Building a Legacy: Q&A with Mohamed Kaoud on Redefining Egypt’s Luxury Travel Industry

Interview edited by Nureen Khadr.

Note from the Editors: This interview has been edited for clarity and length, while preserving the speaker's intent.

Mohamed Kaoud, the visionary founder of Egylière, has spent over a decade transforming Egypt’s travel landscape into a hub for bespoke luxury experiences. Founded in 2010, Egylière is a lifestyle management company specializing in high-end, personalized travel and concierge services, catering to discerning travelers seeking exclusivity and cultural immersion. With a background rooted in hospitality and a career shaped by resilience, Kaoud has faced political upheavals, economic crises, and the challenges of establishing a homegrown brand in a competitive global industry. In this exclusive interview, he shares the journey behind Egylière, insights into the evolving trends in experiential travel, and his unwavering ambition to position Egypt as a leading destination for high-net-worth travelers. From pioneering events like the Jain-Hammond wedding to expansion plans into Saudi Arabia and Athens, Kaoud’s story is one of innovation, adaptability, and a relentless drive to elevate Egyptian hospitality on the world stage.

The Dyorama: Give us a brief background about yourself and Egylière.

Mohamed Kaoud: I’ve been passionate about hospitality since I was young, even as others pursued careers in economics, engineering, or medicine. After earning a degree in economics at Cairo University, I worked in housekeeping, stewarding, and front-desk roles to learn the industry from the ground up. I then pursued hospitality management at École hôtelière de Lausanne.

My career began with hundreds of job applications before landing offers in Kuala Lumpur at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and another one from Lancaster Landmark Hotel Group in London. I ultimately accepted the London offer. There I learned resilience and risk management during the 2008 crisis, as part of a task force managing the impact on our workforce. In parallel, I also decided to pursue another degree at Webster University in London in marketing and commerce. By 2010, when I graduated, I was ready to follow my entrepreneurial dreams.

I explored Syria, Qatar, and Egypt as potential locations for a boutique hotel or a travel agency specializing in high-end lifestyle management services. We initially chose Aleppo, Syria, and began the necessary paperwork there and in Egypt, but the Arab Spring disrupted our plans. At a crossroads, I had to decide whether to return to London and resume my career or pivot entirely. Ultimately, I shut down the hotel arm and focused solely on lifestyle management in Egypt, given the political challenges in the other countries. Egylière was officially established in November 2010, following extensive research on Egypt’s luxury travel market. By January 2011, we secured our first clients—UK delegations—just as the revolution began.

The Dyorama: When you were starting off, was there something you could benchmark the market with?

Mohamed Kaoud: Yes, we benchmarked against global brands. As a startup, we had the flexibility to adapt to the unique needs of Egyptian clientele, which gave us an edge. However, the revolution in 2011 caused cancellations and shut down much of our pipeline, forcing us to pivot and focus more on outbound travel. By March 2011, we secured our first outbound client, and from there, the business grew gradually through referrals, including corporate and ministerial accounts. Along the way, I pursued an MSc of Science in Real Estate, Finance and Hotel Development from the Glion Institute, which laid the groundwork for me to return to hospitality. Next year, we’re excited to launch our first hotel in Egypt.

The Dyorama: What is experiential travel in your own words?

Mohamed Kaoud: Experiential travel is about creating deeply personal, unforgettable journeys. Many clients are seasoned travelers, so we reimagine familiar destinations for them or introduce them to new ones. It starts with understanding their preferences through detailed profiling and designing a trip that speaks to their interests, whether it’s art, culture, cuisine, or adventure. No two experiences are alike, and we have dedicated design, prototyping, and operations teams to ensure every detail is flawless.

The Dyorama: What expertise do you look for when you're hiring for your design team?

Mohamed Kaoud: They need extensive destination knowledge, creativity, and a passion for hospitality. Strong analytical and technological skills are also essential. We use AI tools to enhance creativity, not replace it, helping us design experiences that are both innovative and deeply tailored to the client.

The Dyorama: Does Egylière focus more on inbound or outbound experiential travel?

Mohamed Kaoud: It’s a mix. About 15 to 20 percent of inbound and 10 percent of outbound clients seek highly customized experiences. While most requests involve curated itineraries, the experiential side is growing as more clients want unique, transformative travel.

The Dyorama: What personal travel experiences inspired you to create Egyliére and how have those moments shaped your vision for the company over time?

Mohamed Kaoud: My time in Switzerland and the UK had a profound impact on me, both personally and professionally. In Switzerland, I was immersed in a culture of precision and excellence, particularly in the hospitality sector. In the UK, I worked with high-net-worth clients who not only expected perfection but also inspired me to think bigger. These clients weren’t just wealthy—they were highly accomplished individuals who would challenge me, often without realizing it, to set higher goals and innovate.

I made it a point to meet clients in person, even if it was just for 15 minutes. Those meetings were invaluable—they gave me insights that reshaped how I approached the business, from introducing new services to refining workflows. These experiences taught me to aim high, take calculated risks, and keep evolving. They also reinforced my belief in building a business that provides not just travel, but transformative experiences that resonate with each client’s unique interests and passions.

The Dyorama: How do local partnerships help you balance deep cultural immersion while maintaining the luxury aspect of travel experiences?

Mohamed Kaoud: Local partnerships are essential to delivering both authenticity and luxury. At its core, this is a people-driven industry, and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders—whether suppliers, guides, or local communities—is key to creating meaningful, immersive experiences. We also focus on supporting partners who may not meet certain standards initially, helping them improve so they can deliver exceptional service.

