About Saleem

I grew up in Qualicum Beach, in a family that built things. My father owned and operated Journeys International Travel. My mother built Heaven on Earth Natural Foods, now Better U Market. My brothers run Stanford Auto in Parksville. Business wasn't something we talked about at the dinner table; it was just the way our family moved through the world.

My father's travel agency left an early mark. There was something about watching people come in with a destination in mind and leave with a plan. A real one, with tickets and itineraries and excitement. That stuck with me. Travel felt like the most interesting problem a person could spend their time on.

I left Qualicum Beach at 17. I graduated from KSS in 2000 from the IT career preparation program, then went on to earn a Business degree focused on Marketing and Technology. One of my first jobs was teaching 200 local seniors how to use the internet through a library program, and it shaped how I think about building software that works for everyone. The next two decades were spent in the city, working across web development companies, marketing agencies, and technology startups. I learned how to build things online, how to reach people, and how to make complex ideas feel simple.

Through all of it, I kept travelling. More than 40 countries, including a gap year living in Australia and a love of seeing a place by train. I learned the points game the hard way, through trial, error, and eventually a lot of very good flights. Over time I got good at it. Good enough that friends started asking me to help them figure out their own points, their own programs, their own next trip.

Two years ago I moved back to Qualicum Beach. For good. And I started thinking about what I actually wanted to build here. Something that combined everything I know: marketing, technology, and a genuine love for travel. Unravel Travel is that thing. Vancouver is a short flight away when I want the pace of a city, which makes this a good home base for travel.

The company runs from an office on Second Avenue West, the same street where my father ran Journeys. We help people travel better with technology, from loyalty programs to passenger rights when a flight is delayed or cancelled. This summer we were named one of ten national finalists for a fintech grant, with a pitch in Montreal in July. There's a short fact sheet if you'd like the quick version.

The concept is new. The experience behind it isn't. If any of this resonates, I'd love to talk.