In a digital world filled with apps, chatbots, and instant booking engines, one small business is doing something different. Kavya Travel, based in Indianapolis, isn’t trying to be flashy or high-tech. It’s not building the next big travel app or pushing AI recommendations.
Instead, it’s doing something much simpler — and surprisingly rare: putting humans back into the booking process.
“People just want someone to talk to,” the founder says. “It’s not complicated. They want help — not menus.”
How It Started
Kavya Travel was founded in 2022. The idea came from watching what wasn’t working in the travel industry — especially for older adults.
“We noticed a gap,” the founder says. “So many people over 40 were getting stuck online. They’d go to book a cruise or a flight and end up confused or frustrated.”
They weren’t looking for discounts. They were looking for support.
“I realized this when my own parents asked me to help them with every trip,” they say. “It wasn’t because they weren’t smart. They just didn’t trust the websites.”
A Different Approach
Most online travel agencies focus on speed and automation. Kavya Travel went the opposite way. No call centers. No AI agents. No customer numbers.
Just real conversations.
“When someone calls, they speak to a human. Right away,” the founder explains. “Not a menu. Not a robot.”
They didn’t want to look like a big company. There’s no corporate branding. No leadership interviews. No public-facing team bios. They even asked to leave out exact metrics like customer counts in articles.
“We’re small on purpose,” the founder says. “It lets us stay personal.”
Serving People, Not Screens
Many customers find them online — often through a Google search or a recommendation. They call looking for help with a cruise, a hotel, or a flight. And they get someone who stays with them through the entire process.
“We’ve had people call in a panic because they messed up a booking,” they say. “We don’t send them to a form. We fix it with them.”
One traveler needed to change their cruise just days before departure due to a family emergency. Kavya Travel helped them rebook, move their cabin, and arrange travel insurance — all in one call.
“People say it feels like talking to a friend,” the founder says. “That’s the goal.”
The Bigger Problem
The team at Kavya Travel believes the travel industry has overlooked a key group: adults who prefer phone calls over forms.
“Younger people might like tapping through apps,” the founder says. “But we see the shift around age 30. People start wanting more help.”
This isn’t just a hunch. A 2024 report from AARP found that 68% of adults over 50 prefer real-person booking support. Yet most booking platforms today are fully self-service.
“It’s backwards,” the founder says. “As travel gets more complicated, support should get better — not vanish.”
Staying Small, Thinking Smart
Despite growing demand, Kavya Travel isn’t trying to scale like a startup. They don’t want to open offices or chase funding. Instead, they’ve found ways to stay agile — like using flexible workspaces and focusing on call volume rather than branding.
“We’re not trying to be everywhere,” they say. “We’re trying to be where we’re needed.”
They’ve even created cruise videos and travel walkthroughs to help people visualize trips before booking — especially helpful for customers unfamiliar with online tools.
And yet, they keep things quiet. “We don’t put our numbers out there. We don’t want competitors to know too much. Our edge is the care we give.”
Why It Matters
Kavya Travel is not trying to revolutionize tech. But it is quietly challenging an assumption: that everyone wants to do everything online.
“Not everything has to be self-service,” the founder says. “Sometimes, service means showing up when someone needs you.”
And for thousands of travelers, that’s been enough.
6-Question Q&A with Kavya Travel’s Founder
- What inspired you to start Kavya Travel?
“I kept seeing people struggle with booking online. It wasn’t just older adults — even people in their 30s wanted help. That’s when I knew there was a real need.” - What’s different about how you operate?
“We keep it simple. Real humans. Real conversations. No call centers, no menus. You call, and we help — start to finish.” - Why do you avoid the spotlight and public branding?
“We want the brand to be about service, not about us. It keeps the focus on the customer, not the company.” - Who are your main customers?
“Mostly adults over 40, especially cruise travelers. But really, anyone who wants a calm, human booking process.” - What’s one customer story that stuck with you?
“A woman called crying — her cruise had to be moved last minute. We rebooked everything, even got her a room upgrade. She called back after her trip just to say thank you.” - What advice do you have for others starting a small online service?
“You don’t have to go big. Just stay consistent, stay kind, and really listen to what people need.”
