Travel helps us broaden our horizon: PAYBACK India's Vijay Bobba

A firm believer of the fact that travel rejuvenates and enriches one internally, Vijay Bobba has been an avid traveler and the adventurous streak in him has led him to venture out to the most intriguing corners of the  globe.

In today’s edition of Adgully's Fox Traveller Diary we have Vijay Bobba, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, PAYBACK India.   The concept of loyalty programs which were initially introduced by different brands as marketing initiatives to build engagement with loyal consumers has now caught up as a trend. In this domain there are few leaders and amongst them PAYBACK is India's largest loyalty program. Vijay received his MBA from the University of California’s prestigious Haas School of Business at Berkeley. He is also an alumnus of the University of Georgia, Athens (USA) where he graduated with a Masters in Applied Mathematical Science. His dynamic industry stature is attributed to his rich and diverse experience spanning over 20 years from various geographies and industries. His entrepreneurial instincts have been pivotal in imbibing the culture of innovative thinking among the employees and therefore etching the success story of PAYBACK.

Vijay shares with us his fascinating experiences of his travels around the world. Following are the excerpts from the interaction:

Fox Travellers Diary (FTD): If there is one place you can keep going back to for a holiday, where would it be?

Vijay Bobba (VB): Hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

FTD: Tell us three good things about travelling.

VB:  Travel connects us to the past, historical and natural significance of places across the globe, it helps us broaden our horizon and thought process and the third is that it enriches our perspective of our inner self.

FTD: When you travel, what is a must carry for you?

VB: A good pair of shoes and a smart phone that has navigation and search features.

FTD: When and where did your best holiday happen?

VB: It was while holidaying in America, during a camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. The night was engulfed in pitch darkness. All we could see were the stars, different constellations and shooting stars –one after the other. It remains etched in my mind till date.

FTD: Being  an avid traveler yourself what is your tip for  others?

VB: I would suggest that one should not arrive at a place with pre-conceived notions or fixed expectations. It’s good to read about a place and go prepared. Form your own opinion about the place after experiencing it.
 
FTD: A colleague/co-worker from your industry with whom you would like to go on a holiday.

VB: If I had to holiday with a group of colleagues, it would be outdoors, in the mountains on a hiking expedition maybe.

FTD: Have you ever been surprised by the taste of food, outside India? Where?

VB: I was pleasantly surprised about how similar the food in Cambodia was in comparison to the Indian cuisine.

FTD: What and where has been your best bazaar bargain so far?

VB:  Souvenirs bought from the street markets of Bangkok.

FTD: Which has been the most unique destination that you have ever visited? When and why?
 

VB: (Promenade des Glaciers) – The Banff & Jasper Ice field Parkway would be it. It’s a 232 kms long drive with the rugged landscape of the Canadian Rockies in the background, travelling through Banff and Jasper National Parks. The drive cuts across the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site offering a panoramic view of wilderness of pristine mountain lakes, ancient glaciers formed during the ice age and broad sweeping valleys.

FTD: Tell us how you have managed to make a journey fun.

VB: I think the key is taking time to enjoy the sights and absorbing every bit a destination has to offer. Read about a place to go prepared. But be open to experiencing it real-time. If the story board is a clean slate, we have an opportunity to write our own journey logs. I believe that’s the key to making a journey fun.

FTD: A gourmet gaffe that you would like to share.

VB: In 1999, during a trip to Germany, I was at the breakfast buffet in the hotel. I mistook glasses of champagne for sparkling water/soda and only a few quick sips later, realised it.

FTD: What has been your worst travel moment? Why?

VB:  We were holidaying as a family in Luxor, Egypt. One of our family members fell very sick and there was limited access to medical facilities and food, since it was after hours, and the city had shut down. It was an ordeal to find some comforting food and medical care.

FTD: What is the best souvenir you ever bought for anyone?

VB:  A sculpture from Musée du Louvre, Paris.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are purely in the personal capacity of Vijay Bobba as a travel buff and has no bearing and/or correlation with his official role; Images, courtesy: Vijay Bobba