Sustainability is equally important. From environmental practices to social impact, we align with ESG principles to ensure our operations benefit the local communities we work with while meeting the expectations of our high-end clientele. This approach allows us to build a foundation rooted in quality, humanity, and responsibility, ensuring every experience is both culturally enriching and flawlessly executed.

The Dyorama: How do you navigate the policy landscape in a country like Egypt where we know there could potentially be a bit of red tape or restrictions on some of the experiences on some of the partnerships?

Mohamed Kaoud: Egypt’s bureaucracy can be challenging, but we’ve learned to work within the system by understanding the processes and building relationships with authorities. Clear communication and adherence to regulations have allowed us to operate seamlessly across all divisions without a single penalty since our inception.

The Dyorama: You mentioned hyperpersonalization earlier, but what other trends do you see shaping the future of experience travel in MENA?

Mohamed Kaoud: Ultra-high-net-worth clients are always seeking something new and exciting. These are individuals who often travel frequently, and many have already explored popular destinations multiple times. They crave novelty and want fresh experiences that stand out. Our role is to anticipate their interests and introduce them to destinations they may not have considered before, like Africa, Latin America, or Japan. At the same time, we look for ways to enhance familiar destinations, presenting them in a completely new light.

In the MENA region, there’s a noticeable shift toward collaboration between countries. For example, linking Egypt with Saudi Arabia and Jordan into a single itinerary offers travelers the opportunity to experience a variety of cultures and landscapes in one seamless trip. This is especially appealing to long-haul travelers who want to maximize the richness of their journeys. Such regional partnerships are helping to position MENA as a luxury travel hub, offering diverse and tailored experiences that cater to the evolving demands of high-end clientele.

The Dyorama: What is probably the most interesting and challenging client request that you had to meet within the MENA region?

Mohamed Kaoud: One of the most unique requests we received was from an American client who wanted to explore the spiritual and energetic aspects of Egypt. This involved connecting specific historical and archaeological sites that are believed to radiate energy or hold spiritual significance. It wasn’t just about visiting well-known places like the Philae Temple or the temples in Luxor and Aswan—we had to dive deep into the symbolism, ancient writings, and specific timings for visiting these locations to align with their intended purpose.

To deliver this experience, we collaborated with local and international experts in energy studies and spiritual tourism, ensuring every detail was meticulously researched and curated. We didn’t just provide exclusivity to these sites but also tailored the itinerary to match the client’s vision, going far beyond a standard travel package. This request challenged us to think differently, blending our expertise in logistics and creativity with their niche interests. The success of this project has now paved the way for a similar journey next March, where we’ll be hosting a group of approximately 20 billionaires in Egypt, all seeking experiences that explore energy and spirituality in a deeply personalized way.

The Dyorama: High-profile events like the Jain-Hammond wedding highlight Egylière’s ability to balance cultural authenticity with luxury. How do such projects shape your vision for positioning Egypt as a global luxury destination?

Mohamed Kaoud: The Jain-Hammond wedding was a defining moment for us and for Egypt’s positioning as a luxury travel destination. There was initial skepticism—even within the tourism sector—about whether Egypt could deliver true luxury experiences. I remember speaking with an advisor to the Minister of Tourism who doubted that luxury travel even existed in Egypt. But this project proved that we could meet, and even exceed, global luxury standards.

The wedding involved hosting high-profile guests, including senators, celebrities, and business tycoons, many of whom were visiting Egypt for the first time. Everything had to be flawless—from the logistics and accommodations to the unique experiences we curated for the guests. We partnered closely with the event management team, and our reputation for handling complex, high-stakes events was instrumental in securing the project.

Beyond just the wedding, the scope expanded to include aspects of the guests’ journeys in South Africa, where we supported logistics, and ultimately, Egypt, where we managed every detail once they arrived. The event showcased Egypt as a destination capable of delivering seamless luxury, and the positive media coverage reinforced this message on a global scale.

This project wasn’t just about one event—it helped redefine perceptions of what Egypt can offer. It proved that luxury travel here isn’t just possible but can stand shoulder to shoulder with Europe and other destinations in the Middle East. In the same month, we also organized performances with the Pyramids of Giza as a backdrop: Circoloco, Keinemusik and Metro Boomin. Since then, we’ve managed similarly large-scale events, but the Jain-Hammond wedding was particularly special because it opened doors for others to view Egypt as a competitive luxury destination.

The Dyorama: What lessons have you learned as founding this business and with events the one we just discussed and how do those lessons inform the legacy that you hope to leave in Egypt's luxury travel industry and beyond?

Mohamed Kaoud: I want to build a homegrown brand that competes globally, proving that an Egyptian company can set industry standards. It’s about showing the world that Egypt isn’t just a destination—it’s a leader in luxury and experiential travel.

The Dyorama: What's a surprising hobby or passion you have outside of your work that most people wouldn't expect?

Mohamed Kaoud: I love mentoring students and giving university lectures on entrepreneurship, finance, and development. Sharing my journey helps others learn from my experiences and seize opportunities more effectively.

The Dyorama: Which fictional character do you think would excel in your industry and why? 

Mohamed Kaoud: Captain America. He’s fast, decisive, and reliable—all qualities you need when managing high-stakes travel experiences.

As our conversation wrapped up, Mohamed shared an exciting update about Egylière's expansion plans.

Mohamed Kaoud: This month, we're opening in Saudi, and early next year, we'll open in Athens as well. We’re going global. Athens is a fantastic destination, and we’ve done extensive analysis to ensure our operations there are top-notch. I believe it’s going to add significant value, and we’re excited to get everything up and running professionally.