management systems and skills development of the local people of villages enroute these trails encouraging the local economy of the rural areas. Projects on these trails were organised for only a singular occasion and today they are very well known circuits and receive regular business supporting the local economies.
REAL EDUCATION THROUGH TRAVEL PROGRAMS (RETP) – was set up to provide students with opportunities & individual challenges which are balanced, non-competitive programs of voluntary activities. These encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to one self and service to the community. The idea that students should be responsible for their own learning is the thesis that runs through the philosophy of “Real Education through Travel Programs’ ‘ (RETP). Set in wilderness & remote locations, our school travel programs use adventure activities to create a new and engaging environment for students where they can explore new ideas, new attitudes and learn by doing. “Real Education through Travel Programs” supports the philosophy of:
- CREATIVITY – interpreted as imaginatively as possible to cover a wide range of arts and other activities. For example, dance, theatre, music, art, cooking, yoga, learning a language, sculpture, wood carving, photography, painting etc…
- COMMUNITY SERVICE – involves interaction with individuals or groups within the community. Service should not only focus on doing things for others but also doing things with others and developing a real commitment with them.
- ACTION / ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY – can include participating in expeditions, sports, and physical activities; Adventure activities like Ropes course, Rock Climbing, Rappelling offer new opportunities for achievement and learning.
We are proud to have serviced over 100 educational institutions in India and a list of few reputed schools can be accessed here –CLICK HERE
