Travel industry veteran Naveen Kundu has acquired a majority stake in Dubai-based destination management company VOYAGE 1, integrating the business with Tourism Futures.AI. The move brings together destination management operations and AI-driven destination marketing to support the company’s global expansion strategy.
Under the new ownership structure, Kundu will serve as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the integrated business, working alongside VOYAGE 1’s founding team.
Founded by Vishal Dhansinghani and co-founded by Lavin Dhansinghani and Amit Kumar, VOYAGE 1 has established wholly owned destination management operations across the UAE, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Vietnam, Japan, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda.
Following the acquisition, the company plans to expand into Switzerland, the Nordic region, Thailand, and the Americas as part of its next phase of international growth.
Combining destination management with AI
The integration brings together VOYAGE 1’s destination management network with Tourism Futures.AI, Kundu’s destination marketing platform. According to the company, the combined platform aims to enhance destination marketing, customer acquisition, operational efficiency, and business opportunities for travel trade partners.
Naveen Kundu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, VOYAGE 1, said, “The traditional architecture of destination management is ready for a paradigm shift. By integrating the exceptional operational network built by Lavin, Amit, and Vishal with the intelligent automation of Tourism Futures.AI, we are creating the world’s first truly smart DMC network. VOYAGE 1 will not just move travellers; we will use data-driven intelligence to anticipate market demand, enable our B2B distribution partners to scale customer acquisition, and deliver unmatched, asset-backed travel experiences across continents.”
Expansion plans
VOYAGE 1 specialises in leisure travel, luxury holidays, corporate travel, MICE, and customised destination experiences. Unlike destination management companies that operate through partner networks, the company manages wholly owned destination businesses, providing operational control and on-ground services across its portfolio.
The acquisition marks the next stage of the company’s growth strategy as it expands its international footprint while integrating technology-led solutions into its destination management operations.
Rahul Bhadana is a digital editor at TravTalk with experience spanning multiple content niches, with a strong focus on travel trade journalism and digital publishing. A graduate of Delhi University, his work covers editorial writing, content strategy and platform-led storytelling, supporting TravTalk’s digital growth and industry engagement. A technology enthusiast, he enjoys films, poetry and exploring new ideas across media and culture.