Kavya Travel Is Bringing Back Human Travel Booking
In a digital world filled with apps, chatbots, and instant booking engines, one small business is doing something different. Kavya Travel, based in Indianapolis, isn’t trying to be flashy or high-tech. It’s not building the next big travel app or pushing AI recommendations.
Instead, it’s doing something much simpler — and surprisingly rare: putting humans back into the booking process.
“People just want someone to talk to,” the founder says. “It’s not complicated. They want help — not menus.”
How It Started
Kavya Travel was founded in 2022. The idea came from watching what wasn’t working in the travel industry — especially for older adults.
“We noticed a gap,” the founder says. “So many people over 40 were getting stuck online. They’d go to book a cruise or a flight and end up confused or frustrated.”
They weren’t looking for discounts. They were looking for support.
“I realized this when my own parents asked me to help them with every trip,” they say. “It wasn’t because they weren’t smart. They just didn’t trust the websites.”
A Different Approach
Most online travel agencies focus on speed and automation. Kavya Travel went the opposite way. No call centers. No AI agents. No customer numbers.
Just real conversations.
“When someone calls, they speak to a human. Right away,” the founder explains. “Not a menu. Not a robot.”
They didn’t want to look like a big company. There’s no corporate branding. No leadership interviews. No public-facing team bios. They even asked to leave out exact metrics like customer counts in articles.
“We’re small on purpose,” the founder says. “It lets us stay personal.”
Serving People, Not Screens
Many customers find them online — often through a Google search or a recommendation. They call looking for help with a cruise, a hotel, or a flight. And they get someone who stays with them through the entire process.
“We’ve had people call in a panic because they messed up a booking,” they say. “We don’t send them to a form. We fix it with them.”
One traveler needed to change their cruise just days before departure due to a family emergency. Kavya Travel helped them rebook, move their cabin, and arrange travel insurance — all in one call.
“People say it feels like talking to a friend,” the founder says. “That’s the goal.”
The Bigger Problem
The team at Kavya Travel believes the travel industry has overlooked a key group: adults who prefer phone calls over forms.
“Younger people might like tapping through apps,” the founder says. “But we see the shift around age 30. People start wanting more help.”
This isn’t just a hunch. A 2024 report from AARP found that 68% of adults over 50 prefer real-person booking support. Yet most booking platforms today are fully self-service.
“It’s backwards,” the founder says. “As travel gets more complicated, support should get better — not vanish.”
Staying Small, Thinking Smart
Despite growing demand, Kavya Travel isn’t trying to scale like a startup. They don’t want to open offices or chase funding. Instead, they’ve found ways to stay agile — like using flexible workspaces and focusing on call volume rather than branding.
“We’re not trying to be everywhere,” they say. “We’re trying to be where we’re needed.”
They’ve even created cruise videos and travel walkthroughs to help people visualize trips before booking — especially helpful for customers unfamiliar with online tools.
And yet, they keep things quiet. “We don’t put our numbers out there. We don’t want competitors to know too much. Our edge is the care we give.”
Why It Matters
Kavya Travel is not trying to revolutionize tech. But it is quietly challenging an assumption: that everyone wants to do everything online.
“Not everything has to be self-service,” the founder says. “Sometimes, service means showing up when someone needs you.”
And for thousands of travelers, that’s been enough.
6-Question Q&A with Kavya Travel’s Founder
- What inspired you to start Kavya Travel?
“I kept seeing people struggle with booking online. It wasn’t just older adults — even people in their 30s wanted help. That’s when I knew there was a real need.” - What’s different about how you operate?
“We keep it simple. Real humans. Real conversations. No call centers, no menus. You call, and we help — start to finish.” - Why do you avoid the spotlight and public branding?
“We want the brand to be about service, not about us. It keeps the focus on the customer, not the company.” - Who are your main customers?
“Mostly adults over 40, especially cruise travelers. But really, anyone who wants a calm, human booking process.” - What’s one customer story that stuck with you?
“A woman called crying — her cruise had to be moved last minute. We rebooked everything, even got her a room upgrade. She called back after her trip just to say thank you.” - What advice do you have for others starting a small online service?
“You don’t have to go big. Just stay consistent, stay kind, and really listen to what people need.”
Founder Dinis Guarda
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